Roy Edwin Glenn, Sr. (June 3, 1914 – March 12, 1971) was an American

character actor A character actor is a supporting actor who plays unusual, interesting, or eccentric characters.28 April 2013, The New York Acting SchoolTen Best Character Actors of All Time Retrieved 7 August 2014, "..a breed of actor who has the ability to b ...

Early life

Glenn was born in

Pittsburg, Kansas Pittsburg is a city in Crawford County, Kansas, United States, located in southeast Kansas near the Missouri state border. It is the most populous city in Crawford County and southeast Kansas. As of the 2020 census, the population of the ci ...

on June 3, 1914.

Career

In 1949, Glenn's radio career started in

Rocky Jordan ''Rocky Jordan'' was a radio series about an American restaurateur in Cairo who each week became involved in some kind of mystery or adventure. The show was broadcast on CBS from October 31, 1948, to September 10, 1950, and then again from June 2 ...

– The Adventures of Rocky Jordan The Man With No Name. Glenn's career spanned five decades, beginning in

radio Radio is the technology of signaling and communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 30 hertz (Hz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz). They are generated by an electronic device called a transmit ...

with '' The Amos 'n' Andy Show'' and ''

The Jack Benny Show ''The Jack Benny Program'', starring Jack Benny, is a radio-TV comedy series that ran for more than three decades and is generally regarded as a high-water mark in 20th century American comedy. He played one role throughout his radio and televis ...

''. He made numerous appearances from the dawn of

television Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or the medium of television transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertisin ...

(including many authoritative roles on '' The Amos 'n' Andy Show'', 1951–53) until 1970. His first film appearance was in ''

Kelly the Second Kelly may refer to: Art and entertainment * Kelly (Kelly Price album) * Kelly (Andrea Faustini album) * ''Kelly'' (musical), a 1965 musical by Mark Charlap * "Kelly" (song), a 2018 single by Kelly Rowland * ''Kelly'' (film), a 1981 Canadi ...

'' (1936), followed by ''

Dark Manhattan ''Dark Manhattan'' is a black and white American film produced in 1937 by a partnership of African Americans Ralph Cooper and George Randol. Harry Fraser directed the film, which was written by Randol who was also the executive producer. The ...

'' (1937). His other film credits include ''

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 ...

'' (1950), ''

Carmen Jones ''Carmen Jones'' is a 1943 Broadway musical with music by Georges Bizet (orchestrated for Broadway by Robert Russell Bennett) and lyrics and book by Oscar Hammerstein II which was performed at The Broadway Theatre. Conceptually, it is Bizet's op ...

'' (1954), ''

Porgy and Bess ''Porgy and Bess'' () is an English-language opera by American composer George Gershwin, with a libretto written by author DuBose Heyward and lyricist Ira Gershwin. It was adapted from Dorothy Heyward and DuBose Heyward's play '' Porgy'', itse ...

'' (1959), ''

The Sound and the Fury ''The Sound and the Fury'' is a novel by the American author William Faulkner. It employs several narrative styles, including stream of consciousness. Published in 1929, ''The Sound and the Fury'' was Faulkner's fourth novel, and was not immedi ...

'' (1959), ''

A Raisin in the Sun ''A Raisin in the Sun'' is a play by Lorraine Hansberry that debuted on Broadway in 1959. The title comes from the poem "Harlem" (also known as "A Dream Deferred") by Langston Hughes. The story tells of a black family's experiences in south Chi ...

'' (1961), with

Sidney Poitier Sidney Poitier ( ; February 20, 1927 – January 6, 2022) was an American actor, film director, and diplomat. In 1964, he was the first black actor and first Bahamian to win the Academy Award for Best Actor. He received two competitive ...

Ruby Dee Ruby Dee (October 27, 1922 – June 11, 2014) was an American actress, poet, playwright, screenwriter, journalist, and civil rights activist. She originated the role of "Ruth Younger" in the stage and film versions of ''A Raisin in the Sun'' (19 ...

and

Claudia McNeil Claudia McNeil (August 13, 1917 – November 25, 1993) was an American actress known for premiering the role of matriarch Lena Younger in both the stage and screen productions of ''A Raisin in the Sun''. She later appeared in a 1981 productio ...

