Eddie Anderson

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Eddie "Rochester" Anderson (born September 18, 1905 in Oakland , California , † February 28, 1977 in Los Angeles , California; actually Edmund Lincoln Anderson ) was an American actor and entertainer of African American origin, who was primarily a sidekick of Jack Benny became well known in America.

life and career

Eddie Anderson was born into a show family, his father appeared in minstrel shows and his mother was a tightrope walker . Thanks to his talent as a dancer, the African American, who initially worked as a newsboy, made the leap into show business. Jack Benny engaged him in 1937 for his radio show The Jack Benny Program , in which Eddie Anderson served as Benny's sidekick in the role of Rochester van Jones . Eddie Anderson has been heralded by the name of his most famous character, Rochester, many times throughout his career. The show ran for three decades until it ended in 1965, earning Eddie Anderson the greatest popularity in his home country while largely unknown outside the United States.

In addition, he was seen regularly - especially in the period around 1940 - in supporting roles in Hollywood. He made his film debut in 1932 in a small role in What Price Hollywood? , but the success only arose here through his appearance at the side of Jack Benny. For example , he played a supporting role in Frank Capra's comedy Lebenskünstler , the Oscar winner of 1938. In Gone with the Wind , which was voted best film of the year at the Academy Awards the following year, he played "Uncle Peter", the shrewd slave of the simple-minded Aunt Pittypat. A highlight of Anderson's film career was the lead role in Vincente Minnelli's musical film A House in Heaven (1943), which was shot with an exclusively black cast. From the mid-1940s, Anderson only worked occasionally in films and concentrated entirely on his career at Benny's side, from the 1950s he also appeared regularly on television. He also used his voice in later years as a speaker in cartoon series.

In his appearance as Benny's servant, sometimes lazy sidekick, he often corresponded to clichés about the African-American population, on the other hand, his Rochester was also characterized by sympathetic charisma and subtle wit. With his popularity, Anderson advocated better roles for African Americans. Jack Benny and Eddie Anderson were also friends in private. When a hotel refused to accept Anderson because of his skin color while on tour in Missouri , Benny successfully threatened to move out of the hotel himself if his friend couldn't get a room. Eddie Anderson had been married to Mammie Wiggins Nelson since 1939. When she died in 1954, he married Eva Simon, with whom he remained married until 1973. He had four children. Eddie "Rochester" Anderson died of a heart attack in 1977 at the age of 71 .

Awards

Eddie Anderson was honored with two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame . At the turn of the millennium, the American Film Institute selected Anderson in the 250-name list of the greatest American male actors of the 20th century. While still alive, he was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame .

Filmography (selection)

Web links

Commons : Eddie "Rochester" Anderson  - Collection of Images, Videos and Audio Files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ St. Joseph News ; Obituary for Eddie Anderson
personal data
SURNAME Anderson, Eddie
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Anderson, Edmund Lincoln (real name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American entertainer
DATE OF BIRTH September 18, 1905
PLACE OF BIRTH Oakland , California
DATE OF DEATH February 28, 1977
Place of death los Angeles