Lincoln Theodore Monroe Andrew Perry (May 30, 1902 – November 19, 1985), better known by the stage name Stepin Fetchit, was an American vaudevillian, comedian, and film actor of Jamaican and Bahamian descent, considered to be the first black actor to have a successful film career. His highest profile was during the 1930s in films and on stage, when his persona of Stepin Fetchit was billed as the "Laziest Man in the World". Perry parlayed the Fetchit persona into a successful film career, becoming the first black actor to earn $1 million. He was also the first black actor to receive featured screen credit in a film. Perry's film career slowed after 1939 and nearly stopped altogether after 1953. Around that time, Black Americans began to see his Stepin Fetchit persona as an embarrassing and harmful anachronism, echoing negative stereotypes. However, the Stepin Fetchit character has undergone a re-evaluation by some scholars in recent times, who view him as an embodiment of the

trickster In mythology and the study of folklore and religion, a trickster is a character in a story (god, goddess, spirit, human or anthropomorphisation) who exhibits a great degree of intellect or secret knowledge and uses it to play tricks or otherwise ...

archetype.

Early life

Little is known about Perry's background other than that he was born in Key West, Florida, to

West Indian A West Indian is a native or inhabitant of the West Indies (the Antilles and the Lucayan Archipelago). For more than 100 years the words ''West Indian'' specifically described natives of the West Indies, but by 1661 Europeans had begun to use it ...

immigrants. He was the second child of Joseph Perry, a cigar maker from

Jamaica Jamaica (; ) is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, and west of Hispan ...

(although some sources indicate

the Bahamas The Bahamas (), officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an island country within the Lucayan Archipelago of the West Indies in the North Atlantic. It takes up 97% of the Lucayan Archipelago's land area and is home to 88% of the arc ...

) and Dora Monroe, a

seamstress A dressmaker, also known as a seamstress, is a person who makes custom clothing for women, such as dresses, blouses, and evening gowns. Dressmakers were historically known as mantua-makers, and are also known as a modiste or fabrician. Not ...

from Nassau, The Bahamas. Both of his parents came to the United States in the 1890s, where they married. By 1910, the family had moved north to

Tampa Tampa () is a city on the Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The city's borders include the north shore of Tampa Bay and the east shore of Old Tampa Bay. Tampa is the largest city in the Tampa Bay area and the seat of Hillsborough Co ...

, Florida. Another source says he was adopted when he was 11 years old and taken to live in

Montgomery, Alabama Montgomery is the capital city of the U.S. state of Alabama and the county seat of Montgomery County. Named for the Irish soldier Richard Montgomery, it stands beside the Alabama River, on the coastal Plain of the Gulf of Mexico. In the 202 ...

. His mother wanted him to be a

dentist A dentist, also known as a dental surgeon, is a health care professional who specializes in dentistry (the diagnosis, prevention, management, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity and other aspects of the craniofacial co ...

, so Perry was adopted by a quack dentist, for whom he blacked boots before running away at age 12 to join a

carnival Carnival is a Catholic Christian festive season that occurs before the liturgical season of Lent. The main events typically occur during February or early March, during the period historically known as Shrovetide (or Pre-Lent). Carnival ...

. He earned his living for a few years as a singer and tap dancer.

Vaudeville career

In his teens, Perry became a comic character actor. By the age of 20, Perry had become a

vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic compositio ...

artist and the manager of a traveling carnival show. His stage name was a contraction of "step and fetch it". His accounts of how he adopted the name varied, but generally he claimed that it originated when he performed a vaudeville act with a partner. Perry won money betting on a racehorse named "Step and Fetch It", and his partner and he decided to adopt the names "Step" and "Fetchit" for their act. When Perry became a solo act, he combined the two names, which later became his professional name.

Film career

Stepin Fetchit-Chubby Johnson in Bend of the River

Perry played comic-relief roles in a number of films, all based on his character known as the "Laziest Man in the World". In his personal life, he was highly literate and had a concurrent career writing for ''

The Chicago Defender ''The Chicago Defender'' is a Chicago-based online African-American newspaper. It was founded in 1905 by Robert S. Abbott and was once considered the "most important" newspaper of its kind. Abbott's newspaper reported and campaigned against Jim ...