, and a memorable turn as Mr. Prentice (the father of Poitier's character) in the 1967 film ''

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner ''Guess Who's Coming to Dinner'' is a 1967 American romantic comedy-drama film produced and directed by Stanley Kramer, and written by William Rose. It stars Spencer Tracy (in his final role), Sidney Poitier, and Katharine Hepburn, and featur ...

''. Roy Glenn's last big screen appearance was in '' Support Your Local Gunfighter'' (1971).

Personal life

Glenn's wife was Pauline "Lilla" (née Fractious). They have three children, Roy Glenn Jr., Darryl Ward Glenn, and Renatta Darlene Glenn. Glenn died from a heart attack brought on by

cardiovascular disease Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels. CVD includes coronary artery diseases (CAD) such as angina and myocardial infarction (commonly known as a heart attack). Other CVDs include stroke, h ...

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

, California on March 12, 1971, at the age of 56.

Filmography

* ''

'' (1936) as Fight Spectator (uncredited) * ''

'' (1937) as Harry Patton (uncredited) * ''

Uncle Tom's Bungalow ''Uncle Tom's Bungalow'' is an American '' Merrie Melodies'' animated cartoon directed by Tex Avery, and released to theatres on June 5, 1937, by Warner Bros. The short cartoon is a parody of the 1852 novel ''Uncle Tom's Cabin'' and of the "plant ...

'' (1937) as Uncle Tom (voice, uncredited) * ''

Slave Ship Slave ships were large cargo ships specially built or converted from the 17th to the 19th century for transporting slaves. Such ships were also known as "Guineamen" because the trade involved human trafficking to and from the Guinea coast ...

'' (1937) as Slave in Ship's Hold (uncredited) * ''

Life Begins in College ''Life Begins in College'' is a 1937 American comedy film directed by William A. Seiter. It marked the Ritz Brothers' first starring role in a feature film. Plot The action takes place at Lombardy College, founded "to give the Indian nations of ...

'' (1937) as Singing Porter (uncredited) * ''

Song of the South ''Song of the South'' is a 1946 American Live-action animated film, live-action/animated musical film, musical drama film directed by Harve Foster and Wilfred Jackson; produced by Walt Disney and released by RKO Pictures, RKO Radio Pictures. ...

'' (1946) as Br'er Frog (voice, uncredited) * '' Half-Pint Pygmy'' as Pygmy (voice, uncredited) * ''

'' (1950) as Mr. Gaines, Attorney (uncredited) * ''

Chicago Calling ''Chicago Calling'' is a 1951 drama film directed by John Reinhardt and starring Dan Duryea and Mary Anderson. The film centers on the unsuccessful drinking photographer Bill Cannon (Dan Duryea), whose wife abandons him, leaving with their dau ...

'' (1951) as Shoeshine Man (uncredited) * ''

Lydia Bailey ''Lydia Bailey'' is a 1952 American historical film directed by Jean Negulesco, based on the novel of the same name by Kenneth Roberts. It stars Dale Robertson and Anne Francis. Plot In 1802, lawyer Albion Hamlin travels from Baltimore to Ca ...

'' (1952) as Mirabeau * ''

Affair in Trinidad ''Affair in Trinidad'' is a 1952 American film noir directed by Vincent Sherman and starring Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford. It was produced by Hayworth's Beckworth Corporation and released by Columbia Pictures. It is notable as Hayworth's "comebac ...

'' (1952) as Fisherman (uncredited) * ''

The Lusty Men ''The Lusty Men '' is a 1952 Western film released by Wald-Krasna Productions and RKO Radio Pictures starring Susan Hayward, Robert Mitchum, Arthur Kennedy and Arthur Hunnicutt. The picture was directed by Nicholas Ray and produced by Jerry W ...

'' (1952) as Cook (uncredited) * ''

Bomba and the Jungle Girl ''Bomba and the Jungle Girl'' is a 1952 American adventure film directed by Ford Beebe and starring Johnny Sheffield. It is the eighth film (of 12) in the ''Bomba, the Jungle Boy'' film series.http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/26652/Bomba-and-the-J ...

'' (1952) as Kaje * ''

Jungle Drums of Africa ''Jungle Drums of Africa'' is a 1953 12-episode American serial film shot in black-and-white. It was an original commissioned screenplay by Ronald Davidson produced by Franklin Adreon and directed by Fred C. Brannon for Republic Pictures. The s ...

