Earle Hyman actor who played Grandpa Huxtable on âThe Cosby Show â dies at 91
George Earle Hyman
George Earle Hyman  was born in Rocky Mount  N.C.  on Oct. 11  1926  and moved to New York when  he  was 6. Both  his  parents were schoolteachers and took  him  to  his  first play  a Brighton Beach production of Ibsenâs âGhosts â when  he  was 13.
The experience inspired  him  to take up acting and led to a lifelong fascination with Norwegian theater.  He  eventually learned Norwegian and Danish and spent much of  his  time in Norway  performing in Norwegian plays as well as translated works of Shakespeare and other English-language writers.
 Mr. Hyman  said  he  felt like a true star only in Norway â not in the United States  where  he  sometimes fielded questions and complaints about  his  decisions to play traditionally white roles in the theater.
âAs a young actor  I adored Shakespeare and walked around with a volume of his work under my arm â he told the New York Times in 1991. âOne actress saw this and said  âAinât somebody told that boy that heâs colored?â But I couldnât help it; I loved the plays that werenât written for  me .â
[TGT] was born in Rocky Mount  N.C.  on Oct. 11  1926  and moved to New York when   [TGT]   was 6. Both   [TGT]   parents were schoolteachers and took   [TGT]   to   [TGT]   first play  a Brighton Beach production of Ibsenâs âGhosts â when  he  was 13.
The experience inspired  him  to take up acting and led to a lifelong fascination with Norwegian theater.  He  eventually learned Norwegian and Danish and spent much of  his  time in Norway  performing in Norwegian plays as well as translated works of Shakespeare and other English-language writers.
  [TGT] said   [TGT]   felt like a true star only in Norway â not in the United States  where   [TGT]   sometimes fielded questions and complaints about   [TGT]   decisions to play traditionally white roles in the theater.
âAs a young actor  I adored Shakespeare and walked around with a volume of his work under my arm â he told the New York Times in 1991. âOne actress saw this and said  âAinât somebody told that boy that heâs colored?â But I couldnât help it; I loved the plays that werenât written for  me .â