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Post by lowtacks86 on Mar 31, 2021 18:41:20 GMT
Now some of you might be wondering "Who the fuck is Scatman Crothers"? Well he is in fact the black guy in The Shining (1980), which is easily his most famous role, though he also had a minor role in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and a small appearance in "Aristocats". With the rights roles maybe he could have at least had a career comparable to Billy Dee Williams. Why does he have such a goofy sounding name? Well because he was a a jazz singer (scat is a style of jazz singing):
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Post by Jonesy1 on Mar 31, 2021 18:48:49 GMT
He was also the voice of Hong Kong Phooey.  |
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Post by Prime etc. on Mar 31, 2021 18:53:58 GMT
Hong Kong Phooey.
There are a number of black actors from the 70s who could have had more role opportunities. William Marshall and Pam Grier are obvious ones. Bernie Casey, Thalmus Rasulala. Tamara Dobson was a black Lynda Carter before the latter was on the radar.
There a few asian actors who could have had more prominence--Keye Luke, Nancy Kwan, Mako...
But the same is true of white actors--there's always those who are in supporting roles and you think-- why didn't they have more leading opportunities.
At the time--a dime a dozen, but looking back on it, you think, what missed opportunities.
I can't get over how un-charismatic modern actors of any race are compared to 50 years ago.
The only ones that really stand out are in their 50s or 60s.
What happened to voices? That's the thing that I don't get. Actors used to have such recognizable voices. You could recognize Scatman Crothers in a Transformers episode very easily.
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Post by MCDemuth on Mar 31, 2021 18:59:04 GMT
He appeared as the Pullman porter of the train in the movie: "Silver Streak" (1976) And he was also the voice for Autobot JAZZ in the original "Transformers" (G1) cartoon, as well as, in "Transformers: The Movie" (1986). |
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Post by lowtacks86 on Mar 31, 2021 19:04:33 GMT
Hong Kong Phooey. There are a number of black actors from the 70s who could have had more role opportunities. William Marshall and Pam Grier are obvious ones. Bernie Casey, Thalmus Rasulala. Tamara Dobson was a black Lynda Carter before the latter was on the radar. There a few asian actors who could have had more prominence--Keye Luke, Nancy Kwan, Mako... But the same is true of white actors--there's always those who are in supporting roles and you think-- why didn't they have more leading opportunities. At the time--a dime a dozen, but looking back on it, you think, what missed opportunities. I can't get over how un-charismatic modern actors of any race are compared to 50 years ago. The only ones that really stand out are in their 50s or 60s. What happened to voices? That's the thing that I don't get. Actors used to have such recognizable voices. You could recognize Scatman Crothers in a Transformers episode very easily. Did George Takei deserve a better career? He was probably the most famous Asian American actor during the 1960s (dunno who was bigger at the time). With the right roles, maybe he could have had a career comparable to James Hong instead of being typecasted to Star Trek.
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Post by shaggypoo on Mar 31, 2021 19:18:47 GMT
No. Absolutely not.
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Post by Prime etc. on Mar 31, 2021 19:33:31 GMT
Did George Takei deserve a better career? He was probably the most famous Asian American actor during the 1960s (dunno who was bigger at the time). With the right roles, maybe he could have had a career comparable to James Hong instead of being typecasted to Star Trek. I think Nancy Kwan and a couple of other actresses (Frances Nuygen?)were more prominent than any Asian actor was. Except for Takei.
I already said he could have been the star of a Star Trek show but then so could have Nichelle Nichols. They picked the crew members with strong personal charisma. The funny thing is I could never recognize James Doohan outside of Star Trek. I watched a 1960s movie he was in-and didn't know it was him until the credits at the end. Not recognizable without the accent.
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Post by mstreepsucks on Mar 31, 2021 19:35:52 GMT
I 'd say probably he didn't really want to go into acting that much.
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Post by MCDemuth on Mar 31, 2021 19:48:00 GMT
Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983) as Mr. Bloom (segment "Kick the Can")
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Post by MCDemuth on Mar 31, 2021 19:49:08 GMT
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Post by Downey on Mar 31, 2021 20:14:24 GMT
When you're trying to talk up an actor who you feel hasn't been given his chance in Hollywood it helps that you clarify who the person is and what small amount of films he's appeared in because I have no idea who he is.
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Post by lowtacks86 on Mar 31, 2021 20:25:29 GMT
When you're trying to talk up an actor who you feel hasn't been given his chance in Hollywood it helps that you clarify who the person is and what small amount of films he's appeared in because I have no idea who he is. Translation: "I'm too stupid to know how to use Google"
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Post by Downey on Mar 31, 2021 20:38:21 GMT
When you're trying to talk up an actor who you feel hasn't been given his chance in Hollywood it helps that you clarify who the person is and what small amount of films he's appeared in because I have no idea who he is. Translation: "I'm too stupid to know how to use Google" Why would I want to Google an idiot like you called Scatman? You started the thread I didn't request a thread be made about a nomark no one has ever heard of in the first place. It's your job to include all the necessary information needed not me. |
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Post by Power Ranger on Mar 31, 2021 21:41:42 GMT
Sure, but it didn’t really get going until he was in his 50s.
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Post by Power Ranger on Mar 31, 2021 21:51:25 GMT
When you're trying to talk up an actor who you feel hasn't been given his chance in Hollywood it helps that you clarify who the person is and what small amount of films he's appeared in because I have no idea who he is. You would have seen this. |
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Post by Downey on Mar 31, 2021 22:02:53 GMT
When you're trying to talk up an actor who you feel hasn't been given his chance in Hollywood it helps that you clarify who the person is and what small amount of films he's appeared in because I have no idea who he is. You would have seen this. I think it's a case of the OP overrating an actor so much that you begin forgetting what films he's been in too. The other users including you have put some effort in well more than the OP has anyway. |
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Post by politicidal on Mar 31, 2021 23:09:54 GMT
He was also in The Shootist in a supporting role. It seems like he had a better filmography than most. Appearing in several popular movies would ensure that people would continue to remember him.
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Post by mgmarshall on Mar 31, 2021 23:17:35 GMT
He, like a lot of black entertainers of his generation, was likely held back from wider success in his younger years by segregation. But I think he managed to do quite well for himself in his autumn years.
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Post by vegalyra on Mar 31, 2021 23:22:58 GMT
He deserved the book ending of the Shining rather than the actual movie ending.
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Post by spooner5020 on Apr 1, 2021 0:09:05 GMT
He was also the voice of Hong Kong Phooey. WAS HE?  I had no idea until now!!! For real!!! |
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I had no idea until now!!! For real!!!