Their Love Story Started with Hate Letters—See How This Interracial Couple is Winning Today
Now Trending:
Wake Forest residents co...
Elderly Woman Without Ch...
If You Have These Cabine...
The Heartbreaking Final ...
Jokes Daddy
HOME
PAGES
CATEGORIES
Their Love Story Started with Hate Letters—See How This Interracial Couple is Winning Today
Millonaire Goat | October 28, 2024 | Celebrity | No Comments
Actor Leslie Uggams has had an exciting career in both theater and film.
Even with a remarkable career spanning seven decades, the singer and actress from Harlem is best known for her role in the *Deadpool* series.
However, her marriage to White Australian Grahame Pratt in 1965 challenged expectations for interracial relationships, making her life story worthy of a movie.
In 1953, Leslie, a talented singer, recorded a song for MGM when she was just 10 years old. Her aunt, soprano Eloise Uggams, recommended that she attend the famous Julliard School of Music in New York and the Professional Children’s School of New York.
But her career didn’t stop after her musical success; in 1969, she hosted *The Leslie Uggams Show,* the first network variety show hosted by a Black person since *The Nat King Cole Show.*
Source: Getty Images
However, Leslie got to know and fell in love with actor Grahame Pratt behind the scenes. During one of her famous tours in Australia, the pair reconnected in Sydney after first meeting as students at the Professional Children’s School in New York.
Leslie was aware of the challenges of dating a white man because she had dated one in her youth and her aunt had discouraged her from thinking about a future with him. Leslie shared with Ebony in 1967, “I remember the shock I felt once when I was dating a white boy.”
He sent me a color photo of himself. I showed it to my aunt. He was a young, attractive man with nice hair. I thought he was very good-looking. But my aunt lectured me after she saw the picture. “Well, I guess he’s alright,” she said, “but only on dates, huh, honey? When you’re ready to settle down, you’ll marry a nice [Black] fella, won’t you?”
Leslie said that after their lucky meeting, she kept visiting Grahame.
“At just 21 years old, it was surprising that I started to fall in love with him.”
It would be a full year before she saw him again after she left Australia.
Leslie was worried about how her family would react and what would happen if Grahame moved to the U.S. for her job, but despite her worries, they had fallen in love. When they had been engaged for five months, Grahame visited her in New York.
“I wanted to know if my family would truly accept Grahame and not just tolerate him, knowing their views on mixed marriages,” she said.
Leslie didn’t have to worry because Grahame was Australian.
Source: Getty Images
“Many white Americans feel awkward about their situation, but he didn’t.” He got along well with my friends, so he easily fit in with them. And both the men and women liked him.
While living in New York, Leslie said she received hate mail because of their marriage, even though they didn’t face the same racial issues as many others in the country.
In an interview with PEOPLE, Leslie said about her marriage, “It wasn’t as difficult as I expected. I think it’s because Grahame wasn’t a white man in America.” Naturally, they did receive some negative mail.
Leslie shared, “I sometimes get anonymous letters about being married to a white man when I go on tour in the United States. I remember getting one, of all places, in Detroit.” It was addressed to “The Little Negro Entertainer.” Those letters were painful to read and often used that term.
Grahame took on the role of Leslie’s manager, and the couple had two daughters, Danielle in 1970 and Justice in 1976.
Leslie got the lead role in the miniseries Roots in 1977, a year after their second child was born. For that role, she was nominated for an Emmy for her character Kizzy.
Two years later, she played Lillian Rogers Parks in the miniseries Backstairs at the White House, earning another Emmy nomination for Best Actress.
Source: Getty Images
In 1983, she won a Daytime Emmy Award for hosting the NBC game show Fantasy, and in 1996 she played Rose Keefer on All My Children.
Leslie has also made appearances on shows like Family Guy, I Spy, Hollywood Squares, The Muppet Show, The Love Boat, and Magnum P.I.
After fifty-five years of marriage and a granddaughter named Cassidy, Leslie and Grahame are still happily together.
“We have a lot of fun together, but it’s not always sunshine and roses,” Leslie said about their happy marriage. “We enjoy being together.”
Their love has stood the test of time and defied expectations. They support each other because they are loyal to one another and have always helped each other.
Related posts:
Kathleen Turner Shocks Fans with Stunning Comeback Amid Ongoing Health Battles
Taylor Swift responded to people who were criticizing her for drinking alcohol in public by saying, ...
R&B Legend Frankie Beverly Gone Forever: Heartbreaking Details Revealed by Family
Jennifer Grey reveals the regrets she has about Patrick Swayze
Nicole Kidman’s son is all grown up now and try not to smile when you see him today
Whoopi Goldberg has been permanently banned from Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant
John Legend and Chrissy Teigen's Decade of Love: A Romantic Italian Anniversary
Ashley Judd how look today and what doing now
Kevin Costner's Big Decision to Have Kids at 50 Backfires – Divorce Filed After 18 Years
Hugh Jackman finally breaks silence on divorce from Deborra-Lee Furness
Wake Forest residents complain about ‘offensive’ Halloween decoration
Elderly Woman Without Children Makes Astonishing Discovery That Changes Her Life
If You Have These Cabinets Above Your Fridge, Here’s the Surprising Reason Why
The Heartbreaking Final Plea of a Young Hurricane Helene Victim
Hidden Smartphone Tricks That Will Change How You Use Your Phone
You’ve Been Using Nail Clippers Wrong—Here’s What That Mysterious Hole Is Really For
Jokes Daddy© 2024 Jokes Dadd
y.Theme by MyThemeShop.
AboutContact UsDisclaimerHomeHome 1Privacy PolicyQuotesTerms & Conditions
Comments