Ernest Anderson
ActingBiography
Ernest Anderson was born in Lynn MA and earned his high school diploma in Washington D.C. at Dunbar High School, formerly named The Preparatory High School for Colored Youth. Founded in 1891, it was America's first public high school for black students. He earned his bachelor's degree at Northwestern University's School of Drama and Speech. He moved to Hollywood and was working in the service department when Bette Davis arranged for him to interview for the role of Perry Clay in the film "In This Our Life" (1942). Mr. Anderson persuaded the director, John Huston, to change the racist dialog of his character typical of Hollywood in that era, to one of dignified intelligence and emotion. After serving his country in WWII, he returned to Warner Brothers where he continued to humanize the roles of America's black performers. He remained active in film until the late 1960's. He died in DeLand, Florida, on March 5, 2011.
Movies
(22 total)
North by Northwest
as Porter on Twentieth Century Ltd. (uncredited)
No Way Out
as School Teacher (uncredited)
In This Our Life
as Parry Clay
Backfire
as James - Party Servant 9 (uncredited)
The Legend of Lylah Clare
as Hot Dog Man (uncredited)
… tick… tick… tick…
as Homer
Riff-Raff
as Wong - Houseboy (uncredited)
Princess O'Rourke
as Messenger (uncredited)
Without Reservations
as Dining Car Waiter (uncredited)
The Well
as Ralph Crawford
Buccaneer's Girl
as Mme. Brizar's Footman (uncredited)
The Iron Mistress
as Riverboat Cabin Boy
The Mississippi Gambler
as Bellhop (uncredited)
Lost in the Jungle
as Hans
Sport of Kings
as Alf
Three for Bedroom C
as Fred Johnson
The Peanut Man
as Robert
TV Shows
(3 total)
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
as Trooper Marshall
Run for Your Life
as The Jury Foreman