- Mel Stewart
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Mel Stewart 
in the opening credits for Scarecrow and Mrs. KingBorn Milton Stewart
September 19, 1929
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.Died February 24, 2002 (aged 72)
Pacifica, California, U.S.Other names Melvin Stewart
Melvin StuartOccupation Actor, television director, musician Years active 1959–1993 Spouse Annie Dong (m. 1976–2002) Milton "Mel" Stewart (September 19, 1929 – February 24, 2002) was an American character actor, television director, and musician who appeared in numerous films and television shows from the 1960s to the 1990s. He is best known for playing Henry Jefferson on the popular television series All in the Family. Stewart is sometimes credited as Melvin Stewart or Melvin Stuart.
Contents
Career
Mel Stewart began his career in 1959 with bit parts in TV and films. In the early 1960s, Stewart also appeared in the Broadway shows Purlie Victorious, The Hostage, The Cool World, and Simply Heavenly.[1] In 1961, Stewart recorded an album of Langston Hughes' poetry on Folkways Records – Langston Hughes' The Best of Simple.[2]
Stewart went on to land roles in various television series including That Girl, Marcus Welby, M.D., The Bob Newhart Show, Good Times, and Harry O. One of his most memorable roles was as Henry Jefferson on the series All in the Family. In 1973, he co-starred in the short-lived series Roll Out. The following year, Stewart directed two episodes of yet another short-lived series Get Christie Love!, before co-starring in On the Rocks. After On the Rocks was canceled in 1976, Stewart portrayed the role of Marvin Decker in the Bewitched spin-off series Tabitha from 1977 to 1978.
In the 1980s, Stewart continued guest starring in both television and films. He also had a recurring role on Scarecrow and Mrs. King as Billy Melrose during the show's four year run. His last on screen appearance came in the 1993 film Made in America, starring Whoopi Goldberg and Ted Danson.
Side projects
In addition to acting and directing, Stewart was an accomplished jazz saxophonist. A longtime resident of San Francisco, he also taught acting at San Francisco State University.[1] His students included actor Danny Glover.[3] He established the theater group Black Actors Now Through Unity (BANTU) and directed plays at the Center for African and African-American Art and Culture in San Francisco and the Black Repertory Theater in Berkeley, California.[1]
A third degree black belt in aikido, Stewart opened a dojo for inner-city youths in the Bayview district of San Francisco.[1]
Personal life and death
On July 11, 1976, Stewart married Annie Dong. The couple had one child together, a daughter.[1] On February 24, 2002, Mel Stewart died of Alzheimer's disease.
Selected filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 1959 Odds Against Tomorrow Hotel Juno Elevator Operator Uncredited 1964 Nothing But a Man Riddick 1970 The Landlord Professor Duboise Credited as Melvin Stewart 1971 Cry Uncle! Lt. Fowler Alternative titles: American Oddballs
Super Dick
Credited as Melvin Stewart1972 Hammer Professor Alternative title: BJ Hammer 1972 Trick Baby Blue Howard 1973 Steelyard Blues Black Man in Jail Alternative title: The Final Crash 1975 Let's Do It Again Ellison 1981 Whose Life Is It Anyway? Dr. Barr 1988 Dead Heat Captain Mayberry 1990 Martians Go Home Judge 1990 Bride of Re-Animator Dr. Graves Alternative title: Re-Animator 2 Television Year Title Role Notes 1962 Car 54 Where Are You? Officer Episode: "That's Show Business"
Uncredited1963 Naked City Pharmacist Episode: "Barefoot on a Bed of Coals"
Uncredited1964 The Nurses Grand Jury Foreman Episode: "The Love of a Smart Operator" 1969 The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour Mr. Harris Episode #1.1 1972 The Bold Ones: The Senator Dawson Episode: "A Single Blow of a Sword" 1974 Toma George Sawtelle Episode: "A Funeral for Max Berlin" 1974 Lucas Tanner Mr. Browder Episode: "Look the Other Way" 1975 The Rockford Files Police Lieutenant Episode: "Charlie Harris at Large" 1975 That's My Mama Laforche Episode: "Business Is Business" 1977 What's Happening!! Spike Gibbs Episode: "The Hospital Stay" 1977 Sanford and Son Clarence Episode: "Fred the Activist" 1979 Roots: The Next Generations Dr. Crawford Miniseries 1979 Benson Loromo Episode: "The President's Double" 1980 Soap Walter Coleman Episode: "3.14 1981 Little House: A New Beginning Hertzell Lundy Episode: "Make a Joyful Noise" 1981 The Greatest American Hero Sherman Episode: "Saturday Night on Sunset Boulevard" 1984 Cheers Man Episode: "Coach Buries a Grudge" 1987 Amen Brother Clark Episode: "California Dreaming" 1988 Frank's Place Ben Coleman Episode: "Cultural Exchange" 1989 227 Jack McGee Episode: "The Real Decoys" 1989 Matlock Sgt Lou Marshall Episodes: "The Mayor: Part 1"
"The Mayor: Part 2"1989 The Golden Girls Judge Episode: "Love Under the Big Top" 1990 In the Heat of the Night Calvin Peterson Episodes: "Brotherly Love: Part 1"
"Brotherly Love: Part 2"
"Lessons Learned"References
- ^ a b c d e Hobbs, John (2002-04-10). "Milton 'Mel' Stewart: Legit, TV actor". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117863654.html?categoryid=25&cs=1. Retrieved 2007-03-27.
- ^ The Best of Simple Album Details at Smithsonian Folkways
- ^ "Actor Milton Stewart dies". Jet. 2002-04-01. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_15_101/ai_84645554. Retrieved 2007-12-30.
External links
Categories:- Actors from Ohio
- African American film actors
- African American musicians
- American jazz musicians
- American stage actors
- African American television actors
- American television directors
- Deaths from Alzheimer's disease
- People from Cleveland, Ohio
- People from Pacifica, California
- People from San Francisco, California
- 1929 births
- 2002 deaths
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