Filmography
-
Known For
Charlie Chan in the Secret Service Birmingham Brown (1944) -
The Scarlet Clue Birmingham Brown (1945) -
Dark Alibi Birmingham Brown (1946) -
Known For
The Shanghai Cobra Birmingham Brown (1945) -
Actor
The Young Nurses Old Man (1973) -
The Biscuit Eater Waiter (1972) -
Marriage: Year One Mechanic (1971) -
Adam-12 Philip Richards (1970) -
Love, American Style Stranger (segment "Love and the Fur Coat") (1969-1970) -
Watermelon Man Counterman (1970) -
The Bill Cosby Show Uncle Dewey (1970) -
The Comic Passerby at Billy's Funeral (1969) -
Julia Harry James (1969) -
Spider Baby or, the Maddest Story Ever Told Messenger (1967) -
![Enter Laughing]( "Enter Laughing")
Enter Laughing Subway Rider (1967) -
![Alvarez Kelly]( "Alvarez Kelly")
Alvarez Kelly Bartender (1966) -
![The Patsy]( "The Patsy")
The Patsy Barbershop Porter (1964) -
The Green Pastures (1959)
-
The Green Pastures (1957)
-
![The Sky Dragon]( "The Sky Dragon")
The Sky Dragon Birmingham Brown (1949) -
![The Return of Mandy's Husband]( "The Return of Mandy's Husband")
-
![She's Too Mean for Me]( "She's Too Mean for Me")
She's Too Mean for Me (1948) -
![The Dreamer]( "The Dreamer")
The Dreamer Mantan (1948) -
![Come On, Cowboy!]( "Come On, Cowboy!")
Come On, Cowboy! (1948) -
![The Feathered Serpent]( "The Feathered Serpent")
The Feathered Serpent Birmingham Brown (1948) -
![The Golden Eye]( "The Golden Eye")
The Golden Eye Birmingham Brown (1948) -
![Shanghai Chest]( "Shanghai Chest")
Shanghai Chest Birmingham Brown (1948) -
![Best Man Wins]( "Best Man Wins")
Best Man Wins Ice Cream Vendor (1948) -
![Docks of New Orleans]( "Docks of New Orleans")
Docks of New Orleans Birmingham Brown (1948) -
![What a Guy]( "What a Guy")
What a Guy (1948) -
![Ebony Parade]( "Ebony Parade")
Ebony Parade Mantan (1947) -
![The Chinese Ring]( "The Chinese Ring")
The Chinese Ring Birmingham Brown (1947) -
![Tall, Tan, and Terrific]( "Tall, Tan, and Terrific")
Tall, Tan, and Terrific Mantan Moreland (1946) -
![Mantan Runs for Mayor]( "Mantan Runs for Mayor")
Mantan Runs for Mayor (1946) -
![Mantan Messes Up]( "Mantan Messes Up")
Mantan Messes Up Mantan (1946) -
![The Trap]( "The Trap")
The Trap Birmingham Brown (1946) -
![Shadows Over Chinatown]( "Shadows Over Chinatown")
Shadows Over Chinatown Birmingham Brown (1946) -
![Dark Alibi]( "Dark Alibi")
Dark Alibi Birmingham Brown (1946) -
![Riverboat Rhythm]( "Riverboat Rhythm")
Riverboat Rhythm Mantan (1946) -
![The Spider]( "The Spider")
The Spider Henry (1945) -
![She Wouldn't Say Yes]( "She Wouldn't Say Yes")
She Wouldn't Say Yes Porter (1945) -
![Captain Tugboat Annie]( "Captain Tugboat Annie")
Captain Tugboat Annie Pinto (1945) -
![The Shanghai Cobra]( "The Shanghai Cobra")
The Shanghai Cobra Birmingham Brown (1945) -
![The Scarlet Clue]( "The Scarlet Clue")
The Scarlet Clue Birmingham Brown (1945) -
![The Jade Mask]( "The Jade Mask")
The Jade Mask Birmingham Brown (1945) -
![Bowery to Broadway]( "Bowery to Broadway")
Bowery to Broadway Alabam (1944) -
