Joe Seneca

Infobox actor
name = Joe Seneca

---

caption =
birthdate = January 14, 1919
birthplace = Cleveland, Ohio
deathdate = August 15, 1996
deathplace = Roosevelt Island, New York

Joe Seneca (January 14, 1919 – August 15, 1996) was an American film and television actor who had a lengthy Hollywood career, portraying bit parts in many major films and television sitcoms spanning from the 1970s to the 1990s.

Seneca was born Joel McGhee in Cleveland, Ohio. Prior to his Hollywood career, Seneca belonged to the R&B singing group "The Three Riffs", performing at upscale supper clubs in New York City. He was also a songwriter and had big hits with "Talk to Me" which was sung by Little Willie John and "Break It to Me Gently", which was a smash twice, once by Brenda Lee in 1962, and once by Juice Newton in 1982.

Arguably his most well-known roles are that of bluesman Willie Brown in Crossroads and Dr. Meddows in "The Blob", the evil head of a government team sent to contain the title creature.

He died from cardiovascular disease at the age of 77.

External links

*imdb name|0784171
* [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F04E2DD1F31F934A2575BC0A960958260 New York Times: Joe Seneca, a Character Actor In 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' ]
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=22992 Joe Seneca's Photo & Gravesite]