'' (1953) as Naganto, Witch Doctor * '' Perils of the Jungle'' (1953) as Korjah * '' So This Is Love'' (1953) as Man in Negro Congregation (uncredited) * ''

The Royal African Rifles '' The Royal African Rifles'' is a 1953 American Cinecolor First World War adventure film directed by Lesley Selander and starring Louis Hayward, Veronica Hurst and Michael Pate. It is set in British East Africa but filmed on location in the Lo ...

'' (1953) as Cpl. John * ''

The Golden Idol ''The Golden Idol'' is a 1954 American adventure film directed by Ford Beebe and starring Johnny Sheffield, Anne Kimbell and Paul Guilfoyle. It was the tenth in the 12-film ''Bomba, the Jungle Boy'' series, based on the '' Bomba'' series of juve ...

'' (1954) as Gomo * ''

Riot in Cell Block 11 ''Riot in Cell Block 11'' is a 1954 American film noir crime film directed by Don Siegel and starring Neville Brand, Emile Meyer, Frank Faylen, Leo Gordon and Robert Osterloh. Quentin Tarantino called it "the best prison film ever made." Plot ...

'' (1954) as Guard Delmar * '' The Long Wait'' (1954) as Parking Attendant (uncredited) * '' The Raid'' (1954) as Emmanuel, Mrs. Bishop's Butler (uncredited) * ''

Killer Leopard ''Killer Leopard'' is a 1954 American adventure film directed by Ford Beebe and starring Johnny Sheffield and Beverly Garland. It was the eleventh in the twelve-film ''Bomba, the Jungle Boy'' series made by Allied Artists. Plot Bomba is hunting ...

'' (1954) as Daniel * ''

Jungle Gents ''Jungle Gents'' is a 1954 American comedy film directed by Edward Bernds and starring The Bowery Boys. The film was released on September 5, 1954 by Allied Artists and is the thirty-fifth film in the series and the film debut of Clint Walker in ...

'' (1954) as Omotowa (uncredited) * ''

'' (1954) as Rum Daniels * ''

Panther Girl of the Kongo ''Panther Girl of the Kongo'' is a 1955 Republic movie serial that contains a great deal of stock footage from the 1941 Republic serial ''Jungle Girl''. This was the penultimate of Republic's 66 serial films. Plot Mad scientist Dr. Morgan wants ...

'' (1955, Serial) as Danka * ''

A Man Called Peter ''A Man Called Peter'' is a 1955 American drama film directed by Henry Koster, and starring Richard Todd. The film is based on the life of preacher Peter Marshall, who served as Chaplain of the United States Senate and pastor of the New York Avenu ...

'' (1955) as The Laborer (uncredited) * '' Time Table'' (1956) as Train Porter (uncredited) * ''

The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit ''The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit'' is a 1956 American drama film based on the 1955 novel '' The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit'' by Sloan Wilson. The film focuses on Tom Rath, a young World War II veteran trying to balance his marriage and fami ...

'' (1956) as Sgt. Matthews (uncredited) * ''

Written on the Wind ''Written on the Wind'' is a 1956 American Southern Gothic melodrama film directed by Douglas Sirk and starring Rock Hudson, Lauren Bacall, Robert Stack, and Dorothy Malone. It follows the dysfunctional family members of a Texas oil dynasty, ...

'' (1956) as Sam * ''

Three Brave Men ''Three Brave Men'' is a 1956 drama film directed by Philip Dunne and starring Ray Milland and Ernest Borgnine. The film was based on real-life events arising in Greenbelt, Maryland,Knepper, Cathy D. ''Greenbelt, Maryland: A Living Legacy of the ...

'' (1956) as Charley, Plant Security Guard (uncredited) * ''

Edge of the City ''Edge of the City'' is a 1957 American film-noir drama film directed by Martin Ritt in his directorial debut, and starring John Cassavetes and Sidney Poitier. Robert Alan Aurthur's screenplay was expanded from his original script, staged as the ...

'' (1957) as Stevedore (uncredited) * ''

The Green-Eyed Blonde ''The Green-Eyed Blonde'' is a 1957 American drama film directed by Bernard Girard Bernard Girard (February 22, 1918 – December 30, 1997) was an American screenwriter, film producer, producer and film director. Life and career A native of V ...