![Mystery of the River Boat]( "Mystery of the River Boat")
Mystery of the River Boat Napoleon (1944) -
![Black Magic]( "Black Magic")
Black Magic Birmingham Brown (1944) -
![South of Dixie]( "South of Dixie")
South of Dixie The Porter (1944) -
![Charlie Chan in The Chinese Cat]( "Charlie Chan in The Chinese Cat")
Charlie Chan in The Chinese Cat Birmingham Brown (1944) -
![This Is the Life]( "This Is the Life")
This Is the Life Porter (1944) -
![Pin Up Girl]( "Pin Up Girl")
Pin Up Girl Red Cap #2 (1944) -
![Moon Over Las Vegas]( "Moon Over Las Vegas")
Moon Over Las Vegas Porter (1944) -
![See Here, Private Hargrove]( "See Here, Private Hargrove")
See Here, Private Hargrove Porter on Train (1944) -
![Charlie Chan in the Secret Service]( "Charlie Chan in the Secret Service")
Charlie Chan in the Secret Service Birmingham Brown (1944) -
![Chip Off the Old Block]( "Chip Off the Old Block")
Chip Off the Old Block Porter (1944) -
![She's for Me]( "She's for Me")
She's for Me Sam (1943) -
![Swing Fever]( "Swing Fever")
Swing Fever Woody, Nick's Valet (1943) -
![My Kingdom for a Cook]( "My Kingdom for a Cook")
My Kingdom for a Cook Train Porter (1943) -
![You're a Lucky Fellow, Mr. Smith]( "You're a Lucky Fellow, Mr. Smith")
You're a Lucky Fellow, Mr. Smith Train Porter (1943) -
![Hi Ya, Sailor]( "Hi Ya, Sailor")
Hi Ya, Sailor Sam (1943) -
![Revenge of the Zombies]( "Revenge of the Zombies")
Revenge of the Zombies Jeff (1943) -
![Melody Parade]( "Melody Parade")
Melody Parade Skidmore (1943) -
![We've Never Been Licked]( "We've Never Been Licked")
We've Never Been Licked Willie (1943) -
![Hit the Ice]( "Hit the Ice")
Hit the Ice Porter with Snowshoes (1943) -
![Sarong Girl]( "Sarong Girl")
Sarong Girl Maxwell (1943) -
![He Hired the Boss]( "He Hired the Boss")
He Hired the Boss Shoeshine Man (1943) -
![Slightly Dangerous]( "Slightly Dangerous")
Slightly Dangerous Waiter at Swade's (1943) -
![Cabin in the Sky]( "Cabin in the Sky")
Cabin in the Sky First Idea Man (1943) -
![Cosmo Jones in the Crime Smasher]( "Cosmo Jones in the Crime Smasher")
Cosmo Jones in the Crime Smasher Eustace Smith (1943) -
![It Comes Up Love]( "It Comes Up Love")
It Comes Up Love Janitor (1943) -
![Andy Hardy's Double Life]( "Andy Hardy's Double Life")
Andy Hardy's Double Life Prentiss the Benedict Butler (1942) -
![Eyes in the Night]( "Eyes in the Night")
Eyes in the Night Alistair (1942) -
![Girl Trouble]( "Girl Trouble")
Girl Trouble Edward (1942) -
![Phantom Killer]( "Phantom Killer")
Phantom Killer Nicodemus (1942) -
![The Palm Beach Story]( "The Palm Beach Story")
The Palm Beach Story Diner Waiter (1942) -
![A-Haunting We Will Go]( "A-Haunting We Will Go")
A-Haunting We Will Go Porter (1942) -
![Footlight Serenade]( "Footlight Serenade")
Footlight Serenade Amos. Tommy's Dresser (1942) -
![Mexican Spitfire Sees a Ghost]( "Mexican Spitfire Sees a Ghost")
Mexican Spitfire Sees a Ghost Lightnin' (1942) -
![Tarzan's New York Adventure]( "Tarzan's New York Adventure")
Tarzan's New York Adventure Sam, the Nightclub Janitor (1942) -
