This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(January 2021) |
Samuel Rufus McDaniel(January 28, 1886 – September 24, 1962)[1]was an Americanactorwho appeared in over 210 television shows and films between 1929 and 1950.[2]He was the older brother of actressesEtta McDaniel[1]andHattie McDaniel.
Sam McDaniel | |
|---|---|
 McDaniel inBroadway Limited(1941) | |
| Born | Samuel Rufus McDaniel January 28, 1886 Wichita, Kansas,U.S. |
| Died | September 24, 1962(aged 76) |
| Other names | Sam Deacon McDaniel Deacon McDaniels Sam McDaniels |
| Years active | 1929–1960 |
| Relatives | Hattie McDaniel(sister) Etta McDaniel(sister) |
Early life
editBorn inWichita,Kansas,to former slaves, McDaniel was one of 13 children.[3]His father Henry McDaniel fought in theCivil Warwith the 122nd USCT and his mother, Susan Holbert, was a singer of gospel music. In 1900, the family moved toColorado,living first inFort Collinsand then inDenverwhere he grew up and graduated fromDenver East High School.The children of the McDaniel family had a travelingminstrelshow. After the death of brother Otis in 1916, thetroupebegan to lose money. In 1931, McDaniel found work inLos Angeleswith sisters Hattie, Etta and Orlena. Sam was working onKNXradio program calledThe Optimistic Doughnut Hour,and he was able to get his sister a spot.
Career
editMcDaniel almost exclusively playedbutler,doormen,valet,porterand servant roles in films.
He played Doc, the competent ship's cook, in the Oscar-winning 1937 filmCaptains Courageous.He also played Spiffingham the Butler inthe Three StoogesfilmHeavenly Daze(1948). He is the only African-American to ever appear onI Love Lucy,playing "Sam the Porter" in the 1955 episode "The Great Train Robbery".He appeared uncredited as a waiter on a train in both the 1947 filmThe Egg and I(withFred MacMurrayandClaudette Colbert) and its first followupMa and Pa Kettle(1949). He also played various supporting roles on TV'sThe Amos 'n' Andy Show(1951–53).
Death
editMcDaniel died ofthroat canceron September 24, 1962, inWoodland Hills, Los Angeles, California.
Filmography
edit- Hallelujah(1929) as Adam (film debut)
- Brown Gravy(1929)
- Dance, Fools, Dance(1931) as Luva's butler (uncredited)
- The Public Enemy(1931) as Head waiter
- A Free Soul(1931) as Casino valet (uncredited)
- Guilty Hands(1931) as Jimmy (uncredited)
- Are You Listening?(1932)
- Grand Hotel(1932)
- The Rich Are Always with Us(1932) as Max, Julian's butler
- Movie Crazy(1932) as Men's room attendant (uncredited)
- Once in a Lifetime(1932)
- Whistling in the Dark(1933)
- Employees' Entrance(1933) as Building janitor (uncredited)
- Blondie Johnson(1933)
- Footlight Parade(1933)
- The Late Christopher Bean(1933)
- Lady Killer(1933) as Train porter
- Going Hollywood(1933) as Rasputin, the train Porter
- Broadway Thru a Keyhole(1933)
- Fugitive Lovers(1934) as Janitor (uncredited)
- Manhattan Melodrama(1934) as Black Boy (uncredited)
- Operator 13(1934)
- The Old Fashioned Way(1934) as Train porter
- The Dragon Murder Case(1934)
- Belle of the Nineties(1934) as Jasmine's admirer (uncredited)
- Evelyn Prentice(1934)
- Kid Millions(1934) as Ship's steward (uncredited)
- One Hour Late(1934) as Waiter
- Gold Diggers of 1935(1935)
- Rendezvous(1935)
- Hearts Divided(1936)
- Poor Little Rich Girl(1936)
- The Gorgeous Hussy(1936)
- Polo Joe(1936) as Harvey (uncredited)
- A Family Affair(1937)
- Dark Manhattan(1937) as Jack Johnson
- Captains Courageous(1937) as Doc
- It Happened in Hollywood(1937)
- Jezebel(1938)
- Four's a Crowd(1938)
- They Made Me a Criminal(1939)
- Union Pacific(1939)
- Days of Jesse James(1939)
- Virginia City(1940)
- Brother Orchid(1940)
- Too Many Husbands(1940) as Porter
- Virginia(1941)
- The Great Lie(1941)
- Bad Men of Missouri(1941)
- You Belong to Me(1941)
- All Through the Night(1942)
- In This Our Life(1942)
- Silver Queen(1942)
- I Was Framed(1942) as Kit Carson, cook and servant
- After Midnight with Boston Blackieas Train porter (uncredited)
- Son of Dracula(1943) as Andy (uncredited)
- The Iron Major(1943)
- The Adventures of Mark Twain(1944)
- Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble(1944)
- 3 Men in White(1944)
- Double Indemnity(1944) as Charlie, garage attendant
- Three Little Sisters(1944) as Benjy
- Home in Indiana(1944)
- Tall in the Saddle(1944)
- Music for Millions(1944)
- Experiment Perilous(1944) as Train porter (uncredited)
- Dillinger(1945)
- The Naughty Nineties(1945)
- Lady on a Train(1945)
- My Reputation(1946)
- Without Reservations(1946) as Freddy
- Centennial Summer(1946)
- Never Say Goodbye(1946)
- The Egg and I(1947)
- The Secret Life of Walter Mitty(1947)
- The Foxes of Harrow(1947)
- Race Street(1948)
- The Babe Ruth Story(1948)
- Heavenly Daze(1948, Short)
- Ma and Pa Kettle(1949)
- Flamingo Road(1949)
- The File on Thelma Jordon(1950)
- The President's Lady(1953)
- Sangaree(1953)
- A Lion Is in the Streets(1953)
- Affair with a Stranger(1953)
- Carmen Jones(1954)
- A Man Called Peter(1955)
- Good Morning, Miss Dove(1956)
- Johnny Trouble(1957)
- A Hole in the Head(1959)
- Ice Palace(1960)
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn(1960) (final film)
References
edit- ^abTanner, Beccy (November 7, 1991)."McDaniel Opened Doors; 'Gone With the Wind' Was Actress' Most Famous Film".The Wichita Eagle.Retrieved January 3, 2021.
- ^Kear, Lynn; Rossman, John (2016)The Complete Kay Francis Career Record.Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p.252.ISBN978-0-7864-3198-4.
- ^Bogle, Donald (2019).Hollywood Black: The Stars, the Films, the Filmmakers.New York: Perseus Books. p. 199.ISBN978-0-7624-9141-4.
External links
edit