Eugene W. Jackson II (December 25, 1916 – October 26, 2001) was an American

child actor The term child actor or child actress is generally applied to a child acting on stage or in movies or television. An adult who began their acting career as a child may also be called a child actor, or a "former child actor". Closely associated t ...

who was a regular of the '' Our Gang'' short series during the silent Pathé era.

Career

When he joined the gang, Jackson replaced the series' first black cast member,

Ernie Morrison Ernest Fredric Morrison (December 20, 1912 – July 24, 1989) was an American child actor, comedian, vaudevillian and dancer who also performed under the stage name Sunshine Sammy Morrison and was the only black member of the '' East Side K ...

who was billed in the series as Sunshine Sammy, Jackson's characters nickname was "Pineapple" because of his haircut's similarity to the shape of the pineapple fruit. He played the character "Humidor" in one of

Mary Pickford Gladys Marie Smith (April 8, 1892 – May 29, 1979), known professionally as Mary Pickford, was a Canadian-American stage and screen actress and producer with a career that spanned five decades. A pioneer in the US film industry, she co-founde ...

's most successful films, ''

Little Annie Rooney ''Little Annie Rooney'' is a comic strip about a young orphaned girl who traveled about with her dog, Zero. King Features Syndicate launched the strip on January 10, 1927, not long after it was apparent that the Chicago Tribune Syndicate had ...

'' (1925). A large film poster of the cast of ''

'', including Jackson, hangs in the lobby of the Mary Pickford Theatre of the

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS, often pronounced ; also known as simply the Academy or the Motion Picture Academy) is a professional honorary organization with the stated goal of advancing the arts and sciences of motio ...

in Hollywood. Jackson also starred in '' Hearts in Dixie'' (1929), one of the first all-talking, big-studio productions to boast a predominately African-American cast. He was the first African-American child to have a speaking part in a major motion picture. In television, Jackson was a recurring character on ''

Julia Julia is usually a feminine given name. It is a Latinate feminine form of the name Julio and Julius. (For further details on etymology, see the Wiktionary entry "Julius".) The given name ''Julia'' had been in use throughout Late Antiquity (e.g ...

'', the first network sitcom to have a female African-American lead, Diahann Carroll. Jackson played Julia's uncle. Jackson's last major feature film was ''

The Addams Family ''The Addams Family'' is a fictional family created by American cartoonist Charles Addams. They originally appeared in a series of 150 unrelated single-panel cartoons, about half of which were originally published in ''The New Yorker'' over ...

'' (1991) with Anjelica Huston,

Raul Julia Raúl Rafael Carlos Juliá y Arcelay (March 9, 1940 – October 24, 1994) was a Puerto Rican actor. Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, he took an interest in acting while still in school and pursued the career upon completion of his studies. After ...

and

Christopher Lloyd Christopher Allen Lloyd (born October 22, 1938) is an American actor. He has appeared in many theater productions, films, and on television since the 1960s. He is known for portraying Dr. Emmett "Doc" Brown in the ''Back to the Future'' tril ...

. He played a one-armed musician. Jackson wrote an autobiography in 1999 that contains pictures from his career in show business.

Death

Jackson died of a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which ma ...

in Compton, California on October 26, 2001. He was 84."Eugene Jackson, 84, Known For 'Our Gang' Films"
''New York Times''. Retrieved 2017-03-23.

Partial filmography

* '' Penrod and Sam'' (1923) - Verman * '' Her Reputation'' (1923) - Boy pushed into pond * '' Boy of Mine'' (1923) - Little Boy (uncredited) * '' The Thief of Bagdad'' (1924) - Child (uncredited) * ''

'' (1925) - Humidor (uncredited) * '' Flirty Four-Flushers'' (1926, Short) - Boy Eating Watermelon (uncredited) * ''

Uncle Tom's Cabin ''Uncle Tom's Cabin; or, Life Among the Lowly'' is an anti-slavery novel by American author Harriet Beecher Stowe. Published in two volumes in 1852, the novel had a profound effect on attitudes toward African Americans and slavery in the U ...

'' (1927) - Child (uncredited) * ''

Little Mickey Grogan ''Little Mickey Grogan'' is a 1927 American comedy-drama film directed by James Leo Meehan and written by Dwight Cummins, Dorothy Yost and Charles Kerr. The film stars Frankie Darro, Lassie Lou Ahern, Jobyna Ralston, Carroll Nye, Eugene Jack ...

