Leonard Graves

Leonard Graves (1927-2000) was an American actor and singer best known for narrating the 1952 television documentary Victory at Sea. Graves was the only voice on the 26-part series,[1] which won multiple awards, including a 1954 Emmy for Best Public Affairs Program,[2] a special Peabody award[3] and the Freedoms Foundation's George Washington Medal.[4]

Graves was born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1927 and began his performing career in radio. He joined the Broadway cast of The King and I as the Interpreter and also understudied for Yul Brynner as the King, filling in on many occasions. Graves took over the lead when Brynner left the show, and after a two-year run on Broadway, he joined a national tour.[5]

Graves appeared in several motion pictures, including:[6]

• Three Brave Men (1956) as Flaxman (uncredited)
• The Joker Is Wild (1957) as Tim Coogan
• The Brothers Karamazov (1958) as Third Court Officer (uncredited)
• The Buccaneer (1958) as Chighizola
• Pork Chop Hill (1959) as Lt. Cook
• A Private's Affair (1959) as General's Aide (uncredited)
• Pay or Die (1960) as Opera Singer (uncredited)
• The Story of Ruth (1960) as Reaper (uncredited)
• A Message from the Future (שדר מן העתיד) (1981) as Anderson[7] (final film role)

Graves also had guest roles in a number of television series[8] including Navy Log and The Big Picture (Army In Action episodes).[9] In 1968 he was appointed manager of the Memphis Opera Theater.[5] Graves later moved to Israel with his wife where he was active in the Israel National Opera. He reportedly died circa 2000.[10][11]