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Paul Harris (actor)

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Paul Harris
Paul Harris and Martha Flower (1959)
Born
Paul Elwood Harris

September 15, 1917
Los Angeles County, California, U.S.
DiedAugust 25, 1985(1985-08-25) (aged 67)
Los Angeles County, California, U.S.
Other namesPaul E. Harris
Occupation(s)Actor, singer, composer
Years active1950s - 1980s

Paul Harris (September 15, 1917 – August 25, 1985) was an American actor. He had roles in films such as All Night Long, Across 110th Street, The Slams, and Truck Turner.

Background

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Harris was born and raised in Pasadena, California. At the age of sixteen, he became interested in entertainment and the theatrical world. He decided to study professionally at the Hebert Wall School of Music and The Actors Laboratory, both in Hollywood. He was chosen to study and appear in plays at the Pasadena Community Playhouse.

He became one of the first known black actors and singers, appearing with such renowned organizations as the “George Garner Community Sing Association”, “The DePaur Infantry Chorus”, which took him to New York where he studied at the American Theatre Wing. Harris traveled the U.S. with the touring company of the Broadway hit Show Boat for over a year. He also traveled the world with George Gershwin's company of Porgy & Bess which was supported by the United States and sponsored by the State Department. This exposure propelled him to become involved in theatrical enterprises in such European countries as England, Italy, France, and Germany.

Harris at one time was engaged to Danish model Maud Berthelsen,[1] who later became an actress. She was nominated for best supporting actress in the film Epilogue.[2]

Harris died of cancer in Los Angeles, California, on 25 August 1985.[3]

Career

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Stage

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Harris was a singer, stage, film and television actor.[4] He had appeared on Broadway and had been part of international theater tours.[5] In 1949, he played the part of the doorman in the musical comedy Show Boat which was playing at Los Angeles's Greek Theater.[6][7] The following month he was in the musical Annie, Get Your Gun as Major Domo.[8]

Film and television

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In the late 1950s, looking for work, he left the United States for Europe.[9] He came to Paris with the cast of Free and Easy.[10] In England he secured a starring role in the 1962 film All Night Long.[11] In it he played the part of piano player Aurelius Rex in an Othello-like role who becomes victim of the devious and sinister motivated actions by his drummer Johnny Cousin, played by Patrick McGoohan. He is almost driven into an act of violence against his partner, singer Delia, played by Marti Stevens.[12][13] In 1966, he had a part in an episode of The Baron which starred Steve Forrest, episode: There's Someone Close Behind You as Wayne.[14] In 1974, he had a role in the film Truck Turner that starred Isaac Hayes. He played the part of a mean and ruthless pimp, Gator Johnson.[15][16] In 1974, Harris got a leading role as Pasha in the low-budget film Jive Turkey aka Baby Needs a New Pair of Shoes. The film also starred Frank deKova.[17][18]

Stage and musical appearances

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Plays and musicals
Title Role # Director Venue Year Notes #
Show Boat Doorman Edward Reveaux Greek Theater, Los Angeles 1949 Opened July 4[19][20]
Annie, Get Your Gun Major Domo Edward Reveaux Greek Theater, Los Angeles 1949 Opened July 4
Blues Opera / Free And Easy Robert Breen Carré Theater, Amsterdam 1959 Produced at the Carré Theater, Amsterdam, December 17, 1959, to its close at
the Alhambra, Paris, January 15, 1960

[21]

Filmography

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Film
Title Role Director Year Notes #
All Night Long Aurelius Rex Basil Dearden 1962 Central role
For Love of Ivy Dealer Daniel Mann 1968
Star! Soldier Robert Wise 1968 Uncredited
Across 110th Street Mr. C Barry Shear 1972
The Mack Blind Man Michael Campus 1973
The Slams Jackson Barney Jonathan Kaplan 1973 as Paul E. Harris
Truck Turner Richard Leroy 'Gator' Johnson Jonathan Kaplan 1974
Uptown Saturday Night Police officer Sidney Poitier 1974 Uncredited
Baby Needs a New Pair of Shoes Pasha Bill Brame 1974 Main starring role. Film aka Jive Turkey
Let's Do It Again Jody Tipps Sidney Poitier 1975 as Paul E. Harris
Donny's House Michael Albanese 1987 TV movie, (final film role)
Television
Title Episode # Role Director Year Notes #
The Baron There's Someone Close Behind You Wayne Roy Ward Baker 1966 Season 1, Episode 14
The Silent Force In by Nine, Out by Five Saul 1970 Season 1, Episode 9
Sanford and Son Fred, the Reluctant Fingerman Daniel Tracy Jack Shea 1973 Season 3, Episode 3. Uncredited role
Sanford and Son The Oddfather Daniel Tracy James Sheldon 1976 Season 5, Episode 13
Sanford Freeway Corban Hills Man #1 Jim Drake 1981

References

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  1. ^ Jet 8 Nov 1962 Page 33 Stogie-Chomping Cutie
  2. ^ The 1965 Film Daily Year Book of Motion Pictures Page 79
  3. ^ Theatre World, Volume 42 Page 228
  4. ^ Theatre World Volume 42 Page 228
  5. ^ Fandango Paul Harris Overview
  6. ^ The Billboard July 16, 1949 Page 48 Out-of-Town Show Boat (Opened July 4) Greek Theater, Los Angeles
  7. ^ Theatre World, Volume 42 Page 228
  8. ^ The Billboard August 6, 1949 Page 41 Out-Of-Town Openings, Annie, Get Your Gun
  9. ^ Jet Jan. 4, 1962 Page 63 New York Beat
  10. ^ Jet 28 Nov 1968 29 Paris Sratched By Art Simmons
  11. ^ Jet Jan. 4, 1962 Page 63 New York Beat
  12. ^ Shakespeare and Music: Afterlives and Borrowings By Julie Sanders All That Jazz': Shakespeare and Musical Adaptation' 12
  13. ^ Four Tragedies: Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth Edited by David Bevington and David Scott Kastan Page 309 Othello, The Moo of Venice on Screen
  14. ^ TV.com The Baron Season > 1 Episode 19, There's Someone Close Behind You
  15. ^ BadAzz MoFo blaxploitation archive – TRUCK TURNER
  16. ^ Blaxploitation Films By Mikel J Koven Truck Turner (1974)
  17. ^ BadAzz MoFo Blaxploitation Archive – BABY NEEDS A NEW PAIR OF SHOES
  18. ^ Screen World, Volume 28 Page 151
  19. ^ The Billboard July 16, 1949 Page 48 Out-of-Town Show Boat (Opened July 4) Greek Theater, Los Angeles
  20. ^ Theatre World, Volume 42 Page 228
  21. ^ Harold Arlen: Rhythm, Rainbows, and Blues – Edward Jablonski Page 380 Blues Opera Free And Easy
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