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Scatman Crothers

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This article is about Scatman Crothers. For the later jazz musician and singer named "Scatman", see Scatman John.
Scatman Crothers
Crothers in 1960
Born
Benjamin Sherman Crothers

(1910-05-23)May 23, 1910
Terre Haute, Indiana, U.S.
DiedNovember 22, 1986(1986-11-22) (aged 76)
Van Nuys, California, U.S.
Resting placeForest Lawn Memorial Park - Hollywood Hills, California
Occupations
  • Actor
  • musician
Years active1923–1986
Spouse
Helen Sullivan
​
​
(m. 1937)​
Children1

Benjamin Sherman "Scatman" Crothers (May 23, 1910 – November 22, 1986)[1] was an American actor and musician. He is known for playing Louie the Garbage Man on the TV show Chico and the Man, and Dick Hallorann in Stanley Kubrick's The Shining (1980). He was also a prolific voice-over actor who provided the voices of Meadowlark Lemon in the Harlem Globetrotters animated TV series, Jazz the Autobot in The Transformers and The Transformers: The Movie (1986), the title character in Hong Kong Phooey, and Scat Cat in the animated film The Aristocats (1970).

Music career[edit]

Crothers began his musical career as a teenager. He sang and was self-educated on guitar and drums. He was in a band that played in speakeasies in Terre Haute, Indiana.[2][3][4] During the 1930s, Crothers formed a band, spending eight years living in Akron, Ohio, and performing five days a week on a radio show in Dayton, Ohio. The station manager thought he needed a catchier name, so Crothers suggested "Scatman" for his scat singing. He married Helen, a native of Steubenville, Ohio, in 1937. In the 1940s, the couple moved to California.[5]

He performed in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, and at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York City.[citation needed] Capitol released several of his singles, including "I'd Rather Be a Hummingbird", "Blue-Eyed Sally", and "Television Blues". High Fidelity Records released his album Rock and Roll with Scatman Crothers. He went on USO tours with Bob Hope.[6] Crothers also performed with bandleader Slim Gaillard. According to the jacket notes of the Let Freedom Sing CD set, Crothers was part of the music group The Ramparts, who sang "The Death of Emmett Till" (1955), a song by A. C. Bilbrew.[7][8][9]

Film and television career[edit]

Crothers appearing with Redd Foxx on Sanford and Son

Crothers made his film debut in the movie Meet Me at the Fair (1953).[4] He had roles in the film musical Hello Dolly! (1969) and The Great White Hope (1970) before providing the voice of Scat Cat in the animated film The Aristocats (1970).[6] Crothers appeared in four films with Jack Nicholson: The King of Marvin Gardens (1972), The Fortune (1975), One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), and The Shining (1980). He had the part of a fable-telling convict in the animated film Coonskin (1975), a train porter in Silver Streak (1976), a liveryman in The Shootist (1976), Mingo in Roots[6] (1977), Tinker the piano player in Neil Simon's The Cheap Detective (1978), a ringmaster in Bronco Billy (1980), a baseball coach in Zapped! (1982), and angels in Two of a Kind (1983) and Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983).

Crothers became the first black person to appear regularly in a Los Angeles television show when he joined Dixie Showboat.[4] After The Aristocats in the 1970s, Crothers found voice acting jobs as Meadowlark Lemon in the Harlem Globetrotters cartoon series and as the title character in Hong Kong Phooey. For four years, he played the role of Louie the garbage man on Chico and the Man. During his appearance on Sanford and Son Crothers joined Redd Foxx for two musical numbers. One was a version of the standard "All of Me", in which he accompanied Foxx on tenor guitar. In 1966, Hanna-Barbera aired an animated special called The New Alice in Wonderland (or What's a Nice Kid like You Doing in a Place like This?), an updated version of the Lewis Carroll story featuring Sammy Davis Jr. as the Cheshire Cat. The special was followed by an audio adaptation for HB Records, but since Davis was signed to Reprise Records, Crothers provided the cat's voice for the album.

Crothers had guest roles on Alfred Hitchcock Presents in 1958, Dragnet in 1967, Bewitched and McMillan & Wife in 1971, Adam-12 in 1972 (as "George Strothers"), Kojak and Ironside in 1973, Kolchak: The Night Stalker, Mannix and Sanford and Son in 1974,[10] Starsky & Hutch in 1977, Charlie's Angels and The Love Boat in 1978, Magnum, P.I. in 1980, Benson in 1982, and Taxi in 1983. Also in 1980, he was on two episodes of Laverne & Shirley as a porter. In the 1980s, he provided the voice of the Autobot Jazz on the television series The Transformers. He starred in three short-lived 1980s television series: One of the Boys (1982), Casablanca (1983), and Morningstar/Eveningstar (1986).

