Althea Gibson was in a John Wayne movie?

[Moose Malloy]

Just rented The Horse Soldiers, directed by John Ford, starring John Wayne & William Holden, released 1958.

Was surprised by the opening credits, to see Althea Gibson. I had no idea she acted.

It was a very small part, only like 5 lines of dialogue, but she got 4th billing & was emphasized in the trailer, so I assume she was somewhat well known for her tennis for the publicity department to showcase her, especially in such a high-profile film.

however, her part was that of a slave servant to a Southern belle scarlett o'hara type during the civil war:-(

guess serena has another reason to look up to her, let's see if she can get a part in a Tom Hanks or Tom Cruise flick.

[urban]

Yes, Moose. I think, 'she' was killed in that Ford movie by a 'Southerners' shot. She had also a brief pro tennis career, playing a match series with the blond Carol ***eros. And she was in the entourage of Sugar Ray Robinson, who sponsored her career, and toured with the Harlem Globetrotters for a while.

[Rabbit]

She also sang. She put out an album in that time period.