Harry Belafonte Dead At 96, Music Sensation & Actor Mourned By Many

We're certainly sad to report the death of Harry Belafonte today, though proud to say that the multi-talent lived for 96 years, during which he accomplished insurmountable feats. TMZ shared the news on Tuesday (April 25). Ken Sunshine revealed to the outlet that the singer-turned-actor passed away in his Manhattan home today after battling congestive heart failure. Belafonte is survived by his wife, Pamela, and four children – one of which is Sistas actress, Shari Belafonte.

Additionally, the fallen icon has two stepchildren and several grandkids mourning their loss. Belafonte rose to fame during the 1950s, helping to popularize the genre of calypso music in America at the time. He's best known for "Day-O," or "Banana Boat Song," which appears in the film Beetlejuice and has even been sampled by Lil Wayne. He was born to Jamaican parents in New York in March 1927, and the music they introduced him to at a young age obviously influenced his own releases. Calypso, his breakthrough album, was the first to ever sell more than one million copies in a year.

Apart from setting trends and breaking records sonically, Belafonte also had a noteworthy career as an actor. His credits include Island in the Sun, Carmen Jones, and Odds Against Tomorrow. One of the entertainer's most frequent collaborators was Sidney Poitier. The two came together in the '70s for both Uptown Saturday Night and Buck and the Preacher. Of course, his resume doesn't stop there. Harry was a noted civil rights activist and spent plenty of time marching with Martin Luther King Jr. throughout the '60s.

His last public event was in December 2022, when he was honoured with the National Order of the Legion of Honour from the French government – not a bad way to go out. The recording artist touched the hearts of many with his work and the way he lived his life, causing an outpouring of heartfelt tributes to surface on social media today. Scroll on to see some of the internet's favourite memories of Harry Belafonte, and share any of yours in the comments. RIP.

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