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Black Theater Pioneer Woodie King Jr. Dies at 88
31 Jan
Summary
- Woodie King Jr., a prominent theater figure, passed away at 88.
- He founded the New Federal Theatre to champion Black artists.
- The theater will continue as Woodie King Jr.'s New Federal Theatre.
Woodie King Jr., a significant figure in theater known for his advocacy of Black representation, has died. He was 88 years old. King passed away on Thursday from complications following emergency heart surgery in New York City.
He established the New Federal Theatre (NFT) in 1970, a company committed to showcasing Black and other underrepresented artists. NFT has produced over 450 plays, aiming to integrate diverse voices into mainstream American theater.
NFT will continue to operate under the name Woodie King Jr.'s New Federal Theatre. Many notable actors, including Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington, began their careers with the company.
King's contributions were widely recognized, including his induction into the American Theatre Hall of Fame in 2012 and a Tony Honors award in 2020. He is survived by his wife, three children, and five grandchildren.