![The Strange Case of Doctor Rx]( "The Strange Case of Doctor Rx")
The Strange Case of Doctor Rx Horatio B.Fitz Washington (1942) -
![Professor Creeps]( "Professor Creeps")
Professor Creeps Washington (1942) -
![Lady Luck]( "Lady Luck")
Lady Luck Washington (1942) -
![Law of the Jungle]( "Law of the Jungle")
Law of the Jungle Jefferson 'Jeff' Jones (1942) -
![Four Jacks and a Jill]( "Four Jacks and a Jill")
Four Jacks and a Jill Cicero - Wash Room Attendant (1942) -
![Treat 'Em Rough]( "Treat 'Em Rough")
Treat 'Em Rough 'Snake-Eyes' (1942) -
![Freckles Comes Home]( "Freckles Comes Home")
Freckles Comes Home Jeff - the Hotel Porter (1942) -
![Up Jumped the Devil]( "Up Jumped the Devil")
Up Jumped the Devil Washington (1941) -
![Marry the Boss's Daughter]( "Marry the Boss's Daughter")
Marry the Boss's Daughter Cook (1941) -
![Birth of the Blues]( "Birth of the Blues")
Birth of the Blues Black Trumpet Player (1941) -
![It Started with Eve]( "It Started with Eve")
It Started with Eve Railway Porter (1941) -
![Let's Go Collegiate]( "Let's Go Collegiate")
Let's Go Collegiate Jeff (1941) -
![World Premiere]( "World Premiere")
World Premiere Train Porter (1941) -
![Dressed to Kill]( "Dressed to Kill")
Dressed to Kill Rusty (1941) -
![Cracked Nuts]( "Cracked Nuts")
Cracked Nuts Burgess (1941) -
![Accent on Love]( "Accent on Love")
Accent on Love Prisoner in Courtroom (1941) -
![Hello, Sucker]( "Hello, Sucker")
Hello, Sucker Elevator Boy (1941) -
![The Gang's All Here]( "The Gang's All Here")
The Gang's All Here Jefferson 'Jeff' Smith (1941) -
![Bachelor Daddy]( "Bachelor Daddy")
Bachelor Daddy Club Janitor (1941) -
![King of the Zombies]( "King of the Zombies")
King of the Zombies Jeff (1941) -
![Mr. Washington Goes to Town]( "Mr. Washington Goes to Town")
Mr. Washington Goes to Town Schenectady Jones (1941) -
![Sign of the Wolf]( "Sign of the Wolf")
Sign of the Wolf Ben (1941) -
![Footlight Fever]( "Footlight Fever")
Footlight Fever Willie Hamsure - Elevator Operator (1941) -
![Sleepers West]( "Sleepers West")
Sleepers West Porter (1941) -
![Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery]( "Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery")
Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery Roy (1941) -
![You're Out of Luck]( "You're Out of Luck")
You're Out of Luck Jeff Jefferson (1941) -
Four Shall Die Beefus - Touissant's Chauffeur (1940)
-
![Drums of the Desert]( "Drums of the Desert")
Drums of the Desert Sgt. 'Blue' Williams (1940) -
![While Thousands Cheer]( "While Thousands Cheer")
While Thousands Cheer Nash (1940) -
![Up in the Air]( "Up in the Air")
Up in the Air Jeff (1940) -
![Laughing at Danger]( "Laughing at Danger")
Laughing at Danger Jefferson (1940) -
![Pier 13]( "Pier 13")
Pier 13 Sam - Elevator Operator (1940) -
![Maryland]( "Maryland")
Maryland (1940) -
![On the Spot]( "On the Spot")
On the Spot Jefferson White (1940) -
![Girl in 313]( "Girl in 313")
Girl in 313 Porter (1940) -
![Star Dust]( "Star Dust")
