Canada Lee (born Leonard Lionel Cornelius Canegata; March 3, 1907 â€"
May 9, 1952) was an American actor who pioneered roles for African
Americans. After careers as a jockey, boxer and musician, he became an
actor in the Federal Theatre Project, including the 1936 production of
Macbeth adapted and directed by Orson Welles. Lee later starred in
Welles's original Broadway production of Native Son (1941). A champion
of civil rights in the 1930s and 1940s, Lee was blacklisted and died
shortly before he was scheduled to appear before the House Un-American
Activities Committee. He advanced the African American tradition in
theatre pioneered by such actors as Paul Robeson. Lee was the father
of actor Carl Lee.Canada Lee was born Leonard Lionel Cornelius
Canegata on March 3, 1907, in the San Juan Hill neighborhood of
Manhattan in New York City.:3â€"4 His father, James Cornelius Lionel
Canegata, was born on the Caribbean island of St. Croix, and as a
youth had migrated to New York, where he married Lydia Whaley
Gadsen.:7 Raised by his parents in Harlem,:8 Lee had an aptitude for
music, and at age seven he began studying violin and piano with J.
Rosamond Johnson at the Music School Settlement for Colored People. He
made his concert debut at age 11, performing a student recital at
Aeolian Hall. But after seven years of music studies, without
explanation, he put away his violin and ran away from home.:11â€"13 In
1921, aged 14, Lee went to Saratoga Springs, New York, and began a
two-year career as a jockey.:14Lee returned to his parents' home in
Harlem in 1923 with no idea what he was going to do next. He
considered returning to music, but an old school friend suggested that
he try boxing.:24 At one amateur match, fight announcer Joe Humphries
saw the name "Canagata, Lee" on the card he was using. He tossed the
card aside and instead announced "Canada Lee"â€"a name that Lee liked
and adopted.:25 In the amateur ring he won 90 out of 100 bouts and the
national amateur lightweight title.Lee turned pro at age 19, in
October 1926,:26 and became a favorite with audiences.:30 At 5 feet 9
inches (1.75 m) and about 144 pounds (65 kg), he fought as a
welterweight. His boxing statistics vary due to incomplete coverage
and record keeping for the sport in the 1920s and 1930s. Boxing
historian Donald R. Koss documents Lee having 60 bouts 1927â€"31, the
majority of them taking place 1927â€"28.:374â€"375 The New York Times
reported that Lee had some 200 professional matches and lost only
about 25.
May 9, 1952) was an American actor who pioneered roles for African
Americans. After careers as a jockey, boxer and musician, he became an
actor in the Federal Theatre Project, including the 1936 production of
Macbeth adapted and directed by Orson Welles. Lee later starred in
Welles's original Broadway production of Native Son (1941). A champion
of civil rights in the 1930s and 1940s, Lee was blacklisted and died
shortly before he was scheduled to appear before the House Un-American
Activities Committee. He advanced the African American tradition in
theatre pioneered by such actors as Paul Robeson. Lee was the father
of actor Carl Lee.Canada Lee was born Leonard Lionel Cornelius
Canegata on March 3, 1907, in the San Juan Hill neighborhood of
Manhattan in New York City.:3â€"4 His father, James Cornelius Lionel
Canegata, was born on the Caribbean island of St. Croix, and as a
youth had migrated to New York, where he married Lydia Whaley
Gadsen.:7 Raised by his parents in Harlem,:8 Lee had an aptitude for
music, and at age seven he began studying violin and piano with J.
Rosamond Johnson at the Music School Settlement for Colored People. He
made his concert debut at age 11, performing a student recital at
Aeolian Hall. But after seven years of music studies, without
explanation, he put away his violin and ran away from home.:11â€"13 In
1921, aged 14, Lee went to Saratoga Springs, New York, and began a
two-year career as a jockey.:14Lee returned to his parents' home in
Harlem in 1923 with no idea what he was going to do next. He
considered returning to music, but an old school friend suggested that
he try boxing.:24 At one amateur match, fight announcer Joe Humphries
saw the name "Canagata, Lee" on the card he was using. He tossed the
card aside and instead announced "Canada Lee"â€"a name that Lee liked
and adopted.:25 In the amateur ring he won 90 out of 100 bouts and the
national amateur lightweight title.Lee turned pro at age 19, in
October 1926,:26 and became a favorite with audiences.:30 At 5 feet 9
inches (1.75 m) and about 144 pounds (65 kg), he fought as a
welterweight. His boxing statistics vary due to incomplete coverage
and record keeping for the sport in the 1920s and 1930s. Boxing
historian Donald R. Koss documents Lee having 60 bouts 1927â€"31, the
majority of them taking place 1927â€"28.:374â€"375 The New York Times
reported that Lee had some 200 professional matches and lost only
about 25.
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