Howard da Silva was one of over 324 actors, writers and directors who fell victim to the Hollywood blacklisting of the early 1950s, and had his career effectively ruined. He originally was a steelworker before making his debut, at the age of 20, in New York, on stage, and made a name for himself on Broadway before going to Hollywood, but kept up his stage work after making the move to films. His most memorable performance came in the 1943 Broadway production of "Oklahoma!". In Hollywood he became a well-liked character actor, appearing in such films as Sergeant York, The Big Shot and The Lost Weekend. In 1947 his career became threatened when the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) began its investigation into alleged Communist control of Hollywood. Actor Robert Taylor, called as a "friendly witness", accused many of his fellow actors and writers of either being Communists or having Communist sympathies. When questioned about da Silva, Taylor said, "I can name a few who seem to sort of disrupt things once in a while. Whether or not they are Communists I don't know. One chap we have currently, I think is Howard da Silva. He always seems to have something to say at the wrong time." On November 25, 1947, a meeting of Hollywood executives held in New York released a statement, "The Waldorf Statement", that announced they were imposing a blacklist aimed at anyone named or suspected as a Communist. "We will forthwith discharge or suspend without compensation those in our employ and we will not re-employ any of the 10 until such time as he is acquitted or has purged himself of contempt and declares under oath that he is not a Communist." Howard appeared in a few more films before he was called before HUAC, refused to answer any of the committee's questions and was promptly blacklisted by the studios. He kept working in the theatre, and once the blacklist was lifted in the early 1960s made a minor return to film and television. He passed away two years after making his last movie.


Although he was named by writer Martin Berkeley, he was investigated by the FBI as member of the Communist Party and was subpoenaed to appear before the House Committee on Un-American Activities. He testified on March 21, 1951 and was the first witness from Hollywood to invoke the Fifth Amendment objecting to being called to testify against himself. As a result he was listed in Red Channels and could find no more work in Hollywood and Broadway for one decade. Played Jud Fry in the original 1943 stage production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma!. Between 1974 and 1977, he appeared in 26 episodes of the CBS Radio Mystery Theater. Was nominated for Broadway's 1960 Tony Award as best supporting or featured actor in a musical for "Fiorello!". Played Benjamin Franklin on Broadway in the original production of 1776, in the movie version of 1776 (1972) and in a National Park Service film presented in the 70s and 80s at Ben Franklin's home at Franklin Court, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.