Woody Strode

Biography

Woody Strode was a trailblazing athlete and actor born on July 25, 1914, in Los Angeles to parents of African-American and Native American descent. A standout decathlete at UCLA, he also played football, becoming one of the first Black American players in the NFL post-war era. He transitioned to film acting, earning a Golden Globe nomination for his role as a powerful gladiator in Spartacus (1960).