This page will contain blogs about Scatman Crothers, as they become available.Scatman CrothersScatman Crothers - original name: Benjamin Crothers - (May 23, 1910 - November 22, 1986) He was an actor, singer, dancer and musician. Crothers was born in Terre Haute, Indiana and was best known for his work as a musician/singer and on the TV show Chico and the Man as Louie the Garbage Man. Crothers got the name Scatman when he auditioned for a radio show in 1932 in Dayton, Ohio The director didn't think his given name was catchy enough, so Crothers told the director to call him "Scatman" because of his talent at scat singing. He continued to enjoy this talent throughout his career, even teaching scat singing to college students.
Scatman Crothers started his musical career as a 15 year old drummer in a speakeasy band in his home town of Terre Haute. He played a variety of instruments including drums and guitar on jazz club band circuits in his early days as an entertainer. He formed his own band in the 1930s and finally traveled to California with the band in 1948. He did an uncredited turn as a dancer in the Jealousy segment of the Duke Ellington short, Symphony in Black (1935), dancing with a woman in his apartment before taking her out. He encounters his jilted lover, played by the also uncredited 20-year-old Billie Holliday. They briefly have words, he pushes her down and exits with his new girlfriend before her song. He decided to try acting and made his debut in the movie Meet Me At The Fair (1953) He worked in both the movies and television, often taking bit parts. He also made musical shorts. His films include:
(Not a definitive list) Even though Crothers worked in television since the beginning, he really came into his own in the medium doing the voices of cartoon characters such as Hong Kong Phooey in the 1970s after his talent for voice-over work was noticed in The Aristocats. He appeared as a guest on many of the shows popular in the 1970s, but was most noted for his supporting role on the sitcom Chico and the Man. He starred in three short-lived 1980s television series: One of the Boys (1982), Casablanca (1983), and Morningstar/Eveningstar (1986). He also performed the voice of Jazz on Transformers (1984-1986). Scatman Crothers married Helen Sullivan in 1937 and had one daughter, Donna, in 1949. In 1985 Crothers developed a malignant tumor behind his left lung. He tried to work through the illness, but the inoperable tumor spread to his esophagus in 1986. He died on November 22, 1986. He is buried next to his wife Helen (1918-1997) in the Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles, California, the same cemetery as his Chico co-star, Freddie Prinze. Crothers died at Van Nuys, California, USA. This page about Scatman Crothers includes information from a Wikipedia article. Additional articles about Scatman Crothers News stories about Scatman Crothers External links for Scatman Crothers Videos for Scatman Crothers Wikis about Scatman Crothers Discussion Groups about Scatman Crothers Blogs about Scatman Crothers Images of Scatman Crothers |
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Crothers died at Van Nuys, California, USA. Butterfly and a Tony nomination in 1980 for best featured actor in a play for Bent. He is buried next to his wife Helen (1918-1997) in the Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles, California, the same cemetery as his Chico co-star, Freddie Prinze. He won plaudits when he replaced John Lithgow in the original production of David Henry Hwang's play M. He died on November 22, 1986. Dukes had extensive stage experience, first appearing on Broadway in 1971 and later in a revival of Molière's The School for Wives. He also played such colorful roles as Dracula, Doctor Frankenstein, and Antonio Salieri in the original production of Amadeus--replacing Ian McKellan. He tried to work through the illness, but the inoperable tumor spread to his esophagus in 1986. He received an Emmy nomination for best supporting actor for his role in The Josephine Baker Story (1991). In 1985 Crothers developed a malignant tumor behind his left lung. He had a long career in films, appearing in thirty-five, and as a television guest star, notably as the man who attempts to rape Edith Bunker on All in the Family and in the miniseries The Winds of War. Scatman Crothers married Helen Sullivan in 1937 and had one daughter, Donna, in 1949. He was born in San Francisco, California and died of a heart attack in Spanaway, Washington while on location shooting the mini-series Red Rose. He also performed the voice of Jazz on Transformers (1984-1986). McPhee on the television series Dawson's Creek. He starred in three short-lived 1980s television series: One of the Boys (1982), Casablanca (1983), and Morningstar/Eveningstar (1986). David Dukes (June 6, 1945 - October 9, 2000) was an American character actor best known as Mr. He appeared as a guest on many of the shows popular in the 1970s, but was most noted for his supporting role on the sitcom Chico and the Man. October 17, 2000. Even though Crothers worked in television since the beginning, he really came into his own in the medium doing the voices of cartoon characters such as Hong Kong Phooey in the 1970s after his talent for voice-over work was noticed in The Aristocats. "David Dukes." The Independent (London). (Not a definitive list). Tom Vallance. His films include:. October 11, 2000. He also made musical shorts. "David Dukes; Versatile Character Actor on Screen, Stage." Los Angeles Times. He decided to try acting and made his debut in the movie Meet Me At The Fair (1953) He worked in both the movies and television, often taking bit parts. Susan King and Don Shirley. They briefly have words, he pushes her down and exits with his new girlfriend before her song. October 12, 2000. He encounters his jilted lover, played by the also uncredited 20-year-old Billie Holliday. "David Dukes, Chameleon of an Actor, 55." The New York Times. He did an uncredited turn as a dancer in the Jealousy segment of the Duke Ellington short, Symphony in Black (1935), dancing with a woman in his apartment before taking her out. Emily Eakin. He formed his own band in the 1930s and finally traveled to California with the band in 1948. October 11, 2000. He played a variety of instruments including drums and guitar on jazz club band circuits in his early days as an entertainer. "David Dukes." Variety. Scatman Crothers started his musical career as a 15 year old drummer in a speakeasy band in his home town of Terre Haute.
Transformers: The Movie (1986). Twilight Zone--The Movie (1983). The Shining (1980). Bronco Billy (1980). The Cheap Detective (1978). Mean Dog Blues (1978). The Shootist (1976). One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975). The Fortune (1975). Truck Turner (1974). King of Marvin Gardens (1972). Lady Sings the Blues (1972). The Aristocats (1970). The Great White Hope (1970). Hello Dolly (1969). The Patsy (1964). Lady in an Cage (1964). The Sins of Rachel Cade (1961). |