‘Cy Grant’- the voice of ‘Lt. Green’ in Gerry Anderson’s ‘60’s Sci-Fi Series’ ‘Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons’
An audience will be gathering in Highgate, North London, on the afternoon of Saturday, 11th November 2017, for the unveiling of a Blue Plaque to celebrate the life of one of Guyana’s most eminent sons. The unveiling, has been organised by The Nubian Jak Community Trust.
‘Cy Grant’, was a Guyanese actor, writer, activist, barrister, musician, poet and an RAF navigator, who was shot down, detained and taken as a POW by the Luftwaffe during WW2. It is expected war veterans, in-service men and women, The Mayor of Haringey, along with dignitaries from his native Guyana and other Caribbean countries; Grant’s former show-business contemporaries, family and friends, as well as members of the general public – will be in attendance.
During the 1950’s, Cy Grant became the first person of colour to be featured regularly on television in the UK – mainly due to his appearances on the BBC’s Tonight Show, with journalist Bernard Levin. As an actor and singer, he appeared alongside, Dame Cleo Laine, Richard Burton and Joan Collins – among others throughout the UK, as well as on BBC radio (The Third Programme and the Overseas Service). He also hosted his own television series, For Members Only, intermingling interviews with singing and playing the guitar.
Between 1967 and 1968 he famously, voiced the character of Lieutenant Green in Gerry Anderson’s Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons– the look of Lt. Green was also based on Grant himself. In 1972, after six months at The Middle Temple Chambers, he decided to challenge discrimination through the arts and later founded the Drum Arts Centre in London, became a published poet and author of several books.
A married father of four children, Grant lived in Highgate, North London, for fifty years with his wife, Dorith, and family.