Arthur French | |
---|---|
Born | Arthur Wellesley French Jr. November 6, 1931 New York City, U.S. |
Died | July 24, 2021 89) New York City, U.S. | (aged
Occupation(s) | Actor, director |
Years active | 1960s–2021 |
Spouse | Antoinette Williams[1] |
Children | 2 |
Arthur Wellesley French Jr.[1] (November 6, 1931 – July 24, 2021) was an American actor and director, best known for his work in the theatre.
Life and career
French was born in Harlem, New York City, on November 6, 1931,[1] the son of Arthur and Ursilla French, who both emigrated to the U.S. from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.[2][3]
Throughout a career that spans over fifty years, French is best known for his work on the stage. He worked extensively with the Negro Ensemble Company (NEC) and has played a wide variety of roles. He was also a supporting character in the 1976 comedy film Car Wash.
His later film credits were in 2 Days in New York and Red Hook Summer, both released in August 2012. He died on July 24, 2021, at the age of 89 in Manhattan, New York.[1]
Selected credits
Theatre
Acting
Year | Production | Role | Theatre(s) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1962 | Raisin' Hell in the Son | Provincetown Playhouse | ||
1969 | Ceremonies in Dark Old Men[4] | William Jenkins | St. Mark's Playhouse | |
1971 | Black Girl[5] | Earl | Theatre de Lys | |
1971 | Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death[1] | Ethel Barrymore Theatre | ||
1978 | Nevis Mountain Dew[6] | Ayton Morris | St. Mark's Playhouse | |
1981 | The Amen Corner | Brother Boxer | Crossroads Theater Company | |
1983 | You Can't Take It With You[7] | Donald | Plymouth Theatre Royale Theatre |
|
1991 | Mule Bone[8] | Rev. Singletary Mayor Joe Clark (understudy) |
Ethel Barrymore Theatre | |
1995 | Henry VI[9] | Earl of Salisbury | Theater at St. Clements Church | |
2001 | Fire Drill | Carl | Urban Stages | Part of "Free Market," a collection of eight short plays. |
Kickin Summit | Ski | Urban Stages | Part of "Free Market," a collection of eight short plays. | |
Give Us This Day | Dad | Urban Stages | Part of "Free Market," a collection of eight short plays. | |
The Border Crossers Lounge | Mother Perez | Urban Stages | Part of "Free Market," a collection of eight short plays. | |
2005 | The Master Builder[10] | Doctor Herdal | Pearl Theatre | |
2006 | Two Trains Running[11] | Holloway | Peter Norton Space | Lucille Lortel Award, Outstanding Featured Actor |
2007 | Dividing the Estate[12] | Doug | 59E59 Theater A | |
2009 | Medea | The Riverside Theatre | ||
The Book of Lambert | La MaMa etc. | |||
Dividing the Estate | Doug | Hartford Stage |
Directing
Year | Production | Theatre(s) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1967 | One Last Look[13] | Old Reliable Theatre Tavern | One of the first produced plays written by steve carter |
Film
Acting
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
1976 | Car Wash | Charlie |
1986 | 'Round Midnight | Booker |
1992 | Malcolm X[1] | Pullman Porter |
1994 | Crooklyn | West Indian Store Manager |
2012 | Where is Joel Baum? | Detective Robertson |
2013 | 2 Days in New York | Lee Robinson |
Movie 43 | Old Man |
Television
Acting
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1986–1987 | Another World | Al Edwards | 2 episodes |
2018 | New Amsterdam | Brent | Season 1, Episode 15 |
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Roberts, Sam (August 5, 2021). "Arthur French, Negro Ensemble Company Pioneer, Dies at 89". The New York Times. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
- ↑ "United States Census, 1940, index and images, Arthur Franch in household of Arthur Franch, Assembly District 22, Manhattan, New York City, New York, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 31-1938, sheet 13A, family 323, NARA digital publication T627, roll 2671". United States: FamilySearch. April 15, 1940. Retrieved August 30, 2012.
- ↑ "U.S. Public Records Index, Volume 2 [database on-line]". Provo, Utah: The Generations Network. 2010. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
- ↑ "Ceremonies in Dark Old Men". New York, New York: Lortel Archives: The Internet Off-Broadway Database. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved November 25, 2009.
- ↑ "Black Girl". New York, New York: Lortel Archives: The Internet Off-Broadway Database. Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved December 4, 2009.
- ↑ "Nevis Mountain Dew". New York, New York: Lortel Archives: The Internet Off-Broadway Database. Archived from the original on September 13, 2007. Retrieved November 25, 2009.
- ↑ "You Can't Take It With You". New York, New York: Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved December 4, 2009.
- ↑ "Mule Bone". New York, New York: Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved December 4, 2009.
- ↑ "Henry VI". New York, New York: Lortel Archives:The Internet off-Broadway Database. Archived from the original on October 7, 2012. Retrieved December 5, 2009.
- ↑ "The Master Builder". New York, New York: Lortel Archives:The Internet off-Broadway Database. Archived from the original on September 11, 2007. Retrieved December 5, 2009.
- ↑ "Two Trains Running". United States: Lortel Archives:The Internet off-Broadway Database. Archived from the original on October 19, 2007. Retrieved December 4, 2009.
- ↑ "Dividing the Estate". United States: Lortel Archives:The Internet off-Broadway Database. Archived from the original on September 8, 2007. Retrieved December 5, 2009.
- ↑ Carter, Steve (1986). Plays by Steve Carter (First ed.). New York, New York: Broadway Play Publishing, Inc. pp. 81–104. ISBN 0-88145-043-X.
External links
- Arthur French at the Internet Broadway Database
- Arthur French at IMDb
- Arthur French at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
- Arthur French at the Internet Theatre Database