Death[edit]

Around 1985, Crothers was diagnosed with an inoperable malignant tumor in his lung which metastasized to his esophagus. He was bedridden weeks before his death and had slipped out of a coma. On November 22, 1986, Crothers died at age 76 at his home in Van Nuys, California after struggling with lung cancer.[4] He is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.[11]

Awards and honors[edit]

Discography[edit]

  • Rock 'N Roll With "Scat Man" (1956)
  • 4 A.M. (1960)
  • Comedy Sweepstakes (1961)
  • Big Ben Sings (1973)

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Television[edit]

  • The Adventures of Jim Bowie (1957) (Season 2 Episode 6: "The Quarantine") – Cicero
  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1958) (Season 4 Episode 2: "Don't Interrupt") – Timothy
  • Beany and Cecil (1959–1962) (multiple episodes and bumpers) - Go Man Van Gogh / Wildman of Wildsville (singing voice only at first, then regular voice)
  • Bonanza (1961) (Season 3 Episode 1: "The Smiler") – Jud
  • The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo (1964-1965) (voice)
  • Dragnet (1967) (Season 2 Episode 10: "The Missing Realtor") – Dave Richmond
  • Harlem Globetrotters (1970–1971) (22 episodes) – George 'Meadowlark' Lemon (voice)
  • The Wonderful World of Disney (1971) (Season 18 Episode 9: "Disney on Parade") – King Louie (voice, uncredited)
  • Bewitched (1971) (Season 8 Episode 13: "Three Men and a Witch on a Horse") – Handler
  • The Lorax (1972) (TV movie) – Singer (voice, uncredited)
  • Nichols (1972) (Season 1 Episode 14: "Eddie Joe") – Jack
  • The New Scooby-Doo Movies (1972–73) (9 episodes)
    • (Season 1 Episode 12: "The Ghostly Creep from the Deep") as George 'Meadowlark' Lemon (voice)
    • (Season 1 Episode 16: "The Loch Ness Mess") as George 'Meadowlark' Lemon (voice, uncredited)
    • (Season 2 Episode 1: "The Mystery of Haunted Island") as George 'Meadowlark' Lemon (voice) (credited as Benjamin Crothers)
    • (Season 2 Episode 2: "The Haunted Showboat") as Additional voices (voice, credit only) (credited as Benjamin Crothers)
    • (Season 2 Episode 3: "Mystery in Persia") as Additional voices (voice, credit only) (credited as Benjamin Crothers)
    • (Season 2 Episode 4: "The Spirited Spooked Sports Show") as Additional voices (voice, credit only) (credited as Benjamin Crothers)
    • (Season 2 Episode 5: "The Exterminator") as Additional voices (voice, credit only) (credited as Benjamin Crothers)
    • (Season 2 Episode 6: "The Weird Winds on Winona") as Additional voices (voice, credit only) (credited as Benjamin Crothers)
    • (Season 2 Episode 7: "The Haunted Candy Factory") as Additional voices (voice, credit only)
  • Kojak (1973) (Season 1 Episode 7: "The Corrupter") – Gaylord Fuller
  • Hong Kong Phooey (1974) (16 episodes) – Hong Kong Phooey / Penrod 'Penry' Pooch
  • Mannix (1974) Season 8 Episode 5: "The Green Man") – Mudcat
  • The Odd Couple (1970 TV series) (1974) (Season 5 Episode 8: "The Subway Show")
  • McMillan & Wife (1974) (Season 4 Episode 1: "Downshift to Danger") – Floyd
  • Chico and the Man (1974–78) (65 episodes) - Louie Wilson, the Garbage Man
  • Sanford and Son (1975) (Season 4 Episode 16: "The Stand-In") – Bowlegs
  • Roots (1977) (TV miniseries) (Episode: "Part VI") – Mingo
  • Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Angie Dickinson (1977) (TV Special) – Himself
  • Laff-A-Lympics (1977) (2 episodes) – Hong Kong Phooey / Additional voices (voice)
    • (Season 1 Episode 9: "Spain and the Himalayas")
    • (Episode: "Acapulco/England")
  • CB Bears (1977) – Segment Title Narrator
  • Starsky and Hutch (1977) (Season 2 Episode 23: "Long Walk Down a Short Dirt Road") – Fireball
  • The Skatebirds (1977-1978) – Scat Cat (voice)
  • Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels (1977–80) (2 episodes) – Additional Voices
    • (Season 1 Episode 15: "The Mystery Mansion Mix-Up") (1977)
    • (Season 3 Episode 3: "Cavey and the Volcanic Villain") (1980)
  • NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney (1978) (TV Movie documentary) – Himself
  • Charlie's Angels (1978) (Season 3 Episode 1: "Angels in Vegas") – Jip Baker
  • Vega$ (1978–79) (2 episodes)
    • (Season 1 Pilot Episode: "High Roller") (1978) - Rosie
    • (Season 2 Episode 2: "The Usurper") (1979) – Rosie
  • The Love Boat (1978-1984) (3 episodes)
    • (Season 1 Episode 17: "Winner Take Love/The Congressman Was Indiscreet/Isaac's History Lesson") (1978) – Virgil 'Scattergun' Gibson
    • (Season 8 Episode 14: "Country Blues/A Matter of Taste/Frat Brothers Forever") (1984) - Malcolm
    • (Season 8 Episode 15: "Santa, Santa, Santa/Another Dog Gone Christmas/Noel's Christmas Carol") (segment: "Santa, Santa, Santa") (1984) - Malcolm, a Shakespearean actor competing with Ray Walston and Avery Schreiber in the Christmas-themed vignette
  • The Super Globetrotters (1979) (13 episodes) – Nate Branch / Liquid Man
  • The Incredible Hulk (1979) (Season 3 Episode 5: "My Favorite Magician") – Edgar McGee
  • Laverne & Shirley (1980) (2 episodes) – Porter
    • (Season 5 Episode 20: "Murder on the Moosejaw Express: Part 1")
    • (Season 5 Episode 21: "Murder on the Moosejaw Express: Part 2")
  • Magnum, P.I. (1981) (Season 1 Episode 10: "Lest We Forget") – Tickler
  • Trollkins (1981) (13 episodes) – Additional Voices
  • The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island (1981) (TV Movie) – Dewey Stevens
  • Jokebook (1982) – Main Title Singer (voice)
  • Benson (1982) (Season 3 Episode 18: "In the Red") – Reverend Tompkins
  • Madame's Place (1982) (Season 1 Episode 48: "Bankrupt and Suicidal") as himself
  • Casablanca (1983) (5 episodes) – Sam
    • (Season 1 Episode 1: "Who Am I Killing")
    • (Season 1 Episode 2: "Master Builder's Woman")
    • (Season 1 Episode 3: "Jenny")
    • (Season 1 Episode 4: "The Cashier and the Belly Dancer")
    • (Season 1 Episode 5: "Divorce Casablanca Style")
  • Taxi (1983) (Season 5 Episode 23: "A Grand Gesture") – Walt
  • This Is Your Life (1984) (Episode: "Scatman Crothers") – Himself
  • The Transformers (1984–86) (33 episodes) – voice of Autobot Jazz
  • The Paper Chase (1985) (Season 3 Episode 12: "Lasting Impressions") – Mr. Sims
  • Paw Paws (1985–86) (21 episodes) – Eugene the Genie
  • The Wonderful World of Jonathan Winters (1986) – Himself

