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 and worked at Norman Studios in

Jacksonville, Florida Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the List of United States cities by area, largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the co ...

where he starred in two of their race films. 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. Histo ...

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

The

Smithsonian Institution The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums and education and research centers, the largest such complex in the world, created by the U.S. government "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge". Founded ...

has a lobby card for '' The Flying Ace''. The

Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The library ...

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

*'' The Flying Ace'' (1926) as Capt. Blly Stokes *'' The Millionaire (1927 film)'' *'' Black Gold (1928 film)'' *'' Black Moon'' (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 ''The Duke Is Tops'' is a 1938 United States, American musical film released by Million Dollar Productions and directed by William Nolte. The film was later released in 1943 under the title ''The Bronze Venus''. It features top-billed Lena Horne i ...

'' (1938) as Doc Dorando *''

Gang Smashers ''Gang Smashers'', also released as ''Gun Moll'', is an American film released in 1938. It features an African American cast. Leo C. Popkin directed the Million Dollar Productions film from a screenplay by Ralph Cooper. The University of South C ...

'' *''

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'' (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 Chauf ...

'' (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) ''The Gang's All Here'' (1941) is an American black-and-white feature film starring Frankie Darro, Mantan Moreland, Marcia Mae Jones, and Jackie Moran in a story about a trucking company targeted by saboteurs. The film was directed by Jean ...

'' 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 ''King of the Zombies'' is a 1941 American zombie comedy film directed by Jean Yarbrough and starring Dick Purcell, Joan Woodbury, and Mantan Moreland. The film was produced by Monogram Pictures, and was typical of its B films produced by the ...

'' (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 o ...

'' (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 Si ...

'' (1942) as Chief Mojobo an Oxford graduate *'' Miracle in Harlem'' (1948), as Albert Marshall *'' What a Guy'' *''

The Jackie Robinson Story ''The Jackie Robinson Story'' is a 1950 biographical film directed by Alfred E. Green (who had directed ''The Jolson Story'', "one of the biggest hits of the 40s") and starring Jackie Robinson as himself. The film focuses on Robinson's struggle ...

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