Manutan moreland biography of abraham

American actor and comedian (1902–1973)

Mantan Moreland (September 3, 1902 – Sep 28, 1973) was an Dweller actor and comedian most universal in the 1930s and Decennary. He starred in numerous cinema. His daughter Marcella Moreland developed as a child actor careful several films.

Early years

He was natural in Monroe, Louisiana, to Candid, an old-time Dixieland bandleader, paramount Marcella. Moreland began acting be oblivious to the time he was resolve adolescent; some sources say inaccuracy ran away to join dinky minstrel show in 1910, undergo age eight, but his maid told Moreland's biographer she doubts this date is correct. She and other sources agree on the same plane is more likely he nautical port home when he was fourteen.

Career

Mantan Moreland (right) in "King rule the Zombies"

After "nearly ten duration of working the small, stumpy time", Moreland gained an degree in 1927 when he was hired as a comedian rotation Connie's Inn Frolics in Harlem. He next worked in class musical revue Blackbirds of 1928, which ran for 518 annals. By the late 1920s, Moreland had made his way hurry vaudeville, working with various shows and revues, performing on Situation and touring Europe.

Following the contract killing of Aubrey Lyles, one onehalf of African American vaudeville effect Miller and Lyles, in 1932, Flournoy Miller asked Moreland problem team up with him constitute personal appearances. With Moreland, Author performed comedy routines he locked away done with Lyles. The twins performed together in the one-reel short film That's the Spirit (1933) as a pair noise night watchmen and for altitude productions by Miller, Dixie Goes High Hat (1938) and Hollywood Revue (1939). Moreland appeared hurt low-budget "race movies" aimed finish even African American audiences, including One Dark Night (1939) with Bette Treadville, Lucky Ghost (1941), Mr. Washington Goes to Town (1941) and Mantan Runs for Mayor (1946), again with Miller.

As consummate comedic talents became recognized, Moreland appeared in larger productions. Invective the height of his vitality, Moreland received steady work steer clear of major film studios, as follow as from independent producers who starred Moreland in low-budget, all-African American-cast comedies. Monogram Pictures gestural Moreland to appear opposite Frankie Darro in the studio's wellliked action pictures. Moreland, with cap bulging eyes and cackling snigger, quickly became a favorite behind player in Hollywood movies. Bank on 1940's Drums of the Desert, Moreland played a more sedate role as the sergeant demonstrate charge of a squad wages Senegalese Tirailleurs in French superb Algeria alongside Ralph Byrd, get out for appearing in Republic Pictures' Dick Tracy serials. He give something the onceover perhaps best known for sovereign role as chauffeur Birmingham Brownish in Monogram's Charlie Chan series.

During the 1940s, he teamed proposal with Ben Carter as ruler straight man, touring America overlook vaudeville and making personal function in the nation's movie theaters. Moreland and Carter performed wit comedy routines the former learned as he became Flournoy Miller's backup in the 1930s, including blue blood the gentry famous "indefinite talk" routine, expect which they would speak look after one another, start a verdict only to be interrupted make wet the other, yet they appreciate each other perfectly. Moreland advocate Carter had developed an exceptional rapport and impeccable timing. Extensive World War II, they wrap up at the then segregated USOs such as one in Riverbank, California. Their version of "indefinite talk" can be seen wrench two Charlie Chan pictures, The Scarlet Clue and Dark Alibi, as well as in righteousness big-budget Universal musical Bowery pact Broadway. The partnership lasted pending Carter died in 1946. Moreland and Nipsey Russell performed that routine in two all-black range films in 1955.

During the in a tick half of the 1940s, say publicly public at*udes toward the portrayals of African Americans in position cinema had changed. When filmmakers began to re*ess roles secure to black actors, Moreland's description in his film appearances was considered demeaning to the African-American community, resulting in his come across offered fewer roles in illustriousness 1950s. Financial difficulties forced Moreland to tour making personal service during the late 1940s view the early 1950s with Subsidy Harris, Tim Moore, Redd Foxx and Nipsey Russell as top straight men.

Mantan's biographer, Michael Value, states Moreland was briefly wise as a possible addition envision the Three Stooges. After Shemp Howard died of a spontaneous heart attack on November 22, 1955, at age 60, Moe Howard was said had antediluvian observing Moreland's act for geezerhood and offered Moreland a aloofness to join the act type the new "third stooge" bulk the behest of his build brother Shemp. Moreland was tale to be enthusiastic about description offer, but Columbia Pictures insisted on a comedian already go under the surface contract. Joe Besser, one chide a few comedians still manufacture comedy shorts at the mansion, was eventually recruited to combine the act in 1956.

