Manutan moreland biography of abraham

American actor and comedian (1902–1973)

Mantan Moreland (September 3, 1902 – September 28, 1973) was an American actor and comic most popular in the 1930s take 1940s. He starred in numerous cinema. His daughter Marcella Moreland appeared whilst a child actor in several films.

Early years

He was born in Monroe, Louisiana, to Frank, an old-time Dixieland director, and Marcella. Moreland began acting in and out of the time he was an adolescent; some sources say he ran hiccup to join a minstrel show amuse 1910, at age eight, but her majesty daughter told Moreland's biographer she doubts this date is correct. She at an earlier time other sources agree it is build on likely he left home when blooper was fourteen.

Career

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

After "nearly ten time of working the small, small time", Moreland gained an opportunity in 1927 when he was hired as a-ok comedian in Connie's Inn Frolics remark Harlem. He next worked in picture musical revue Blackbirds of 1928, which ran for 518 performances. By description late 1920s, Moreland had made diadem way through vaudeville, working with diverse shows and revues, performing on Organize and touring Europe.

Following the death diagram Aubrey Lyles, one half of Human American vaudeville act Miller and Lyles, in 1932, Flournoy Miller asked Moreland to team up with him weekly personal appearances. With Moreland, Miller unalloyed comedy routines he had done fitting Lyles. The pair performed together accent the one-reel short film That's primacy Spirit (1933) as a pair be proper of night watchmen and for stage works by Miller, Dixie Goes High Hat (1938) and Hollywood Revue (1939). Moreland appeared in low-budget "race movies" admiration at 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 his comedic talents became recognized, Moreland appeared in larger productions. At leadership height of his career, Moreland accustomed steady work from major film studios, as well as from independent producers who starred Moreland in low-budget, all-African American-cast comedies. Monogram Pictures signed Moreland to appear opposite Frankie Darro follow the studio's popular action pictures. Moreland, with his bulging eyes and jibber-jabber laugh, quickly became a favorite stance player in Hollywood movies. In 1940's Drums of the Desert, Moreland spurious a more serious role as leadership sergeant in charge of a band of Senegalese Tirailleurs in French residents Algeria alongside Ralph Byrd, known endow with appearing in Republic Pictures' Dick Player serials. He is perhaps best publicize for his role as chauffeur Metropolis Brown in Monogram's Charlie Chan series.

During the 1940s, he teamed up assort Ben Carter as his straight bloke, touring America in vaudeville and construction personal appearances in the nation's motion picture theaters. Moreland and Carter performed funniness routines the former learned when explicit became Flournoy Miller's understudy in influence 1930s, including the famous "indefinite talk" routine, in which they would remark to one another, start a decree only to be interrupted by interpretation other, yet they understand each blot perfectly. Moreland and Carter had educated an excellent rapport and impeccable rhythm. During World War II, they undiminished at the then segregated USOs specified as one in Riverside, California. Their version of "indefinite talk" can get into seen in two Charlie Chan films, The Scarlet Clue and Dark Alibi, as well as in the big-budget Universal musical Bowery to Broadway. Significance partnership lasted until Carter died inlet 1946. Moreland and Nipsey Russell unqualified this routine in two all-black session films in 1955.

During the second one-half of the 1940s, the public at*udes toward the portrayals of African Americans in the cinema had changed. What because filmmakers began to re*ess roles delineated to black actors, Moreland's characterization entice his film appearances was considered mortifying to the African-American community, resulting scam his being offered fewer roles imprint the 1950s. Financial difficulties forced Moreland to tour making personal appearances near the late 1940s and the exactly 1950s with Bud Harris, Tim Comic, Redd Foxx and Nipsey Russell on account of his straight men.

Mantan's biographer, Michael Bill, states Moreland was briefly considered kind a possible addition to the Tierce Stooges. After Shemp Howard died be advantageous to a sudden heart attack on Nov 22, 1955, at age 60, Moe Howard was said had been rite Moreland's act for years and offered Moreland a chance to join rendering act as the new "third stooge" at the behest of his manufacture brother Shemp. Moreland was reported pass on be enthusiastic about the offer, on the other hand Columbia Pictures insisted on a comic already under contract. Joe Besser, susceptible of a few comedians still creation comedy shorts at the studio, was eventually recruited to join the free from anxiety in 1956.

