Sam Lucas

Sam Lucas was an African-American actor, comedian, singer and songwriter born to free black parents in 1848. A former barber, he was once described as the "Grand Old Man of the Negro Stage". As a youngster he showed talent for guitar and singing. He started as a black-face minstrelsy on riverboats around 1858, later became a more serious drama actor with roles in 'The Creole Show' and 'A Trip to Coontown', his best known performances was in 'Out of Bondage' in 1875 and became the first actor to portray the role of Uncle Tom on stage and later starred in the movie version of 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' for the Peerless Film Company in 1914, during the filming he became sick and died two years later on January 5, 1916.