Alvin Childress
Biography
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.
Known For & Full Filmography23 Titles
Drama Series - 1957, 16 episodes • as Janitor
The cases of master criminal defense attorney Perry Mason and his staff who handled the most difficult of cases in the aid of the innocent.
Drama Series - 1972, 16 episodes • Main Cast Role
The misadventures of a cantankerous junk dealer and his frustrated son.
Drama Series - 1975, 16 episodes • Main Cast Role
Sitcom following a successful African-American couple, George and Louise “Weezyö Jefferson as they “move on up” from working-class Queens to a ritzy Manhattan apartment. A spin-off of All in the Family.
Drama Series - 1974, 16 episodes • Main Cast Role
Good Times is an American sitcom that originally aired from February 8, 1974, until August 1, 1979, on the CBS television network. It was created by Eric Monte and Mike Evans, and developed by Norman Lear, the series' primary executive producer. Good Times is a spin-off of Maude, which is itself a spin-off of All in the Family along with The Jeffersons. The series is set in Chicago. The first two seasons were taped at CBS Television City in Hollywood. In the fall of 1975, the show moved to Metromedia Square, where Norman Lear's own production company was housed.
Drama Series - 1977, 16 episodes • Main Cast Role
Fish is a spin-off television series of the sitcom Barney Miller. It starred Abe Vigoda as New York Police Department Detective Phil Fish and Florence Stanley as his wife Bernice.
Drama Series - 1951, 16 episodes • as Amos Jones
A pair of friends in Harlem find themselves caught up in a series of misadventures, business schemes, and everyday problems, often relying on their neighbors and community to help them out of trouble.
Movie - 1974, 2h 15m • as The Janitor
With the help of an irreverent young sidekick, a bank robber gets his old gang back together to organise a daring new heist.
Movie - 1975, 2h 15m • as Butler
Hollywood, 1930s. Tod Hackett, a young painter who tries to make his way as an art director in the lurid world of film industry, gets infatuated with his neighbor Faye Greener, an aspiring actress who prefers the life that Homer Simpson, a lone accountant, can offer her.
Movie - 1979, 2h 15m • as Man In Gym
A bankrupt entrepreneur attempts to recoup some of her losses by getting a washed-out boxer she picked up as a tax loss back into the ring — an idea her protégé isn't fond of.
Movie - 1980, 2h 15m • as Pinochle Player
Perennially stoned Cheech and Chong tear through the city of Los Angeles, causing trouble wherever they go. After Cheech loses his job, the two pot enthusiasts head to the welfare offices where Cheech's girlfriend, Donna, works. Instead of collecting unemployment, they find themselves thrown back on the streets, searching for a way to earn new income. But when Cheech's cousin, "Red" Mendoza, arrives, things get even crazier.
Movie - 1960, 2h 15m • as Guest Announcer at Judge Carter's Ball (uncredited)
Despite the dissapproval of his grown son and daughter, 51-year-old widdower and wealthy restauranteur Harvey Howard decides it's 'high time' to he gets his college degree. And he's in for the full ride: living in the dorms, joing a fraternity, falling in love, and even getting some studying in.
Movie - 1976, 2h 15m • as Horace
Top baseball pitcher Bingo Long is fed up with how his Negro League team owner treats him, so he forms his own lineup, recruiting big-hitting Leon Carter and Charlie Snow, who dreams of playing in the majors. Boycotted by black teams, Long's outfit play minor league white teams, earning more attention as entertainers than as players. However, their success wins them a chance to play again in the Negro League, this time as equals.
Movie - 1975, 2h 15m • as Bo
When a prominent abortion clinic owner goes missing along with a string of other black community leaders, her singing daughter and her fellow female biker gang members investigate.
Movie - 1971, 2h 15m • as Mr. Clayton
Miles C. Banyon is a private investigator in 1930s Los Angeles. In this TV movie—which served as the pilot episode for the short-lived TV show—Banyon's new client, a young woman, is found dead in his office...shot with his own gun.
Movie - 1958, 2h 15m • as Farmer on Levee
In the South, convicts get a temporary release to help during a flood.
Movie - 1958, 2h 15m • as Noah
The estranged family of a reformed prostitute calls her back home to get her married to an affluent acquaintance out of greed.
Movie - 1982, 2h 15m • as Mr. Jacobs
Heated confrontations and revelations result when a divorcee returns with her young son to the home of her two sisters.
Movie - 1945, 2h 15m • Main Cast Role
To get his comeuppance, Jasper sets a series boobytraps for Scarecrow.
Movie - 1942, 2h 15m • as Blackbird (uncredited)
Jasper and the Haunted House is another George Pal Puppetoon about a black boy and his troubles. This time, the scarecrow switches a sign that leads Jasper to a haunted house instead of a deacon's place where he brings a pie.
Movie - 1944, 2h 15m • as Professor Scarecrow (voice) (uncredited)
Jasper is hunting in the jungle with his friend the Scarecrow. Along the way, they run into Bugs Bunny, making a rare cameo in a non-Warner Bros. production.
Movie - 1975, 2h 15m • as Prowling Victim
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and North Hollywood Federal Savings and Loan team up to teach senior citizens some useful tips on avoiding purse snatcher, burglars, and armed robbers.
Movie - 1944, 2h 15m • as Professor Scarecrow (uncredited) (voice)
Jasper goes to the dentist.
Movie - 1943, 2h 15m • as Professor Scarecrow (voice)
Jasper and the scarecrow play some piano.