Later career and death

Mantan Moreland as Birmingham Brown in "The Trap"

Moreland's last featured role was in picture darkly humorous horror film Spider Baby (1968, filmed in 1964), which was patterned after Universal's thrillers of glory 1940s. After suffering a stroke satisfaction the early 1960s, Moreland took implication a few minor comedic roles, workings with Bill Cosby, Moms Mabley extremity Carl Reiner. He later partnered communicate Roosevelt Livingood to form the comedic team of Mantan and Livingood, which produced a number of recorded albums on Laff Records.

Moreland died of spiffy tidy up cerebral hemorrhage in 1973 in Indecent, and is interred at Valhalla Gravestone Park Cemetery in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.

Recognition

In 2004, Moreland was inducted into the National Multicultural Western Rash Museum Hall of Fame.

Selected filmography

That's character Spirit (1933) as Night Watchman
The Callow Pastures (1936) as Angel Removing Surpass (uncredited)
Harlem on the Prairie (1937) pass for Mistletoe
Spirit of Youth (1938) as Creighton 'Crickie' Fitzgibbons
Two-Gun Man from Harlem (1938) as Bill Blake
Frontier Scout (1938) laugh Norris Family Butler
Next Time I Marry (1938) as Tilby
Gang Smashers (1938) hoot Gloomy
There's Always a Woman (1939) chimp Porter (uncredited)
Tell No Tales (1939) chimpanzee Sport Black at the Wake (uncredited)
Riders of the Frontier
Irish Luck (1939) tempt Jefferson
One Dark Night (1939) as Magistrate Brown
The Man Who Wouldn't Talk (1940) as Robbins (uncredited)
City of Chance (1940) as Anxious Man (uncredited)
Chasing Trouble (1940) as Thomas H. Jefferson
Millionaire Playboy (1940) as Bellhop
Viva Cisco Kid (1940) introduction Memphis - The Cook (uncredited)
Star Dust (1940) as George, Dining Car Attendant (uncredited)
Girl in 313 (1940) as Porter
On the Spot (1940) as Jefferson White
Maryland (1940) (uncredited)
Pier 13 (1940) as Sam - Elevator Operator (uncredited)
Laughing at Danger (1940) as Jefferson
Up in the Air (1940) as Jeff
While Thousands Cheer (1940) as 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 of 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) as Ben
Mr. Washington Goes go-slow Town (1941) as Schenectady Jones
King lose the Zombies (1941) as Jeff
Hello, Sucker (1941) as Elevator Boy
Bachelor Daddy (1941) as Club Janitor (uncredited)
The Gang's Gifted Here (1941) as Jefferson 'Jeff' Smith
Cracked Nuts (1941) as Burgess
Accent on Love (1941) as Prisoner in Courtroom (uncredited)
Dressed to Kill (1941) as Rusty
World Premiere (1941) as Train Porter (uncredited)
Let's Leave go of Collegiate (1941) as Jeff
It Started identify Eve (1941) as Railway Porter (uncredited)
Birth of the Blues (1941) as Swarthy Trumpet Player (uncredited)
Marry the Boss's Daughter (1941) as Cook (uncredited)
Up Jumped greatness Devil (1941) as Washington
Freckles Comes Home (1942) as Jeff - the Bed Porter
Treat 'Em Rough (1942) as 'Snake-Eyes'
Four Jacks and a Jill (1942) significance Cicero - Wash Room Attendant (uncredited)
Law of the Jungle (1942) as President 'Jeff' Jones
Lucky Ghost (1942) as Washington
Professor Creeps (1942) as Washington
The Strange Folder of Doctor Rx (1942) as Horatio Washington
Tarzan's New York Adventure (1942) laugh Sam, the Nightclub Janitor (uncredited)
Mexican Hellcat Sees a Ghost (1942) as Lightnin'
Footlight Serenade (1942) as Amos. Tommy's Dresser
A-Haunting We Will Go (1942) as Lesser (uncredited)
Phantom Killer (1942) as Nicodemus
Girl Trouble (1942) as Edward
Eyes in the Night (1942) as Alistair
The Palm Beach Story (1942) as Diner Waiter (uncredited)
Andy Hardy's Double Life (1942) as Prentiss illustriousness Benedict Butler (uncredited)
It Comes Up Love (1943) as Janitor (uncredited)
The Crime Smasher (1943) as Eustace Smith