Star Dust George, Dining Car Steward (1940) -
![Viva Cisco Kid]( "Viva Cisco Kid")
Viva Cisco Kid Memphis - The Cook (1940) -
![Millionaire Playboy]( "Millionaire Playboy")
Millionaire Playboy Bellhop (1940) -
![Chasing Trouble]( "Chasing Trouble")
Chasing Trouble Thomas H. Jefferson (1940) -
![City of Chance]( "City of Chance")
City of Chance Anxious Man (1940) -
![The Man Who Wouldn't Talk]( "The Man Who Wouldn't Talk")
The Man Who Wouldn't Talk Robbins (1940) -
One Dark Night Samson Brown (1939)
-
![Irish Luck]( "Irish Luck")
Irish Luck Jefferson (1939) -
![Riders of the Frontier]( "Riders of the Frontier")
Riders of the Frontier Chappie (Cookie in credits) (1939) -
![Tell No Tales]( "Tell No Tales")
Tell No Tales Sport Black at the Wake (1939) -
![Gang Smashers]( "Gang Smashers")
Gang Smashers Gloomy (1938) -
![There's That Woman Again]( "There's That Woman Again")
There's That Woman Again Porter (1938) -
![Next Time I Marry]( "Next Time I Marry")
Next Time I Marry Tilby (1938) -
![Frontier Scout]( "Frontier Scout")
Frontier Scout Norris Family Butler (1938) -
![Two-Gun Man from Harlem]( "Two-Gun Man from Harlem")
Two-Gun Man from Harlem Bill Blake (1938) -
![Spirit of Youth]( "Spirit of Youth")
Spirit of Youth Creighton 'Crickie' Fitzgibbons (1938) -
![Harlem on the Prairie]( "Harlem on the Prairie")
Harlem on the Prairie Mistletoe (1937) -
![The Green Pastures]( "The Green Pastures")
The Green Pastures Angel Removing Hat (1936) -
ActorThat's the Spirit Night Watchman (1933)
-
Soundtrack
![Let's Go Collegiate]( "Let's Go Collegiate")
Let's Go Collegiate (1941) -
![Up in the Air]( "Up in the Air")
Up in the Air (1940) -
Soundtrack
![Riders of the Frontier]( "Riders of the Frontier")
Riders of the Frontier (1939) -
Archive footage
![The History of Comedy]( "The History of Comedy")
The History of Comedy (2017) -
![Pop Culture Beast's Halloween Horror Picks]( "Pop Culture Beast's Halloween Horror Picks")
-
![TV in Black: The First Fifty Years]( "TV in Black: The First Fifty Years")
-
![That's Black Entertainment: Westerns]( "That's Black Entertainment: Westerns")
-
![Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood]( "Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood")
-
![Mo' Funny: Black Comedy in America]( "Mo' Funny: Black Comedy in America")
-
![Horrible Horror]( "Horrible Horror")
Horrible Horror (1986) -
The Great Standups (1984)
-
Archive footage
![The Magical World of Disney]( "The Magical World of Disney")
The Magical World of Disney (1976) -
![Black History: Lost, Stolen or Strayed]( "Black History: Lost, Stolen or Strayed")
All Filmography
Did You Know
Trivia
He was the in-house comic relief artist for poverty-row Monogram Pictures. Most audiences will remember him best for his recurring role as Birmingham Brown in Monogram's "Charlie Chan" series. Unlike other studios' treatment of their black ...
Star Sign
Virgo
Personal Details
Born
Monroe, Louisiana, USA
Died
(age 71)
Hollywood, California, USA
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