Photo: David Shankbone / CC BY 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Harry Belafonte was a singer, entertainer and civil rights advocate. Born on March 1, 1927, Harry Belafonte was from New York City, New York, United States. Death is recorded on April 25, 2023, at the age of 96. Awards on record include Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical (1954), Primetime Emmy Award for Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program (1960), Paul Robeson Award (1979) and 4 more. The listed height was 182 cm.
My Take
Harry Belafonte is one of those names that makes me straighten up. He carried calypso to the world, and Calypso (1956) became the first million-selling album by a solo artist, with Day-O still lodged in the collective ear. But the music is only half the story. At the peak of his fame he poured that capital into the civil rights movement, using stardom for peace and equality when it cost him to do so. Tony, Emmy, Kennedy Center Honors, a National Medal of Arts, and a life that ran to 96 without his convictions bending. Talent plus conscience, sustained over a lifetime, is what I think a legend actually is.
This take was written by generative AI, one per person, from publicly reported facts (editorial policy). It is a reading of the record, not reporting.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Harry Belafonte
- Name (Japanese)
- ハリー・ベラフォンテ
- Reading
- はりー・べらふぉんて
- Born
- March 1, 1927 – April 25, 2023
- Origin
- New York City, New York, United States
- Height
- 182 cm
- Occupation
- singer / entertainer / civil rights advocate / peace activist / recording artist
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Pisces / Rabbit
2. Background
Awards & achievements
- 1954 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical
- 1960 Primetime Emmy Award for Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program
- 1979 Paul Robeson Award
- 1989 Kennedy Center Honors
- 1994 National Medal of Arts
- 1998 Marian Anderson Award
- Library of Congress Living Legend
3. Works & records
Filmography / notable works
| Category | Title |
|---|---|
| Notable work | Calypso |
| Notable work | Banana Boat (Day-O) |
4. Links
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
Only publicly available facts are listed; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. Base data was compiled from Wikidata from June 2026 onward; ages are recalculated daily and deaths are checked against Wikidata on an ongoing basis. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Harry Belafonte born?
Harry Belafonte was born on March 1, 1927.
When did Harry Belafonte die?
Harry Belafonte died on April 25, 2023, aged 96.
Where was Harry Belafonte from?
Harry Belafonte was from New York City, New York, United States.
What did Harry Belafonte do?
Harry Belafonte worked as singer, entertainer, civil rights advocate, peace activist, recording artist.
How tall was Harry Belafonte?
Harry Belafonte was 182 cm tall.
What was Harry Belafonte known for?
Harry Belafonte's notable works include Calypso, Banana Boat (Day-O).
Singer — see all → · Entertainer — see all → · More people from the United States → · More people born on March 1 →