William Marshall (Blacula) trained as a classical actor and performed in Shakespeare plays on stage.

Besides Blacula, Marshall's other most memorable role was "The King of Cartoons" on Pee Wee's Playhouse. He has also appeared in TV episodes of Star Trek and Bonanza.

The London Sunday Times once hailed Marshall as "the best Othello of our time."

Marshall died in Los Angeles, California in 2003 from complications from Alzheimer's disease.

Pam Grier worked as a receptionist at American International Pictures in the late 60's where she was discovered by director Roger Corman.

Grier's first movie was a bit part in Russ Meyer's Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970).

Michael Conrad (Sheriff Dunlop) was best known for his role in television's Hill Street Blues.

by Millie De Chirico

SOURCES:
That's Blaxploitation! Roots of the Baadasssss 'Tude (Rated X By an All-Whyte Jury) by Darius James
Blacks In American Films and Television by Donald Bogle
Allmovieguide.com
IMDB.com
Blackhorrormovies.com
The New York Times
DVD Talk