Adolph Caesar (December 5, 1933 – March 6, 1986) was an American film and theater actor. Known for his signature deep voice, At age 12, he contracted laryngitis which resulted in his notably deep voice.
After graduating from George Washington High School in 1952, Caesar enlisted in the United States Navy during the Korean War era, serving as a hospital corpsman for five years, and achieving the rank of chief petty officer. Upon his discharge from service, he decided to pursue a career in theater, studying drama at New York University, graduating in 1962.
Caesar reprised his role as Waters in Norman Jewison's 1984 film A Soldier's Story, an adaptation of Fuller's play. His performance was acclaimed and earned him numerous accolades, including Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor, and an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture. He also won the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Later career
On the basis of his Soldier's Story success, Caesar was cast in Steven Spielberg's The Color Purple as Old Mister Johnson, the father of Danny Glover's character. He also appeared on an episode of The Twilight Zone and an ABC Afterschool Special. Caesar's last completed film was Club Paradise which was released posthumously.
Personal life and death
Caesar had three children with his wife Diane, whom he was married to until his death.
Caesar was working on the Los Angeles set of the 1986 film Tough Guys (with Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas) when he suffered a heart attack and died a short time later.