After appearing in Wedding in Japan in 1957 and in Cave Dwellers the same year, Ivan Dixon (Joseph Asagai) landed his role on stage in Raisin in 1959. He appeared in numerous Hollywood films and is perhaps best known for his television role as one of Hogan's Heroes, the popular 60s sitcom.
Louis Gossett, Jr. (George Murchison) has appeared in numerous Hollywood films, receiving the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in An Officer and a Gentleman in 1982. However, he is best known for his portrayal of "Fiddler" in Alex Haley's television miniseries Roots.
John Fiedler (Karl Lindner) has enjoyed a lengthy and well-earned reputation as one of this country's great character actors, appearing in numerous films such as Billy Budd, 1945; The Odd Couple, 1965; and Our Town, 1969.
After his appearance in Raisin in 1959, Lonne Elder III (Bobo) joined the Negro Ensemble Company, a theater company founded by Douglas Turner Ward, one of the moving men in the original stage production of Raisin. In 1965, Lonne Elder appeared in Day of Absence, a very successful Negro Ensemble Company production. Then, in 1967, Lonne Elder's venture into the realm of playwrighting proved successful when he penned the award-winning Ceremonies in Dark Old Men.
Douglas Turner Ward (Moving Man) founded the Negro Ensemble Company in 1967 with Robert Hooks. A director and actor, he is also well known for his two plays Day of Absence and Happy Ending.
Lloyd Richards, the director of Raisin, was named Dean of the Yale Drama School in 1979.
