Acting
Frank Adu
Frank Edward Robinson, born on April 25, 1937, in White Plains, New York, was a prominent figure in the arts and an influential resident of The Bronx for nearly seventy-five years. He received his education through the public schools of New York City, both in the Bronx and Manhattan, and later pursued his passion for acting at the American Community Theater under the guidance of Maxwell Glanville. On November 27, 1965, he married Claretha Fleming, with whom he raised three children.
Robinson served in the United States Marine Corps starting in 1956, and after his military service, he balanced family life with a burgeoning acting career while working for the United States Postal Service until his retirement in 2001. His deep commitment to the arts as a medium for cultural and political expression led him to co-found the African Jazz Arts Society and Studios (AJASS), a catalyst for the Black Arts and "Black is Beautiful" movements, which also gave rise to Grandassa Models and the acclaimed "Naturally" show.
Robinson not only modeled in "Naturally," but also took on the role of Director of the AJASS Repertory Theater, participating in productions such as Caste Life Revue and Portrait of Patrice Lumumba. His extensive career spanned stage, film, and television, with credits including Amiri Baraka's Slave Ship and August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone. He appeared in films like Malcolm X and Taxi Driver, and made notable television appearances on shows like Law and Order and The Cosby Show. Throughout his life, Frank Robinson was devoted to nurturing the next generation of artists as a performer, teacher, and mentor.
