Lincoln Kilpatrick was born on February 12, 1932, in St. Louis, Missouri, a city that would later become a significant milestone in his illustrious acting career. He was fortunate enough to receive encouragement from none other than the legendary blues singer Billie Holiday to pursue his passion for acting.
Kilpatrick's academic pursuits led him to earn a degree in drama from Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri, a prestigious institution that would lay the foundation for his future success. His big break in the entertainment industry came when he acted alongside Sidney Poitier in the hit Broadway play "A Raisin in the Sun," a performance that would set the tone for his future endeavors.
Throughout his career, Kilpatrick appeared in numerous stage plays, including "Blues for Mr. Charlie," "The Slave," "Hallelujah Baby!," "Take a Giant Step," and "The Black," which featured notable co-stars such as Cicely Tyson and Louis Gossett Jr. His film debut came in the 1958 crime drama thriller "Cop Hater," where he played the role of Detective Dave Foster.
Kilpatrick's most memorable movie roles include the bitter Zachary in the science fiction gem "The Omega Man" (1971),a burnt-out priest Father Paul in the cult classic "Soylent Green" (1973),Olympic athlete Woody Russo in "Chosen Survivors" (1974),a crazed transvestite homosexual psycho Billy Most in "Together Brothers" (1974),and a venerable old felon Cresus in the supernatural horror chiller "Prison" (1987). He also appeared in "Fortress" (1992),a futuristic science fiction prison winner, and played the role of wise trustee inmate Abraham.
In addition to his film and stage credits, Kilpatrick made numerous guest appearances on popular TV shows, including "Naked City," "Then Came Bronson," "Medical Center," "Ironside," "McCloud," "Mannix," "Harry O," "Baretta," "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century," "The Jeffersons," "The Greatest American Hero," "Hill Street Blues," "Trapper John, M.D.," "Frasier," "Melrose Place," "NYPD Blue," and "ER."
Kilpatrick's contributions to the entertainment industry extended beyond his acting career. He co-founded the Kilpatrick-Cambridge Theatre Arts School in Hollywood, California in 1971, and holds the distinction of being the first black member of the Lincoln Center Repertory Company.
In his personal life, Kilpatrick was married to his wife Helen Ferguson for 47 years, and they had three children together: Erik Kilpatrick, Lincoln Kilpatrick Jr., and Dacarla Kilpatrick. Dacarla is an actress, director, and editor, while Erik and Lincoln Jr. are both actors. Lincoln Kilpatrick passed away on May 18, 2004, at the age of 72, due to complications from lung cancer.
