Harry Baird was an American actor best known for his roles in Sapphire, The Italian Job, and The Whisperers. Born on May 12, 1931, in Georgetown, British Guiana, he made a significant impact in the film industry before his retirement due to health issues.
Personal and Family Life
Harry Baird received his education in both Canada and England. He had a close friendship with actor Michael Caine and was married at one point but later divorced. He had a stepdaughter who survived him after his passing.
Career Highlights
Baird began his acting career in 1955 with a role in A Kid for Two Farthings, which opened doors for him in British cinema. He gained recognition for his portrayal of a police-brutalized youth in the 1959 film Sapphire. Although roles for Black actors were limited at the time, he found work in various film and television projects, including the series UFO and Italian spaghetti westerns.
Death and Legacy
Harry Baird passed away on February 13, 2005, in London at the age of 73. Despite losing his sight to glaucoma, he remained positive and proactive, studying film history and adapting to his circumstances. His contributions to cinema, particularly in racially motivated roles, left a lasting impact on the industry.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| I quattro dell’apocalisse | 1975-08-12 | Bud |
| The Whisperers | 1967-07-18 | The Man Upstairs |
| La permission | 1968-07-08 | Turner |
| The Touchables | 1968-11-16 | Lilywhite |
| Trinità e Sartana figli di… | 1972-05-30 | Trinity / Trinidad |
| Campa carogna… la taglia cresce | 1973-03-01 | Corp. Washington Smith |
| Le gladiatrici | 1963-08-09 | Ubaratutu |
| Station Six-Sahara | 1963-01-11 | Sailor |
| The Oblong Box | 1969-06-11 | N’Galo |
| Taur, il re della forza bruta | 1963-06-29 | Ubaratutu |
| Cool It, Carol! | 1970-12-01 | Benny Gray |
| The Italian Job | 1969-06-02 | Big William |
| Sapphire | 1959-11-02 | Johnnie Fiddle |
| Flame in the Streets | 1961-06-19 | Billy |
| The Road to Hong Kong | 1962-03-29 | Nubian at Lamasary (uncredited) |
| Offbeat | 1961-01-01 | Gill Hall |
| Killers of Kilimanjaro | 1959-10-01 | Boraga |
| Fun and Games | 1971-10-01 | Carl |
| Tarzan the Magnificent | 1960-07-20 | Warrior Leader |
| The Small World of Sammy Lee | 1963-04-20 | Buddy Shine |
| The Count of Monte-Cristo | 1975-10-31 | Ali |
| A Kid for Two Farthings | 1955-08-15 | Jamaica (uncredited) |
| He Who Rides a Tiger | 1965-10-01 | Stan |
| Das Verrätertor | 1964-12-18 | Mate on Tramp Steamer |
| Happy DeathDay | 1968-12-12 | |
| Living Image | 1963-08-18 | Tarkido |
| The Mark | 1961-01-26 | Cole |
| Goliath e la schiava ribelle | 1963-09-04 | Slave |
| The Trial and Torture of Sir John Rampayne | 1965-11-10 | Manao |
| A Little Temptation | 1965-03-17 | Dan Adebayo |
| Tiger Bay | 1959-03-01 | Bridegroom (uncredited) |
| UFO | 1970-09-16 | Lt. Mark Bradley |
| Hurricane | 1961-07-02 | Butch |