References[edit]

  1. ^ Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues - A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara: Praeger Publishers. p. 136. ISBN 978-0313344237.
  2. ^ https://orangebeanindiana.com/2020/09/12/scatman-crothers-terre-haute-speakeasies-to-beloved-stardom/
  3. ^ "Scatman Crothers Dies at 76; Actor Got Start in Speakeasies". The New York Times. Associated Press. 23 November 1986. p. 1045. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d Cohen, Jerry (23 November 1986). "Versatile Entertainer, 76, Began Long Career in Speak-Easy at 14: Singer-Actor Scatman Crothers Dies of Cancer". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 18 April 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  5. ^ Price, Mark J. (27 February 2017). "Local history: Scatman Crothers strolled to fame while living in Akron hotel". Akron Beacon Journal. GateHouse Media, LLC. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Louis, Henry; Brooks Higginbotham, Evelyn (2009). Harlem Renaissance Lives from the African American National Biography. Oxford University Press. p. 133. ISBN 978-0-19-538795-7. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  7. ^ "The Ramparts. The Death of Emmett Till". Dootone Records. 1955. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  8. ^ Berger, Brian (May 23, 2012). "Scatman Crothers". HiLoBrow. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  9. ^ "Ballad of Emmett Till Released by Record Firm". The Carolina Times. December 31, 1955. p. 1. Retrieved 19 April 2019 – via North Carolina Newspapers.
  10. ^ "Mannix". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  11. ^ White, Robert; White, Phyllis (1 March 2011). Hollywood and the Best of Los Angeles. Hunter Publishing. pp. 568–. ISBN 978-1-58843-286-5. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  12. ^ "Scatman Crothers". Hollywood Walk of Fame. Archived from the original on Apr 3, 2016. Retrieved 2016-10-04.

External links[edit]

Preceded by
Role originated
 Voice of Jazz
1984–1986
Original Series and Animated Movie 		Succeeded by
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