'' (1927) - Dancing Black Boy (uncredited) * '' Hearts in Dixie'' (1929) - Chinquapin * '' Dixiana'' (1930) - Cupid - Plantation House Boy (uncredited) * '' Cimarron'' (1931) - Isaiah * '' Sporting Blood'' (1931) - Sam "Sammy" * ''Sporting Chance'' (1931) - Horseshoe * ''

Secret Service A secret service is a government agency, intelligence agency, or the activities of a government agency, concerned with the gathering of intelligence data. The tasks and powers of a secret service can vary greatly from one country to another. For ...

'' (1931) - Israel Polk * ''

Ladies Crave Excitement ''Ladies Crave Excitement'' is a 1935 American action–comedy drama film released by Mascot Pictures, directed by Nick Grinde and starring Norman Foster, Evalyn Knapp and Esther Ralston. Plot Don Phelan, the ace newsreel reporter, falls in lo ...

'' (1935) - Lightcrust - Horse Groom (uncredited) * ''

Tumbling Tumbleweeds "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" is a song composed by Bob Nolan. Although one of the most famous songs associated with the Sons of the Pioneers, the song was composed by Nolan in the 1930s, while working as a caddy and living in Los Angeles. Originally ti ...

'' (1935) - Eightball * '' Red River Valley'' (1936) - Iodine * '' The Lonely Trail'' (1936) - Harmonica Player / Dancer * '' Hearts in Bondage'' (1936) - Sam (uncredited) * '' Guns and Guitars'' (1936) - Eightball * '' Midnight Court'' (1937) - Garfield Brown (uncredited) * '' It Can't Last Forever'' (1937) - Jackson Brothers Act (uncredited) * ''

Blonde Trouble ''Blonde Trouble'' is a 1937 American musical comedy film directed by George Archainbaud and starring Eleanore Whitney, Johnny Downs and Lynne Overman.Hischak p.209 Produced and distributed by Paramount Pictures, it is based on the plot of the ...

'' (1937) - Bootblack (uncredited) * '' Wine, Women and Horses'' (1937) - Eight Ball * ''

Thoroughbreds Don't Cry ''Thoroughbreds Don't Cry'' is a 1937 American musical comedy film directed by Alfred E. Green and starring Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland in their first film together. Plot Cricket West is a hopeful actress with a pair of vocal cords that bri ...

'' (1937) - Black Stable Boy (uncredited) * '' The Buccaneer'' (1938) - James Smith, a Servant * '' Arrest Bulldog Drummond'' (1938) - Hotel Page Boy (uncredited) * ''

Tom Sawyer, Detective ''Tom Sawyer, Detective'' is an 1896 novel by Mark Twain. It is a sequel to ''The Adventures of Tom Sawyer'' (1876), ''Adventures of Huckleberry Finn'' (1884), and '' Tom Sawyer Abroad'' (1894). Tom Sawyer attempts to solve a mysterious murder ...

'' (1938) - Boy (uncredited) * ''

Kentucky Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virginia ...

'' (1938) - Jimmy (uncredited) * ''Rhythm Rodeo'' (1938) - Tap Dancer * ''

The Lady's from Kentucky ''The Lady's from Kentucky'' is a 1939 film directed by Alexander Hall and starring George Raft and Ellen Drew. It was written by Malcolm Stuart Boylan from a story by Rowland Brown. The screenplay involves a failing bookie (Raft) who becomes hal ...

'' (1939) - Winfield (uncredited) * ''Reform School'' (1939) - Pete * '' Boy Friend'' (1939) - Porter (uncredited) * ''

Television Spy ''Television Spy'' is a 1939 American drama film directed by Edward Dmytryk and starring William Henry. Plot A scientist invents a television called the Iconoscope, which thieves try to steal. Cast * William Henry as Douglas Cameron * Judith ...

'' (1939) - Tommy (uncredited) * '' The Honeymoon's Over'' (1939) - Parking Man (uncredited) * '' Seventeen'' (1940) - Attendant (uncredited) * '' Sporting Blood'' (1940) - Sam - Lockwood's Horse Groom (uncredited) * ''

Melody and Moonlight ''Melody and Moonlight'' is a 1940 American film starring Jane Frazee. Plot Kay Barnett is a free spirit, much like her aunt Adelaide, but such flamboyant behavior is disapproved of by Kay's father, Otis Barnett. He much prefers her to become ...

