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Calvin LockhartBahamian-American actor
Date of Birth: 18.09.1934
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of Kelvin Lockhart
Kelvin Lockhart was a Bahamian-American film and stage actor. He was best known for his role as the legendary gangster nicknamed 'Biggie Smalls' in the 1975 film 'Let's Do It Again'. Born in Nassau, Bahamas, Lockhart moved to New York at the age of eighteen. After spending a year at Copper Union Engineering School, he left to pursue his acting career. To make ends meet during his difficult journey to success in the industry, Kelvin worked as a private driver and carpenter in Queens.
Early Career
In 1960, Lockhart made his Broadway debut playing a gang leader in the play 'Cool World'. Unfortunately, the production did not achieve much success and was canceled after only two performances. Following this setback, Kelvin moved to Italy, where he opened his own theater. He performed as an actor and director in Italy before moving to West Germany and then to England. In England, he worked with British television, appearing in various episodic roles in TV shows and films such as 'Dendy in Aspic' and 'Salt and Pepper', although his roles were minor.
Mainstream Success
Kelvin Lockhart's breakthrough role came in 1970 in the film 'Halls of Anger', where he played an English teacher and former basketball star who becomes a deputy principal in a predominantly African-American high school. His performance received praise, with 'The New York Times' describing his appearance as that of a daytime matinee idol with chiseled facial features and velvety brown skin. That same year, Lockhart played the lead role of Reverend Deke O'Malley in the film 'Cotton Comes to Harlem', directed by Ossie Davis.
Later Career and Legacy
In 1974, Kelvin Lockhart joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, where he worked continuously. He continued to act in films, and in 1967 he appeared in the film 'Joanna' as the owner of a nightclub and the boyfriend of the legendary star Joanna Wayt. In the 1980s, Lockhart made guest appearances in seven episodes of the popular prime-time soap opera 'Dynasty', playing the character Jonathan Lake, who became the love interest of Dominique Deveraux.
Unfortunately, after his role in 'Dynasty', Lockhart struggled to find substantial acting projects and realized that his future in America was limited. In the late 1990s, he returned to the Bahamas and worked as a director for the Freeport Players Guild. Lockhart married interior designer Jennifer Miles in New York, and they had a son named Julien Lockhart Miles.
Kelvin Lockhart's last role was in the 2007 film 'Rain', which was released in the Bahamas. He passed away in a hospital in Nassau due to complications following a heart attack. Lockhart's wife, Jennifer, announced plans to establish the Kelvin Lockhart Scholarship Fund for Bahamian students interested in acting and filmmaking. The fund, now known as the Kelvin Lockhart Scholarship Foundation, is run by Jennifer Miles-Lockhart and their son, Julien.
