A fascinating career in theater and movies has been had by actor Leslie Uggams.
Even with a brilliant seven-decade career, the Harlem-born singer and actress is most recognized for her role in the Deadpool series.
Her life, however, might be the subject of a behind-closed-doors film because her 1965 marriage to White Australian Grahame Pratt defies all expectations for an interracial union.
Ten-year-old Leslie was a gifted singer who recorded a song for MGM in 1953. Soprano Eloise Uggams, her aunt, recommended to her the Professional Children’s School in New York and the esteemed Julliard School of Music.
But her career was far from done following her musical triumph; in 1969, she became the first Black person to anchor a network variety show since “The Nat King Cole Show,” with “The Leslie Uggams Show.”
But it was behind the scenes where she met and fell in love with actor Grahame Pratt. They had initially met as pupils at Professional Children’s School in New York and reconnected in Sydney during one of Leslie’s well-known Australian tours.
Leslie knew the drawbacks of seeing a white man because she had dated one in her youth and her aunt had told her not to think about a future with him.
“I remember the shock I felt once when I was dating a white boy,” Leslie told Ebony in 1967.
Over email, he provided me a color photo of himself. Aunt was showed it. He was a young, handsome guy with stunning hair. He struck me as really handsome. But my aunt looked at me and began lecturing me. He seems okay, I suppose, but only on dates, right, honey? she said. You’ll marry a nice [Black] guy when you’re ready to commit, won’t you?
Leslie reported that after their lucky meeting, she continued to see Grahame.
“It was unexpected when I started to fall in love with him at just 21 years old.”
She left Australia and it would be a whole year before she saw him again.
Leslie had fallen in love despite her worries about how her family would respond and what would happen to them if Grahame had to go to the US for Leslie’s career. Grahame visited her in New York after five months of engagement.
Knowing my family’s opinions on mixed marriages, I wanted to know if they would truly welcome Grahame and not simply tolerate him, the woman stated.
Leslie, however, should not have worried because Grahame was an Australian.
He did not feel self-conscious about his situation, as many white Americans do. Because he liked my friends, he blended in with them right away. And he had good opinion from both the men and the ladies.
Though they did not face the same racial challenges as the rest of the country, Leslie claimed she got hate mail because of their marriage while living in New York.
“It wasn’t as difficult as I anticipated,” Leslie stated in a PEOPLE interview. Grahame was not a white man in America, which is why I believe it. Naturally, though, we received correspondence.
“I occasionally get anonymous letters about being married to a white man when I go on tour in the United States,” Leslie added. Of all the places, I recall getting one in Detroit. Addressed to “The Little Negro Entertainer,” it arrived to the club. It is common knowledge that they are unpleasant to read.
Grahame took over as manager of Leslie, and the couple welcomed Justice in 1976 and Danielle in 1970.
A year after their second child was born, in 1977, Leslie landed the main part in the miniseries “Roots”. She was nominated for an Emmy for the series as Kizzy.
Two years later, she played Lillian Rogers Parks in the miniseries “Backstairs at the White House,” for which she received a Best Actress Emmy nomination.
Her hosting of the NBC game program “Fantasy” brought her a Daytime Emmy in 1983, and in 1996 she portrayed Rose Keefer on “All My Children.”
She has guest starred on television shows like Family Guy, I Spy, Hollywood Squares, The Muppet Show, The Love Boat, and Magnum P.I.
Having a granddaughter named Cassidy, Leslie and Grahame have been happily married for fifty-five years.
“We enjoy ourselves a lot together, but things aren’t always sunshine and roses,” Leslie said of her contented marriage. While we are together, we enjoy ourselves.
Love between these two has stood the test of time and exceeded all expectations. They have always supported and been devoted to one another, so they encourage one another.