''. He signed a five-year studio contract following his performance in the film, '' In Old Kentucky'' (1927). The film's plot included a romantic connection between Perry and actress

Carolynne Snowden Carrie Artiemissia Snowden (January 16, 1900 – September 5, 1985), known professionally as Carolynne Snowden, was an American actress, dancer, and singer who broke new ground for black people working in the entertainment industry. Biograp ...

, a subplot that was a rarity for black actors appearing in a white film during this era. Perry also starred in '' Hearts in Dixie'' (1929), one of the first studio productions to boast a predominantly black cast.

Jules Bledsoe Julius Lorenzo Cobb Bledsoe (1898 – July 14, 1943)
by John Troesser. Retrieved ...

provided Perry's singing voice for his role as Joe in the 1929 version of ''

Show Boat ''Show Boat'' is a musical theatre, musical with music by Jerome Kern and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. It is based on Edna Ferber's best-selling 1926 Show Boat (novel), novel of the same name. The musical follows the lives of the pe ...

''. Fetchit did not sing "

Ol' Man River "Ol' Man River" is a show tune from the 1927 musical '' Show Boat'' with music by Jerome Kern and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. The song contrasts the struggles and hardships of African Americans with the endless, uncaring flow of the Missis ...

", but he did sing "The Lonesome Road" in the film. In 1930,

Hal Roach Harry Eugene "Hal" Roach Sr.Randy Skretvedt, Skretvedt, Randy (2016), ''Laurel and Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies'', Bonaventure Press. p.608. (January 14, 1892 – November 2, 1992) was an American film and television producer, director, a ...

signed him to a film contract to appear in nine ''

Our Gang ''Our Gang'' (also known as ''The Little Rascals'' or ''Hal Roach's Rascals'') is an American series of comedy short films chronicling a group of poor neighborhood children and their adventures. Created by film producer Hal Roach, also the ...

'' episodes in 1930 and 1931. However, his only appearance in the series was in '' A Tough Winter''. Perry's contract was cancelled for unknown reasons after its release. Perry was good friends with fellow comic actor

Will Rogers William Penn Adair Rogers (November 4, 1879 – August 15, 1935) was an American vaudeville performer, actor, and humorous social commentator. He was born as a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, in the Indian Territory (now part of Oklaho ...

. They appeared together in '' David Harum'' (1934), '' Judge Priest'' (1934), ''

Steamboat 'Round the Bend ''Steamboat Round the Bend'' is a 1935 American comedy film directed by John Ford, released by 20th Century Fox and produced by Fox Film Corporation, based on the 1933 novel of the same name by author Ben Lucien Burman. It was the final film mad ...

'' (1935), and '' The County Chairman'' (1935). By the mid-1930s, Perry was the first black actor to become a millionaire. He appeared in 44 films between 1927 and 1939. In 1940, Perry temporarily stopped appearing in films, having been frustrated by his unsuccessful attempt to get equal pay and billing with his white costars. He returned in 1945, in part due to financial need, though he only appeared in eight films between 1945 and 1953. He declared bankruptcy in 1947, stating assets of $146 (equal to about $ today) He returned to vaudeville; he appeared at the Anderson Free Fair in 1949 alongside Singer's Midgets. He became a friend of heavyweight boxing champion

Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali (; born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.; January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer and activist. Nicknamed "The Greatest", he is regarded as one of the most significant sports figures of the 20th century, ...

in the 1960s, allegedly converting to the Nation of Islam shortly before. (Other sources have said he was a lifelong

Catholic The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwide . It is am ...

.) After 1953, Perry appeared in cameos in the made-for-television movie ''Cutter'' (1972) and the feature films ''

Amazing Grace "Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn published in 1779 with words written in 1772 by English Anglican clergyman and poet John Newton (1725–1807). It is an immensely popular hymn, particularly in the United States, where it is used for bot ...