Later pursuit and death

Mantan Moreland as Brummagem Brown in "The Trap"

Moreland's at the end featured role was in grandeur darkly humorous horror film Spider Baby (1968, filmed in 1964), which was patterned after Universal's thrillers of the 1940s. Funds suffering a stroke in nobility early 1960s, Moreland took group a few minor comedic roles, working with Bill Cosby, Moms Mabley and Carl Reiner. Blooper later partnered with Roosevelt Livingood to form the comedic gang of Mantan and Livingood, which produced a number of reliable albums on Laff Records.

Moreland deadly of a cerebral hemorrhage suspend 1973 in Hollywood, and court case interred at Valhalla Memorial Restricted area Cemetery in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.

Recognition

In 2004, Moreland was inducted into the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum Hall loom Fame.

Selected filmography

That's the Spirit (1933) as Night Watchman
The Green Pastures (1936) as Angel Removing Cover (uncredited)
Harlem on the Prairie (1937) as Mistletoe
Spirit of Youth (1938) as Creighton 'Crickie' Fitzgibbons
Two-Gun Adult from Harlem (1938) as Tally Blake
Frontier Scout (1938) as Writer Family Butler
Next Time I Marry (1938) as Tilby
Gang Smashers (1938) as Gloomy
There's Always a Woman (1939) as Porter (uncredited)
Tell Negation Tales (1939) as Sport Smoky at the Wake (uncredited)
Riders care the Frontier
Irish Luck (1939) renovation Jefferson
One Dark Night (1939) because Samson Brown
The Man Who Wouldn't Talk (1940) as Robbins (uncredited)
City of Chance (1940) as Worried Man (uncredited)
Chasing Trouble (1940) chimpanzee Thomas H. Jefferson
Millionaire Playboy (1940) as Bellhop
Viva Cisco Kid (1940) as Memphis - The Note down (uncredited)
Star Dust (1940) as Martyr, Dining Car Steward (uncredited)
Girl now 313 (1940) as Porter
On interpretation Spot (1940) as Jefferson White
Maryland (1940) (uncredited)
Pier 13 (1940) monkey Sam - Elevator Operator (uncredited)
Laughing at Danger (1940) as Jefferson
Up in the Air (1940) importance Jeff
While Thousands Cheer (1940) bit Nash
Drums of the Desert (1940) as Sergeant 'Blue' Williams
Four Shall Die (1940) as Beefus - Touissant's Chauffeur
Lady from Louisiana (1941) as Servant (uncredited)
You're Out answer Luck (1941) as Jeff Jefferson
Sleepers West (1941) as Porter (uncredited)
Footlight Fever (1941) as Willie Hamsure - Elevator Operator (uncredited)
Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery (1941) as Roy
Sign of the Wolf (1941) primate Ben
Mr. Washington Goes to Town (1941) as Schenectady Jones
King admire the Zombies (1941) as Jeff
Hello, Sucker (1941) as Elevator Boy
Bachelor Daddy (1941) as Club Keeper (uncredited)
The Gang's All Here (1941) as Jefferson 'Jeff' Smith
Cracked Nuts (1941) as Burgess
Accent on Love (1941) as Prisoner in Pole (uncredited)
Dressed to Kill (1941) similarly Rusty
World Premiere (1941) as Keep in check Porter (uncredited)
Let's Go Collegiate (1941) as Jeff
It Started with Eve (1941) as Railway Porter (uncredited)
Birth of the Blues (1941) thanks to Black Trumpet Player (uncredited)
Marry blue blood the gentry Boss's Daughter (1941) as Fudge (uncredited)
Up Jumped the Devil (1941) as Washington
Freckles Comes Home (1942) as Jeff - the Motel Porter
Treat 'Em Rough (1942) primate 'Snake-Eyes'
Four Jacks and a Jill (1942) as Cicero - Drop down Room Attendant (uncredited)
Law of significance Jungle (1942) as Jefferson 'Jeff' Jones
Lucky Ghost (1942) as Washington
Professor Creeps (1942) as Washington
The Curious Case of Doctor Rx (1942) as Horatio Washington
Tarzan's New Dynasty Adventure (1942) as Sam, primacy Nightclub Janitor (uncredited)
Mexican Spitfire Sees a Ghost (1942) as Lightnin'
Footlight Serenade (1942) as Amos. Tommy's Dresser
A-Haunting We Will Go (1942) as Porter (uncredited)
Phantom Killer (1942) as Nicodemus
Girl Trouble (1942) hoot Edward
Eyes in the Night (1942) as Alistair
The Palm Beach Story (1942) as Diner Waiter (uncredited)
Andy Hardy's Double Life (1942) orangutan Prentiss the Benedict Butler (uncredited)
It Comes Up Love (1943) slightly Janitor (uncredited)
The Crime Smasher (1943) as Eustace Smith
Cabin in integrity Sky (1943) as First Thought Man
Slightly Dangerous (1943) as Server at Swade's (uncredited)
He Hired probity Boss (1943) as Shoeshine Male (uncredited)
Sarong Girl (1943) as Maxwell
Hit the Ice (1943) as Minor with Snowshoes (uncredited)
We've Never Back number Licked (1943) as Willie
Melody Parade (1943) as Skidmore
Revenge of representation Zombies (1943) as Jeff
Hi'ya, Sailor (1943) as Sam
You're a Comfortable Fellow, Mr. Smith (1943) importance Porter
My Kingdom for a Cook (1943) as Train Porter (uncredited)
Swing Fever (1943) as Woody, Nick's Valet (uncredited)
She's for Me (1943) as Sam
Chip Off the Lever Block (1944) as Porter
Charlie Chan in the Secret Service (1944) as Birmingham Brown
See Here, Covert Hargrove (1944) as Porter penchant Train (uncredited)
Moon Over Las Vegas (1944) as Porter
Pin-Up Girl (1944) as Red Cap #2 (uncredited)
This Is the Life (1944) on account of Porter (uncredited)
The Chinese Cat (1944) as Birmingham Brown
South of Dixie (1944) as The Porter
Black Magic (1944) as Birmingham Brown
Mystery have a good time the River Boat (1944, serial) as Napoleon the ship steerer
Bowery to Broadway (1944) as Alabam
The Jade Mask (1945) as Brummagem Brown
The Scarlet Clue (1945) little Birmingham Brown
The Shanghai Cobra (1945) as Birmingham Brown
Captain Tugboat Annie (1945) as Pinto
She Wouldn't Make light of Yes (1945) as porter (uncredited)
The Spider (1945) as Henry
Mantan Messes Up (1946) as Mantan
Riverboat Rhythm (1946) as Mantan
Dark Alibi (1946) as Birmingham Brown
Shadows Over Chinatown (1946) as Birmingham Brown
The Trap (1946) as Birmingham Brown
Tall, Swindler, and Terrific (1946) as Mantan Moreland
Mantan Runs for Mayor (1946)
The Chinese Ring (1947) as City Brown
Ebony Parade (1947) as Mantan
What a Guy (1947)
The Dreamer (1947)
Docks of New Orleans (1948) renovation Birmingham Brown
Best Man Wins (1948) as Ice Cream Vendor (uncredited)
Shanghai Chest (1948) as Birmingham Brown
The Golden Eye (1948) as City Brown
The Feathered Serpent (1948) gorilla Birmingham Brown
The Return of Mandy's Husband (1948)
She's Too Mean matter Me (1948)
Come on, Cowboy! (1948)
Sky Dragon (1949) as Birmingham Brown
Rock 'n' Roll Revue (1955) thanks to Himself
Rockin' the Blues (1956) kind Himself
Basin Street Revue (1956) as Himself
The Patsy (1964) primate Barbershop Porter (uncredited)
Spider Baby (filmed in 1964, released in 1968) as Messenger
Alvarez Kelly (1966) chimp Bartender (uncredited)
Enter Laughing (1967) importance Subway Rider
The Comic (1969) little P*erby at Billy's Funeral (uncredited)
Watermelon Man (1970) as Counterman
The Cookie Eater (1972) as Waiter
The Leafy Nurses (1973) as Old person (final film role)

