Howard Cambridge, a talented individual, initially won a four-year scholarship to pursue a degree in medicine at Hofstra University. However, he made a significant career change, deciding to become an actor and leaving college in his third year. Cambridge's acting career flourished in numerous off-Broadway productions, earning him the prestigious Village Voice's Obie Award for his outstanding performance in Jean Genet's "The Blacks". He also gained a Tony Award Nomination for his portrayal in "Purlie's Victorious" on Broadway.
As a comedian, Cambridge broke into television, initially appearing on "The Tonight Show Starring Jack Paar" in 1957. He established himself as a versatile actor, taking on both comedic and dramatic roles in films during the late 1960s. One of his most notable roles was as the white bigot who wakes up to find himself turned black in the 1970 film "Watermelon Man".
Cambridge's eating habits were reportedly compulsive, which may have contributed to his untimely death at the age of 43 on the set of the television film "Victory at Entebbe" in 1976. He was set to play the role of General Idi Amin in the film.
