Laurence Criner (19 July 1898 - 8 March 1965) born John Laurence Criner, occasionally credited as J. Lawrence Criner, was an actor in the United States. An African-American, he had numerous film roles including as the male lead and star. He was a member of the

Lafayette Players A number of theatre companies are associated with the Harlem Renaissance. Lafayette Players (1916–1932) Anita Bush, a pioneer in African American theater, began an acting company after seeing a show at the Lincoln Theater in Harlem. She wante ...

and worked at

Norman Studios Norman Studios, also known as Norman Film Manufacturing Company is a former American film studio in Jacksonville, Florida. Founded by Richard Edward Norman, the studio produced silent films featuring African-American casts from 1919 to 1928. The o ...

in Jacksonville, Florida where he starred in two of their

race film The race film or race movie was a genre of film produced in the United States between about 1915 and the early 1950s, consisting of films produced for black audiences, and featuring black casts. Approximately five hundred race films were produce ...

s. He later worked at African American studio

Million Dollar Productions Million Dollar Productions was a movie studio in the United States active from 1937 until 1940. It was established to produce films with African American casts. It was a partnership between Harry M. Popkin, Leo C. Popkin and Ralph Cooper. Histor ...

http://normanstudios.org/films-stars/norman-players/laurence-criner/ Black Gold poster

The Smithsonian Institution has a lobby card for ''

The Flying Ace ''The Flying Ace'' is a 1926 black-and-white silent drama film directed by Richard E. Norman with an all-African-American cast. This six-reel film, made by Norman Studios in Jacksonville, Florida, utilized a mix of professionals such as leads L ...

''. The Library of Congress has a movie poster of '' Life Goes On'' that features an insetimage of Criner. The National Museum of African American History has a herald for ''Flying Ace''.

Theater

*''Meek Mose'' (1928), credited as J. Lawrence Criner

Filmography

*''

'' (1926) as Capt. Blly Stokes *''

The Millionaire (1927 film) The Millionaire is a 1927 film directed by Oscar Micheaux. Cast * Grace Smith * J. Lawrence Criner *Cleo Desmond *Lionel Monagas * William Edmonson * Vera Brocker * S. T. Jacks * E. G. Tatum *''Chicago Defender'' editor Robert S. Abbott Rober ...

'' *''

Black Gold (1928 film) Black gold or Black Gold may refer to: Commodities * Petroleum or crude oil * Black pepper * Colored gold#Black gold Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Black Gold'' (1928 film), a 1928 film produced by Norman Studios * ''Black Gol ...

'' *''

Black Moon Black Moon may refer to: * Black moon, one of four astronomical events involving new or dark moons * Black Moon (person) (c. 1821–1893), Lakota (American Indian) headman * Black Moon or Lilith (hypothetical moon), a hypothetical natural satelli ...

'' (1934), as high priest Kala *''

Bargain with Bullets ''Bargain with Bullets'' is a 1937 American film. The first film produced by Million Dollar Productions Million Dollar Productions was a movie studio in the United States active from 1937 until 1940. It was established to produce films with Afric ...

'' (1937) *'' The Duke Is Tops'' (1938) as Doc Dorando *'' Gang Smashers'' *''

Life Goes On (1938 film) ''Life Goes On'' (reissued in 1944 as ''His Harlem Wife'') is a 1938 crime drama directed by William Nolte and starring Louise Beavers, Edward Thompson, Reginald Fenderson, and Laurence Criner. It was produced by Million Dollar Productions, which ...

'' *''

Midnight Shadow ''Midnight Shadow'' is a 1939 film with an all African-American cast. It was directed and produced by George Randol, who was also African American. Plot The mind-reading Prince Alihabad courts a girl from Oklahoma played by Frances E. Redd. Her pa ...

'' (1939) Prince Alihabad *''

Four Shall Die ''Four Shall Die'' is a 1940 American supernatural crime film directed by William Beaudine. It features Dorothy Dandridge in her first credited film role. Cast * Niel Webster as Pierre Touissant * Mantan Moreland as Beefus, Touissant's Chauffe ...

'' (1940) as Roger Fielding *''

Gang War (1940 film) ''Gang War'' is an American film released in 1940. It features an African American cast and was directed by Leo C. Popkin. It was produced by Million Dollar Productions. The film is about the rivalry between two gangs. In 1998, the Turner Classic ...

'' *'' The Gang's All Here (1941 film)'' as Ham Shanks *''

Up Jumped the Devil ''Up Jumped the Devil'' is a 1941 American comedy film directed by William Beaudine and starring Mantan Moreland. Plot Washington and Jefferson are two criminals who are just released from prison. They look for jobs to avoid being arrested for ...

'' (1941) as Sheriff *'' King of the Zombies'' (1941) as Dr. Couillie *''

Freckles Comes Home ''Freckles Comes Home'' is a 1942 American film directed by Jean Yarbrough based on the novel by Jeannette Stratton-Porter that was a sequel to ''Freckles'' by her mother Gene Stratton-Porter. Plot summary Freckles Winslow (Johnny Downs) is on ...

'' (1942) as Roxbury B. Brown, III *''

Law of the Jungle (film) ''Law of the Jungle'' is a 1942 American adventure film directed by Jean Yarbrough. Plot A singer, Nona Brooks, is stranded at a hotel in Africa because her passport is missing. It turns out enemy agents, in collaboration with hotel owner Sim ...

'' (1942) as Chief Mojobo an Oxford graduate *''

Miracle in Harlem ''Miracle in Harlem'' is a 1948 American musical melodrama film, directed by Jack Kemp, and starred an all African American cast. It has been considered one of the best all-black independent films of the 1940s. Plot A businessman fakes his own d ...

'' (1948), as Albert Marshall *''

What a Guy What or WHAT may refer to: * What, an interrogative pronoun and adverb * "What?", one of the Five Ws used in journalism Film and television * ''What!'' (film) or ''The Whip and the Body'', a 1963 Italian film directed by Mario Bava * '' What ...

'' *'' The Jackie Robinson Story''

References

External links

Findagrave entry
{{DEFAULTSORT:Criner, Laurence African-American male actors American male film actors American male stage actors 20th-century American male actors 20th-century African-American people 1898 births 1965 deaths