'' (1957) as Mr. Budlong (uncredited) * ''

St. Louis Blues The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference. The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the ...

'' (1958) as Bull Neck (uncredited) * ''

Tarzan's Fight for Life ''Tarzan's Fight for Life'' is a 1958 Metrocolor action adventure film featuring Edgar Rice Burroughs' famous jungle hero Tarzan and starring Gordon Scott, Eve Brent, Rickie Sorensen, Jil Jarmyn, and Cheeta the chimpanzee. The film was directed b ...

'' (1958) as Native Chief (uncredited) * ''

Voice in the Mirror ''Voice in the Mirror'', also known as ''How Lonely the Night'' and ''This Day Alone'', is a 1958 American CinemaScope film noir drama film directed by Harry Keller and starring Richard Egan and Julie London. Plot After sinking into the depth ...

'' (1958) as Janitor at Flophouse (uncredited) * ''

'' (1959) as Job * ''

'' (1959) as Frazier * ''

Take a Giant Step ''Take a Giant Step'' is a 1959 American coming-of-age drama film directed by Philip Leacock. The plot concerns a black teenager living in a predominantly white environment and having trouble coping as he reaches an age at which the realities of ...

'' (1959) as Minister at Gram's Funeral (uncredited) * ''

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn ''Adventures of Huckleberry Finn'' or as it is known in more recent editions, ''The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn'', is a novel by American author Mark Twain, which was first published in the United Kingdom in December 1884 and in the United St ...

'' (1960) as Drayman (uncredited) * ''

'' (1961) as Willie Harris * ''

Sweet Bird of Youth ''Sweet Bird of Youth'' is a 1959 play by Tennessee Williams which tells the story of a gigolo and drifter, Chance Wayne, who returns to his home town as the companion of a faded movie star, Alexandra del Lago (travelling incognito as Princess ...

'' (1962) as Charles (uncredited) * '' Where Love Has Gone'' (1964) as Valerie's Servant (uncredited) * '' A Man Called Adam'' (1966) as Police Detective Sergeant * ''

Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round ''Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round'' is a 1966 crime film written and directed by Bernard Girard, and starring James Coburn, Camilla Sparv, Aldo Ray, Nina Wayne, Todd Armstrong, Robert Webber, Rose Marie and Harrison Ford in his film debut. P ...

'' (1966) as Sergeant Elmer K. Coxe * ''

The Way West ''The Way West'' is a 1949 western novel by A. B. Guthrie, Jr. The book won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1950 and became the basis for a film starring Kirk Douglas, Robert Mitchum, and Richard Widmark. The novel is one in the sequence o ...

'' (1967) as Saunders * ''

'' (1967) as Mr. Prentice * ''

Hang 'Em High ''Hang 'Em High'' is a 1968 American DeLuxe Color revisionist Western film directed by Ted Post and written by Leonard Freeman and Mel Goldberg. It stars Clint Eastwood as Jed Cooper, an innocent man who survives a lynching; Inger Stevens as ...

'' (1968) as Guard #2 * '' I Love You, Alice B. Toklas!'' (1968) as Gas Station Attendant * ''

Finian's Rainbow ''Finian's Rainbow'' is a musical with a book by E. Y. Harburg and Fred Saidy, lyrics by Harburg, and music by Burton Lane, produced by Lee Sabinson. The original 1947 Broadway production ran for 725 performances, while a film version was re ...

'' (1968) as Passion Pilgrim Gospeleer (uncredited) * '' ...tick...tick...tick...'' (1970) as The Drunk * ''

The Great White Hope ''The Great White Hope'' is a 1967 play written by Howard Sackler, later adapted in 1970 for a film of the same name. The play was first produced by Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. and debuted on Broadway at the Alvin Theatre in October 1968, ...

'' (1970) as Pastor * '' Support Your Local Gunfighter'' (1971) as Headwaiter * ''

Escape from the Planet of the Apes ''Escape from the Planet of the Apes'' is a 1971 American science fiction film directed by Don Taylor and written by Paul Dehn. It stars Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter, Bradford Dillman and Ricardo Montalbán. It is the third of five films in the or ...

'' (1971) as Lawyer (final film role)

References

External links