'' (1974) and '' Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood'' (1976). He found himself in conflict during his career with civil rights leaders who criticized him personally for the film roles that he portrayed. In 1968, CBS aired the hour-long documentary ''Black History: Lost, Stolen, or Strayed'', written by

Andy Rooney Andrew Aitken Rooney (January 14, 1919 – November 4, 2011) was an American radio and television writer who was best known for his weekly broadcast "A Few Minutes with Andy Rooney", a part of the CBS News program ''60 Minutes'' from 1978 to 2011 ...

(for which he received an Emmy Award) and narrated by

Bill Cosby William Henry Cosby Jr. ( ; born July 12, 1937) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and media personality. He made significant contributions to American and African-American culture, and is well known in the United States for his eccentri ...

, which criticized the depiction of black people in American film, and especially singled out Stepin Fetchit for criticism. After the show aired, Perry unsuccessfully sued CBS and the documentary's producers for defamation of character.

Music composition

In late November 1963, Perry collaborated with

Motown Records Motown Records is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. It was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on June 7, 1958, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau of ''moto ...

founder Berry Gordy Jr. and

Esther Gordy Edwards Esther Gordy Edwards (née Gordy; April 25, 1920 – August 24, 2011) was a staff member and associate of her younger brother Berry Gordy's Motown label during the 1960s. Edwards created the Motown Museum, Hitsville U.S.A., by preserving the label' ...

in composing "May What He Lived for Live," a song intended to honor the memory of President John F. Kennedy in the wake of his assassination. Perry was credited under the pseudonym W.A. Bisson. The song was recorded in December 1963 by

Liz Lands Elizabeth Lands (February 11, 1939 – January 11, 2013) was an American soul singer. Her purported five octave vocal range started her Motown career before Berry Gordy tried to make a name for her in the R&B/Pop market on Gordy Records. Life and ...

, who in 1968 performed the work at the funeral of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Death

Perry suffered a stroke in 1976, ending his acting career; he then moved into the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital. He died on November 19, 1985, from

pneumonia Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. The severi ...

and

heart failure Heart failure (HF), also known as congestive heart failure (CHF), is a syndrome, a group of signs and symptoms caused by an impairment of the heart's blood pumping function. Symptoms typically include shortness of breath, excessive fatigue, ...

, at the age of 83. He was buried at Calvary Cemetery in

East Los Angeles East Los Angeles ( es, Este de Los Ángeles), or East L.A., is an unincorporated area in Los Angeles County, California. As of the 2020 census it had a population of 118,786, a drop of 6.1% from 2010, when it was 126,496. For statistical purpo ...

following a Catholic funeral Mass.

Legacy

Perry spawned imitators, such as Willie Best ("Sleep 'n Eat") and

Mantan Moreland Mantan Moreland (September 3, 1902 – September 28, 1973) was an American actor and comedian most popular in the 1930s and 1940s. He starred in numerous films. His daughter Marcella Moreland appeared as a child actress in several films. E ...

, the scared, wide-eyed manservant of

Charlie Chan Charlie Chan is a fictional Honolulu police detective created by author Earl Derr Biggers for a series of mystery novels. Biggers loosely based Chan on Hawaiian detective Chang Apana. The benevolent and heroic Chan was conceived as an alt ...

. Perry had actually played a manservant in the ''Charlie Chan'' series before Moreland in 1935's '' Charlie Chan in Egypt''. Perry appeared in one 1930 ''

'' short subject, ''A Tough Winter,'' at the end of the 1929–30 season. Perry signed a contract to star with the gang in nine films for the 1930–31 season and be part of the ''Our Gang'' series, but for some unknown reason, the contract fell through, and the gang continued without Perry. Previous to Perry entering films, the ''Our Gang'' shorts had employed several black child actors, including Allen Hoskins, Jannie Hoskins,

Ernest 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 ...

