Alvin Childress

Born: 1907-09-14

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia American actor who is best known for playing the cabdriver Amos Jones in the 1950s television comedy series Amos 'n Andy. Alvin Childress was born in Meridian, Mississippi. He was educated at Rust College, from which he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. When he initially entered college, Childress intended to become a doctor, enrolling in typical pre-med courses. He had no thoughts of becoming involved in acting, but became involved in theater outside of classes. Childress and Rex Ingram in the Federal Theatre Project production of Haiti (1938) Childress moved to New York City and became an actor with Harlem's Lafayette Players, a troupe of stock players associated with the Lafayette Theatre. Soon, he was engaged as an actor in the Federal Theater Project, the American Negro Theater, and in all-black race film productions such as Keep Punching (1939). His greatest success on the stage was his performance as Noah in the popular comedy, Anna Lucasta, which ran for 957 performances. He also worked at Teachers College of Columbia University.[3][8] Childress also operated his own radio and record store in New York City. When he learned about casting for the Amos 'n Andy television series, Childress decided to audition for a role. He was hired a year before the show went on the air.


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The Day of the Locust

as Butler
Released: 1975-05-07

Hollywood, 1930s. Tod Hackett, a young painter who tries to make his way as an art director in...

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Cheech & Chong's Next Movie

as Pinochle Player
Released: 1980-07-18

Perennially stoned Cheech and Chong tear through the city of Los Angeles, causing trouble...

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Darktown Strutters

as Bo
Released: 1975-10-07

When a prominent abortion clinic owner goes missing along with a string of other black community...

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The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings

as Horace
Released: 1976-07-16

In the world of 1930s Negro League baseball, a spirited team of renegade players travels around...

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The Main Event

as Man In Gym
Released: 1979-06-22

Hillary Kramer, a successful Perfume magnate, awakes one morning to find that her accountant has...

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Anna Lucasta

as Noah
Released: 1958-11-01

Anna Lucasta has been walking the streets in San Diego since being thrown out of home, at 19, by...

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Old Man

as Farmer on Levee
Released: 1958-11-20

In the South, convicts get a temporary release to help during a flood.

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Senior Power

as Prowling Victim
Released: 1975-01-01

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and North Hollywood Federal Savings and Loan team up...

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Jasper Goes Hunting

as (uncredited)
Released: 1944-07-27

Jasper is hunting in the jungle with his friend the Scarecrow. Along the way, they run into...

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Jasper and the Haunted House

as Blackbird (uncredited)
Released: 1942-10-22

Jasper and the Haunted House is another George Pal Puppetoon about a black boy and his troubles....

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Say Ah, Jasper

as Professor Scarecrow (uncredited) (voice)
Released: 1944-03-10

Jasper goes to the dentist.

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Perry Mason

as Janitor
First aired: 1957-09-21

The cases of master criminal defense attorney Perry Mason and his staff who handled the most...

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Sanford and Son

as uncredited
First aired: 1972-01-14

The misadventures of a cantankerous junk dealer and his frustrated son.

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The Jeffersons

as uncredited
First aired: 1975-01-18

Sitcom following a successful African-American couple, George and Louise “Weezyö Jefferson as...

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Good Times

as uncredited
First aired: 1974-02-08

Good Times is an American sitcom that originally aired from February 8, 1974, until August 1,...

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Amos 'n' Andy

as Amos Jones
First aired: 1951-06-28

A sitcom set in Manhattan's historic black community of Harlem.

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Fish

as uncredited
First aired: 1977-02-05

Fish is a spin-off television series of the sitcom Barney Miller. It starred Abe Vigoda as New...

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