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Julius Harris

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Julius Harris
Julius Harris in Trouble Man 1972
Born
Julius W. Harris

(1923-08-17)August 17, 1923
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedOctober 17, 2004(2004-10-17) (aged 81)[1]
Woodland Hills, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1964–1997
Known forMr. Big – Trouble Man
Tee Hee Johnson – Live and Let Die
Mr. Gibbs – Black Caesar, Hell Up in Harlem
Scatter – Super Fly
Children2

Julius W. Harris (August 17, 1923 – October 17, 2004) was an American actor who appeared in more than 70 movies and numerous television series in a career that spanned four decades. Harris is best known for his roles in 1970s films such as Live and Let Die and the blaxploitation films Super Fly, Black Caesar and Hell Up in Harlem.[2][3][4]

Early life and career

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to a father who was a musician and a mother who had been employed by the Cotton Club in New York City as a dancer, Harris worked as a nurse, and a bouncer in New York City jazz clubs. Before he began his acting career, Harris served as a medic in the United States Army during World War II. After hanging out with many struggling actors, he took a dare and auditioned for his first role and was cast as the father in Nothing But a Man, a critically acclaimed 1964 film about black life in the South starring Ivan Dixon and Abbey Lincoln.[5]

Some of his most prominent roles included the villainous, steel-armed Tee Hee in the James Bond film Live and Let Die,[6] Scatter in Super Fly, Bubbletop Woodson in Let's Do It Again, Captain Bollin in Shaft's Big Score, Inspector Daniels in The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, Joseph in Islands in the Stream and Ugandan President Idi Amin in the TV movie Victory at Entebbe.[7][8]

He also appeared in Trouble Man, King Kong, Black Caesar, Hell Up in Harlem, Friday Foster, Shrunken Heads, Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man and in guest-starring roles on Sanford and Son, Good Times, and Love Boat among others. Harris was a member of the Negro Ensemble Company in New York City and appeared on Broadway in the Pulitzer Prize-winning play, No Place to Be Somebody.[9]

Death

Harris died from heart failure on October 17, 2004 while admitted at the Motion Picture and Television Hospital. He was eighty-one.[10] He was cremated and interred in Philadelphia, his place of birth, and was survived by his daughter Kimberly and son Gideon.[11][12]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1964 Nothing But a Man Will Anderson Julius Harris' first movie role
1969 Slaves Shadrach
1972 Shaft's Big Score Captain Bollin
Super Fly 'Scatter'
Trouble Man 'Mr. Big'
1973 Black Caesar Mr. Gibbs
Live and Let Die Tee Hee Johnson
Salty Clancy Ames
Hell Up in Harlem Mr. Gibbs
Blade Card Player
1974 The Taking of Pelham One Two Three Deputy Chief Inspector Daniels
1975 Let's Do It Again 'Bubbletop' Woodson
Friday Foster 'Monk' Riley
1976 King Kong Boan
1977 Islands in the Stream Joseph
Alambrista! 2nd Drunk
Looking for Mr. Goodbar 'Black Cat'
1979 Delta Fox 'Tiny'
1980 Gorp Fred, The Chef
First Family Ambassador Longo
1981 Circle of Power B.B.
Full Moon High Hijacker uncredited
1983 Going Berserk Judge
1984 The Enchanted Booker T.
1985 Crimewave Hardened Convict
1986 My Chauffeur Johnson Alternative title: My Chauffeur: Licensed to Love
Hollywood Vice Squad Jesse
1988 Split Decisions Tony Leone
1990 To Sleep with Anger Herman
Darkman Gravedigger
Prayer of the Rollerboys 'Speedbagger'
1991 Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man Old Man Jiles
1993 Maniac Cop III: Badge of Silence Houngan Malfaiteur Alternative titles: Maniac Cop 3
MC3: Maniac Cop 3
1994 Shrunken Heads Aristide Sumatra
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1969 N.Y.P.D. Hector 1 episode
1973 The Bob Newhart Show Mr. Billings 1 episode ("Blues for Mr. Borden")
1975 Harry O Arthur "Art Sully" Daniels 1 episode
Cannon Milner, Liquid Store Owner 1 episode
Ellery Queen Doyle, The Butler 1 episode
1976 Rich Man, Poor Man Augie Miniseries
Victory at Entebbe President Idi Amin Television movie
Good Times Ben 1 episode
1977 Kojak Joe Addison 1 episode
Sanford and Son Doctor 1 episode
1978 The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries Mr. Dove 2 episodes
1979 The Incredible Hulk 'Doc' Alden 1 episode
1981 Thornwell Frisco Television movie
1982 The Blue and the Gray Swamp Preacher Miniseries
Voyagers! Auctioneer 1 episode
1983 St. Elsewhere Earl 1 episode
1983–1986 Cagney & Lacey Bardo / Sergeant Major Brennan 2 episodes
1984 Hart to Hart Krohn 1 episode
Gone Are the Dayes Man #1 Television movie
Benson (Benson's) Uncle Buster 1 episode "the reunion"
The Jeffersons Reverend Taylor 1 episode
1985 Hollywood Wives Reverend Daniel Miniseries
Amazing Stories Joe 1 episode
1986 Capitol Papa Nebo Unknown episodes
1987 Outlaws Butch 1 episode
A Gathering of Old Men Coot Television movie
Alternative title: Murder on the Bayou
1989 Friday the 13th: The Series Simpson 1 episode
1991 The Golden Girls Mr. Lewis 1 episode
Murder, She Wrote Jack Lee Johnson 1 episode
Civil Wars Judge Adams 1 episode
1992 Eerie, Indiana Prop Man 1 episode
1997 ER Gramps 1 episode, (final appearance)

References

  1. ^ Blaxploitation Films, By Mikel J. Koven.Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  2. ^ McLellan, Dennis. "Julius Harris, 81; Broke Stereotypes of Movie Roles for Black Actors." Los Angeles, California: The Los Angeles Times, October 22, 2004, p. B11 (subscription required).
  3. ^ "Julius Harris: Stage, screen actor." Phoenix, Arizona: The Arizona Republic, October 23, 2004, p. B9 (subscription required).
  4. ^ "Film actor of 4 decades." Miami, Florida: The Miami Herald, Pctober 23, 2004, p. 4B (subscription required).
  5. ^ McLellan, Dennis. "Julius Harris, 81; Broke Stereotypes of Movie Roles for Black Actors," The Los Angeles Times, October 22, 2004, p. B11.
  6. ^ "Tee Hee (Julius W Harris) - James Bond Villains". Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  7. ^ McLellan, Dennis. "Julius Harris, 81; Broke Stereotypes of Movie Roles for Black Actors," The Los Angeles Times, October 22, 2004, p. B11.
  8. ^ "Julius Harris: Stage, screen actor," The Arizona Republic, October 23, 2004, p. B9.
  9. ^ McLellan, Dennis. "Julius Harris, 81; Broke Stereotypes of Movie Roles for Black Actors," The Los Angeles Times, October 22, 2004, p. B11.
  10. ^ Heffernan, Virginia (2004-10-23). "Julius Harris, 81, Pioneering Black Actor, Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-02-13.
  11. ^ McLellan, Dennis. "Julius Harris, 81; Broke Stereotypes of Movie Roles for Black Actors," The Los Angeles Times, October 22, 2004, p. B11.
  12. ^ "Julius Harris: Stage, screen actor," The Arizona Republic, October 23, 2004, p. B9.
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