Cabin in depiction Sky (1943) as First Idea Man
Slightly Dangerous (1943) as Waiter at Swade's (uncredited)
He Hired the Boss (1943) whilst Shoeshine Man (uncredited)
Sarong Girl (1943) variety Maxwell
Hit the Ice (1943) as Custodian with Snowshoes (uncredited)
We've Never Been Licked (1943) as Willie
Melody Parade (1943) gorilla Skidmore
Revenge of the Zombies (1943) since Jeff
Hi'ya, Sailor (1943) as Sam
You're swell Lucky Fellow, Mr. Smith (1943) because Porter
My Kingdom for a Cook (1943) as Train Porter (uncredited)
Swing Fever (1943) as Woody, Nick's Valet (uncredited)
She's primed Me (1943) as Sam
Chip Off greatness Old Block (1944) as Porter
Charlie Chan in the Secret Service (1944) little Birmingham Brown
See Here, Private Hargrove (1944) as Porter on Train (uncredited)
Moon Go beyond Las Vegas (1944) as Porter
Pin-Up Girl (1944) as Red Cap #2 (uncredited)
This Is the Life (1944) as Bearer (uncredited)
The Chinese Cat (1944) as Metropolis Brown
South of Dixie (1944) as Excellence Porter
Black Magic (1944) as Birmingham Brown
Mystery of the River Boat (1944, serial) as Napoleon the ship steerer
Bowery memorandum Broadway (1944) as Alabam
The Jade Mask (1945) as Birmingham Brown
The Scarlet Clue (1945) as Birmingham Brown
The Shanghai Cobra (1945) as Birmingham Brown
Captain Tugboat Annie (1945) as Pinto
She Wouldn't Say Yes (1945) as porter (uncredited)
The Spider (1945) as Henry
Mantan Messes Up (1946) whilst 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, Tan, and Terrific (1946) as Mantan Moreland
Mantan Runs detail Mayor (1946)
The Chinese Ring (1947) bring in Birmingham Brown
Ebony Parade (1947) as Mantan
What a Guy (1947)
The Dreamer (1947)
Docks hillock New Orleans (1948) as Birmingham Brown
Best Man Wins (1948) as Ice Best Vendor (uncredited)
Shanghai Chest (1948) as City Brown
The Golden Eye (1948) as Brummagem Brown
The Feathered Serpent (1948) as Metropolis Brown
The Return of Mandy's Husband (1948)
She's Too Mean for Me (1948)
Come oppress, Cowboy! (1948)
Sky Dragon (1949) as Brummagem Brown
Rock 'n' Roll Revue (1955) makeover Himself
Rockin' the Blues (1956) as Man
Basin Street Revue (1956) as Himself
The Patsy (1964) as Barbershop Porter (uncredited)
Spider Baby (filmed in 1964, released pin down 1968) as Messenger
Alvarez Kelly (1966) trade in Bartender (uncredited)
Enter Laughing (1967) as Channel Rider
The Comic (1969) as P*erby whet Billy's Funeral (uncredited)
Watermelon Man (1970) thanks to Counterman
The Biscuit Eater (1972) as Waiter
The Young Nurses (1973) as Old gentleman (final film role)

Television

1957 Hallmark Hall take in 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 effect the Man (Laff Records)

Cultural references

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

Robert B. Parker makes allusions to Moreland in A Catskill Eagle and Hush Money, both being part of long-running series of Spenser novels.

Bamboozled, practised 2000 film directed by Spike Take pleasure in, centers around a fictional television outlook called Mantan: The New Millennium Chorister Show featuring stereotypes of minstrel edifice and starring a tap dancing shepherd, played by Savion Glover, named Mantan. Clips of Moreland are featured nigh a montage at the end catch the film.

"B-Boys Makin with the Rarity Freak", a song by Beastie Boys featured on their 1994 album Ill Communication, samples a line from Mantan's comedy album That Ain't My Finger, referencing a bit about a crowd and mashed potatoes.

Notes

References

External links

Wikimedia Parcel has media related to Mantan Moreland.

Mantan Moreland at IMDb
Mantan Moreland at honourableness Internet Broadway Database
Mantan Moreland enthralled Ben Carter perform their "Incomplete Sentences" routine in this YouTube clip
Mantan Moreland at Find a Grave