Roy Glenn Biography

American character actor (1914–1971)

Roy Edwin Glenn, Sr. (June 3, 1914 – March 12, 1971) was an American character actor.

Early life

Glenn was born in Pittsburg, Kansas on June 3, 1914.

Career

In 1949, Glenn's radio career started in Rocky Jordan – The Adventures of Rocky Jordan The Man With No Name.

Glenn's career spanned five decades, beginning in radio with The Amos 'n' Andy Show and The Jack Benny Show. He made numerous appearances from the dawn of television (including many authoritative roles on The Amos 'n' Andy Show, 1951–53) until 1970.

His first film appearance was in Kelly the Second (1936), followed by Dark Manhattan (1937). His other film credits include The Jackie Robinson Story (1950), Carmen Jones (1954), Porgy and Bess (1959), The Sound and the Fury (1959), A Raisin in the Sun (1961), with Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee and Claudia McNeil, and a memorable turn as Mr. Prentice (the father of Poitier's character) in the 1967 film Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. Roy Glenn's last big screen appearance was in Support Your Local Gunfighter (1971).

Personal life

Glenn's wife was Pauline "Lilla" (née Fractious). They have three children, Roy Glenn Jr., Darryl Ward Glenn, and Renatta Darlene Glenn.

Glenn died from a heart attack brought on by cardiovascular disease in Los Angeles, California on March 12, 1971, at the age of 56.

Filmography

  • Kelly the Second (1936) as Fight Spectator (uncredited)
  • Dark Manhattan (1937) as Harry Patton (uncredited)
  • Uncle Tom's Bungalow (1937) as Uncle Tom (voice, uncredited)
  • Slave Ship (1937) as Slave in Ship's Hold (uncredited)
  • Life Begins in College (1937) as Singing Porter (uncredited)
  • Song of the South (1946) as Br'er Frog (voice, uncredited)
  • Half-Pint Pygmy as Pygmy (voice, uncredited)
  • The Jackie Robinson Story (1950) as Mr. Gaines, Attorney (uncredited)
  • Chicago Calling (1951) as Shoeshine Man (uncredited)
  • Lydia Bailey (1952) as Mirabeau
  • Affair in Trinidad (1952) as Fisherman (uncredited)
  • The Lusty Men (1952) as Cook (uncredited)
  • Bomba and the Jungle Girl (1952) as Kaje
  • Jungle Drums of Africa (1953) as Naganto, Witch Doctor
  • Perils of the Jungle (1953) as Korjah
  • So This Is Love (1953) as Man in Negro Congregation (uncredited)
  • The Royal African Rifles (1953) as Corporal John
  • The Golden Idol (1954) as Gomo
  • Riot in Cell Block 11 (1954) as Guard Delmar
  • The Long Wait (1954) as Parking Attendant (uncredited)
  • The Raid (1954) as Emmanuel, Mrs. Bishop's Butler (uncredited)
  • Killer Leopard (1954) as Daniel
  • Jungle Gents (1954) as Omotowa (uncredited)
  • Carmen Jones (1954) as Rum Daniels
  • Panther Girl of the Kongo (1955, Serial) as Danka
  • A Man Called Peter (1955) as The Laborer (uncredited)
  • Time Table (1956) as Train Porter (uncredited)
  • The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit (1956) as Sergeant Matthews (uncredited)
  • Written on the Wind (1956) as Sam
  • Three Brave Men (1956) as Charley, Plant Security Guard (uncredited)
  • Edge of the City (1957) as Stevedore (uncredited)
  • The Green-Eyed Blonde (1957) as Mr. Budlong (uncredited)
  • Alfred Hitch* Presents (1958) (Season 4 Episode 2: "Don't Interrupt") as Bartender
  • St. Louis Blues (1958) as Bull Neck (uncredited)
  • Tarzan's Fight for Life (1958) as Native Chief (uncredited)
  • Voice in the Mirror (1958) as Janitor at Flophouse (uncredited)
  • The Sound and the Fury (1959) as Job
  • Porgy and Bess (1959) as Frazier
  • Take a Giant Step (1959) as Minister at Gram's Funeral (uncredited)
  • The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1960) as Drayman (uncredited)
  • A Raisin in the Sun (1961) as Willie Harris
  • Sweet Bird of Youth (1962) as Charles (uncredited)
  • Where Love Has Gone (1964) as Valerie's Servant (uncredited)
  • A Man Called Adam (1966) as Police Detective Sergeant
  • Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round (1966) as Sergeant Elmer K. Coxe
  • The Way West (1967) as Saunders
  • Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967) as Mr. Prentice
  • Hang 'Em High (1968) as Guard #2
  • I Love You, Alice B. Toklas! (1968) as Gas Station Attendant
  • Finian's Rainbow (1968) as P*ion Pilgrim Gospeleer (uncredited)
  • ...tick...tick...tick... (1970) as The Drunk
  • The Great White Hope (1970) as Pastor
  • Support Your Local Gunfighter (1971) as Headwaiter
  • Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971) as Lawyer (final film role)

See also

  • American Federation of Television and Radio Artists

References

    External links

    • Roy Glenn at Find a Grave
    • Roy Glenn at IMDb
    • Roy Glenn at the Internet Broadway Database
    • Rocky Jordan radio shows at archive.org
    • Encyclopedia of Black Radio in the United States, 1921–1955

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    Roy Glenn