'' (1940) - Dancer (uncredited) * '' Golden Hoofs'' (1941) - Curly (uncredited) * '' Unfinished Business'' (1941) - Bootblack (uncredited) * ''

Reap the Wild Wind ''Reap the Wild Wind'' is a 1942 American adventure film produced and directed by Cecil B. DeMille and starring Ray Milland, John Wayne, and Paulette Goddard, with a supporting cast featuring Raymond Massey, Robert Preston, Lynne Overman, Sus ...

'' (1942) - Dr. Jepson's Black Servant (uncredited) * ''Take My Life'' (1942) - Bill, Harlem Tuff-Kid Gang Member * '' Reveille with Beverly'' (1943) - Franklin Delano Lincoln Van Buren Jones (uncredited) * ''

What's Buzzin', Cousin? ''What's Buzzin', Cousin?'' is a 1943 American musical film directed by Charles Barton and written by Harry Sauber and John P. Medbury. The film stars Ann Miller, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, John Hubbard, Freddy Martin, Leslie Brooks and Jeff ...

'' (1943) - Bellboy (uncredited) * ''

Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay! ''Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay!'' is a 1948 American romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by F. Hugh Herbert, based on the novel of the same name by George Agnew Chamberlain. Released by 20th Century Fox, the film stars June Haver, Lon McC ...

'' (1948) - Stable Hand - Tony (uncredited) * '' The Story of Seabiscuit'' (1949) - Stablehand (uncredited) * '' The Killer That Stalked New York'' (1950) - Bootblack (uncredited) * ''

Artists and Models ''Artists and Models'' is a 1955 American musical romantic comedy film in VistaVision directed by Frank Tashlin, marking Martin and Lewis's 14th feature together as a team. The film co-stars Shirley MacLaine and Dorothy Malone, with Eva Gabor ...

'' (1955) - Street Saxophonist (uncredited) * '' Jeanne Eagels'' (1957) - Piccaninny (uncredited) * ''

The Long, Hot Summer ''The Long, Hot Summer'' is a 1958 American drama film directed by Martin Ritt. The screenplay was written by Irving Ravetch and Harriet Frank Jr., based in part on three works by William Faulkner: the 1931 novella " Spotted Horses", the 1939 s ...

'' (1958) - Waiter (uncredited) * ''

King Creole ''King Creole'' is a 1958 American musical drama film directed by Michael Curtiz and based on the 1952 novel '' A Stone for Danny Fisher'' by Harold Robbins. Produced by Hal B. Wallis, the film stars Elvis Presley, Carolyn Jones, Walter Matthau, ...

'' (1958) - Saxophonist in Blue Shade (uncredited) * ''

North by Northwest ''North by Northwest'' is a 1959 American spy thriller film, produced and directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint and James Mason. The screenplay was by Ernest Lehman, who wanted to write "the Hitchcock picture ...

'' (1959) - Security Guard at auction (uncredited) * ''

The Gene Krupa Story ''The Gene Krupa Story'' (also known as ''Drum Crazy'') is a 1959 biopic of American drummer and bandleader Gene Krupa. The conflict in the film centers on Krupa's rise to success and his corresponding use of marijuana. Plot synopsis The young ...

'' (1959) - Saxophone Player (uncredited) * ''

The Apartment ''The Apartment'' is a 1960 American romantic comedy-drama film directed and produced by Billy Wilder from a screenplay he co-wrote with I. A. L. Diamond. It stars Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray, Ray Walston, Jack Kruschen, Dav ...

'' (1960) - Office Worker (uncredited) * ''

Two Weeks in Another Town ''Two Weeks in Another Town'' is a 1962 American drama film directed by Vincente Minnelli and starring Kirk Douglas and Edward G. Robinson. The supporting players include Cyd Charisse, Claire Trevor, Daliah Lavi, George Hamilton, and Rosanna S ...