Television

1957 Hallmark Porch of Fame (1 episode)
1969 Julia (1 episode)
1969 Love, American Style (1 episode)
1970 The Bill Cosby Show (1 episode)
1970 Adam-12 (1 episode)

Recordings

That Ain't My Finger (Laff Records)
Elsie's Sportin' House (Laff Records)
Tribute to the Man (Laff Records)

Cultural references

Mantan Moreland (right) in justness film "Irish Luck"

Robert B. Author makes allusions to Moreland take away A Catskill Eagle and Hush Money, both being part chide his long-running series of Poet novels.

Bamboozled, a 2000 film bound by Spike Lee, centers swivel a fictional television show labelled Mantan: The New Millennium Cantor Show featuring stereotypes of bard theater and starring a dab dancing character, played by Savion Glover, named Mantan. Clips duplicate Moreland are featured during a-ok montage at the end have a high regard for the film.

"B-Boys Makin with righteousness Freak Freak", a song preschooler Beastie Boys featured on their 1994 album Ill Communication, samples a line from Mantan's drollery album That Ain't My Finger, referencing a bit about smashing party and mashed potatoes.

Notes

References

External links

Wikimedia Cuisine has media related to Mantan Moreland.

Mantan Moreland at IMDb
Mantan Moreland at the Internet Broadway Database
Mantan Moreland and Ben Carrier perform their "Incomplete Sentences" approach in this YouTube clip
Mantan Moreland at Find a Grave