An influential figure in the 1960s, he was more renowned for his role as a political activist and author rather than as a film actor. He gained prominence as a member of the Black Panther Party and wrote "Soul on Ice," an autobiographical work that became a bestseller. His life was marked by radical activism, a period of exile, and later a shift towards conservative politics. Despite his significant cultural and political impact, his involvement in film was minimal and not a defining aspect of his legacy.