Paul Danquah facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Paul Danquah
Paul Danquah photographed in 1973.
Born	Joseph Paul Walcott (1925-05-25)25 May 1925 London, England
Died	13 August 2015(2015-08-13) (aged 90) Tangier, Morocco
Nationality	British
Alma mater	Inner Temple
Occupation	Actor, barrister
Notable work	A Taste of Honey (1961)
Parent(s)	Bertha May Walcott and J. B. Danquah
Relatives	Nana-Ama Danquah (niece)

Paul Danquah, whose birth name was Joseph Paul Walcott, was a British actor and lawyer. He was born on May 25, 1925, and passed away on August 13, 2015. Paul Danquah became well-known for his role in the 1961 film A Taste of Honey. This movie was based on a popular play by Shelagh Delaney. After his acting career, he worked as a lawyer and a bank consultant. His father was J. B. Danquah, an important statesman from Ghana.

Paul Danquah's Early Life and Education

Paul Danquah was born Joseph Paul Walcott in London, England. He grew up in London. His mother, Bertha May Walcott, was English. His father, Joseph Boakye "J.B." Danquah, was a Ghanaian politician. Paul was the oldest of his father's many children.

Paul Danquah studied law. He became a qualified lawyer, known as a barrister, in England at the Inner Temple. He also qualified to practice law in Ghana and in Washington, D.C., USA.

Working for the World Bank

After his law studies, Danquah worked as a consultant for the World Bank. The World Bank is an international organization that helps countries develop and reduce poverty. He worked there until he retired in 1986. While living in Washington, D.C., he became friends with many famous African-American artists. These friends included Maya Angelou, James Baldwin, Roberta Flack, and Nina Simone.

Paul Danquah's Acting Career

While he was still a student, Paul Danquah started his acting journey. His first movie role was in the British film A Taste of Honey in 1961. He played the character of Jimmy. In the film, he shared a kiss with his co-star, Rita Tushingham. She later said this might have been the first interracial kiss shown on screen.

A review in The New York Times praised his performance. It said that Paul Danquah, in his first movie, was "gentle and subtle" in his role.

Presenting Children's TV

In 1965, Paul Danquah became a presenter for the BBC Two television series Play School. This was a popular children's program in the UK. He is believed to be the first black presenter of a children's show in the United Kingdom.

Later Life and Discoveries

From 1956 to 1961, Paul Danquah lived in a flat in Battersea with his friend Peter Pollock. During this time, in late 1961, Danquah helped arrange for artist Don Bachardy to draw the famous painter Francis Bacon.

In the late 1970s, Danquah moved with Peter Pollock to Tangier, Morocco. Years later, in the late 1990s, Danquah and Pollock found a suitcase. It contained many drawings by Francis Bacon. These drawings were bought by the Tate museum in 1996. They were then shown in an exhibition in 1999.

Paul Danquah passed away in Tangier on August 13, 2015. He was 90 years old. According to his niece, Meri Nana-Ama Danquah, he was buried next to Peter Pollock in Boubana Cemetery, as he had wished.

Paul Danquah's Film Roles

Paul Danquah's Television Appearances