Background

Born in New York City, Crosse was raised by his grandparents in Nevis after the death of his father.

Education

Bloomfield College.

Career

Foreign the British lawyer, see Rupert Cross. He returned to the United States to serve in the Army for two years before entering Bloomfield College. Crosse later worked at Brooklyn College as a counselor

Shortly before his death, Crosse was cast as Mulhall in The Last Detail (1973), but backed out after being diagnosed with terminal cancer.

On March 5, 1973, Crosse died of lung cancer in Nevis.

Achievements

• Crosse was the first African American to be nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for his role in the 1969 adaptation of William Faulkner"s The Reivers. After studying acting under John Cassavetes, Crosse appeared in two of Cassavetes" films: Shadows (for which he won a Venice Film Festival Award) and Too Late Blues (1962).

Membership

A life member of The Actors Studio, Crosse made numerous guest appearances on television in the decade prior to landing the role of Ned McCaslin in the 1969 film The Reivers, directed by and starring fellow Studio members Mark Rydell and Steve McQueen, respectively.

Connections

Partner:

Don Adams