'' (1962) - Commuter at Airport (uncredited) * '' Critic's Choice'' (1963) - Audience Member (uncredited) * '' Robin and the 7 Hoods'' (1964) - Congregation Member (uncredited) * '' Looking for Love'' (1964) - Office Worker (uncredited) * '' Your Cheatin' Heart'' (1964) - Theatre Patron (uncredited) * '' Zebra in the Kitchen'' (1965) - Newsboy (uncredited) * '' Shenandoah'' (1965) - Gabriel * ''

Wild in the Streets ''Wild in the Streets'' is a 1968 American comedy-drama film directed by Barry Shear and starring Christopher Jones, Hal Holbrook, and Shelley Winters. Based on the short story "The Day It All Happened, Baby!" by Robert Thom, it was distribu ...

'' (1968) - Congressman (uncredited) * '' Support Your Local Gunfighter'' (1971) - Waiter Aboard Train (uncredited) * '' Chandler'' (1971) - Shoe Shine Boy * ''

The Carey Treatment ''The Carey Treatment'' is a 1972 American crime thriller film directed by Blake Edwards and starring James Coburn, Jennifer O'Neill, Dan O'Herlihy and Pat Hingle. The film was based on the 1968 novel ''A Case of Need'' credited to Jeffery Hudson ...

'' (1972) - Doctor (uncredited) * ''

Black Girl Black women are women of sub-Saharan African and Afro-diasporic descent, as well as women of Australian Aboriginal and Melanesian descent. The term 'Black' is a racial classification of people, the definition of which has shifted over time and a ...

'' (1972) - Parishioner (uncredited) * ''

Coffy ''Coffy'' is a 1973 American blaxploitation film written and directed by Jack Hill. The story is about a black female vigilante played by Pam Grier who seeks violent revenge against a heroin dealer responsible for her sister's addiction.Gary A. ...

'' (1973) - Man at Rally (uncredited) * ''

40 Carats ''Forty Carats'' is a play by Jay Presson Allen. Adapted from the French original by Pierre Barillet and Jean-Pierre Gredy, the comedy revolves around a 40-year-old American divorcee who is assisted by a 22-year-old when her car breaks down du ...

'' (1973) - Party Dancer (uncredited) * ''

Cleopatra Jones ''Cleopatra Jones'' is a 1973 American blaxploitation film directed by Jack Starrett. Tamara Dobson stars as an undercover government agent who uses the day job of supermodel as her cover and an excuse to travel to exotic places. Bernie Casey, S ...

'' (1973) - Henry * '' The Day of the Locust'' (1975) - Doorman (uncredited) * ''

All the President's Men ''All the President's Men'' is a 1974 non-fiction book by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, two of the journalists who investigated the June 1972 break-in at the Watergate Office Building and the resultant political scandal for ''The Washingto ...

'' (1976) - Reporter (uncredited) * ''

Sparkle Sparkle may refer to: * Sparkle (catamaran), a catamaran designed by Angus Primrose * Sparkle (drink), a lemon-flavored soft drink * Sparkle, a brand of paper towels owned by Georgia-Pacific * Sparkle Plenty, a character in the ''Dick Tracy'' c ...

'' (1976) - Hotel Bellboy (uncredited) * '' Treasure of Matecumbe'' (1976) - Man Dancing in the Street (uncredited) * ''

Five Days from Home ''Five Days from Home'' is a 1978 American drama film directed, produced and starring George Peppard, with Sherry Boucher, Savannah Smith, Neville Brand, Victor Campos, and Robert Donner. Plot T.M. Pryor, a former cop, escapes from a prison in ...

'' (1978) - Inmate (uncredited) * '' Escape from Alcatraz'' (1979) - Inmate #7 * '' American Gigolo'' (1980) - Bootblack * '' Off the Wall'' (1983) - Old Black Man * '' Swing Shift'' (1984) - Bartender at Kelly's * ''

Life Stinks ''Life Stinks'' is a 1991 American comedy film co-written, produced, directed by and starring Mel Brooks. It is one of the few Mel Brooks comedies that is not a parody, nor at any time does the film break the fourth wall. It co-stars Lesley Ann ...

'' (1991) - Office Janitor (uncredited) * ''

'' (1991) - One-Armed Bass Player

References

Bibliography

* Holmstrom, John. ''The Moving Picture Boy: An International Encyclopaedia from 1895 to 1995'', Norwich, Michael Russell, 1996, pp. 74–75.

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Jackson, Eugene American male child actors American male film actors American male silent film actors Male actors from New York (state) 1916 births 2001 deaths 20th-century American male actors African-American male child actors American male comedy actors Hal Roach Studios actors Our Gang 20th-century African-American people