Joe Seneca

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Joe Seneca

Joe Seneca (born January 14, 1919 in Cleveland , Ohio , † August 15, 1996 in New York City , New York ; actually Joel McGhee ) was an American composer and actor .

Life

Seneca began his career as a singer in a doo wop group called The Three Riffs , but without any significant commercial success. Then he switched to composing. His songs have been performed by Al Green , The Beach Boys , James Brown ( Talk to Me ), Doris Day ( Here We Go Again ), Aretha Franklin , Brenda Lee ( Break It to Me Gently ), Ike & Tina Turner ( It's Gonna Work Out Fine ) and Tom Jones ( Darling ).

He turned to acting in the early 1970s and, after appearing at smaller theaters, made his Broadway debut in 1974 in a production of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and People with James Earl Jones in the lead role. In 1981 he starred alongside Elizabeth Taylor in a Broadway production of The Little Foxes . Between 1984 and 1985 he was part of the original cast of August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom via the blues singer Ma Rainey .

Seneca made his feature film debut in 1974 in a minor supporting role in Stop the Death Ride of the U-Bahn 123 , followed by other minor roles in Kramer versus Kramer , The Verdict - The Truth and Nothing but the Truth and Silverado . He played a larger role in 1986 in Walter Hills Crossroads as Willie Brown , he had another larger role in Streets of New York alongside Danny Glover and Matt Dillon . In addition to his film appearances, he was also seen as a guest star in various television series, including Golden Girls , Matlock and Law & Order .

Joe Seneca was married and died of an asthma attack.

Filmography (selection)

Broadway

  • 1974-1975: Of Mice and Men
  • 1981: The Little Foxes
  • 1984–1985: Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Seneca, Joe
ALTERNATIVE NAMES McGhee, Joel (real name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American actor and composer
DATE OF BIRTH January 14, 1919
PLACE OF BIRTH Cleveland , Ohio
DATE OF DEATH August 15, 1996
Place of death New York City , New York