, and

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

. In the sound ''Our Gang'' era, black actors Matthew Beard and Billie Thomas were featured. The black performers' personas in ''Our Gang'' shorts were the polar opposites of Perry's persona. In the 2005 book ''Stepin Fetchit: The Life and Times of Lincoln Perry'', African-American critic

Mel Watkins Melville Henry Watkins (May 15, 1932 – April 2, 2020) was a Canadian political economist and activist and professor emeritus of economics and political science at the University of Toronto. He was a founder and co-leader with James Lax ...

argued that the character of Stepin Fetchit was not truly lazy or simple-minded, but instead a prankster who deliberately tricked his White employers so that they would do the work instead of him. This technique, which developed during American slavery, was referred to as "putting on old

massa Massa may refer to: Places *Massa, Tuscany, the administrative seat of the Italian province of Massa-Carrara. *Massa (river), river in Switzerland * Massa (Tanzanian ward), administrative ward in the Mpwapwa district of the Dodoma Region of Ta ...

", and it was a kind of con art with which Black audiences of the time would have been familiar.

Awards and honors

Fetchit has a star on the

Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark which consists of more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, Calif ...

. In 1976, despite popular aversion to his character, the

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywoo ...

chapter of the

NAACP The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is a civil rights organization in the United States, formed in 1909 as an interracial endeavor to advance justice for African Americans by a group including W. E.&nb ...

awarded Perry a special

NAACP Image Award The NAACP Image Awards is an annual awards ceremony presented by the U.S.-based National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to honor outstanding performances in film, television, theatre, music, and literature. Similar to ...

. Two years later, he was inducted into the

Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame The Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame, Inc. (BFHFI), was founded in 1974, in Oakland, California. It supported and promoted black filmmaking, and preserved the contributions by African-American artists both before and behind the camera. It also sponso ...

Personal life

In 1929, Perry married Dorothy Stevenson. She gave birth to their son, Jemajo, on September 12, 1930. In 1931, Dorothy filed for divorce, stating that Perry had broken her nose, jaw, and arm with "his fists and a broomstick." A few weeks after their divorce was granted, Dorothy told a reporter she hoped someone would "just beat the devil out of him," as he had done to her. When Dorothy contracted

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, in w ...

in 1933, Perry moved her to Arizona for treatment. She died in September 1934. Perry reportedly married Winifred Johnson in 1937, but no record of their union has been found. On May 21, 1938, Winifred gave birth to a son, Donald Martin Perry. Their relationship ended soon after Donald's birth. According to Winifred's brother, Stretch Johnson, their father intervened after Perry knocked Winifred down the stairs and broke her nose. In 1941, Perry was arrested after Winifred filed a suit for child support. When he was released from jail, he told reporters, "Winnie and I were never married. It was all a publicity stunt. I want you and everybody else to know that that is not my baby. Winnie knows the baby isn't mine but she's trying to be smart." Winifred admitted that they were not legally married, but she insisted Perry was her son's father. The court ruled in her favor and ordered Perry to pay $12 a week (almost $220 in 2020 dollars) for the child's support. Donald later took his stepfather's surname, Lambright. Perry married Bernice Sims on October 15, 1951. Although they separated by the mid-1950s, they remained married for the rest of their lives. Bernice died on January 9, 1985. For most of his life, Perry was a devout

, but he allegedly became a member of the Nation of Islam in the early 1960s, following the footsteps of his close friends

and

Malcolm X Malcolm X (born Malcolm Little, later Malik el-Shabazz; May 19, 1925 – February 21, 1965) was an American Muslim minister and human rights activist who was a prominent figure during the civil rights movement. A spokesman for the Nation of ...

, even appearing in the 1977 movie ''Muhammad Ali, the Greatest''. (Other sources have said he was a lifelong

Filmography

*''The Mysterious Stranger'' (1925) *'' In Old Kentucky'' (1927) – Highpockets *'' The Devil's Skipper'' (1928) – Slave's Husband *''Nameless Men'' (1928) *'' The Tragedy of Youth'' (1928) – Porter *''The Kid's Clever'' (1929) – Negro Man *'' The Ghost Talks'' (1929) – Christopher Lee *'' Hearts in Dixie'' (1929) – Gummy *''

'' (1929) – Joe *'' Thru Different Eyes'' (1929) – Janitor *''

Innocents of Paris ''Innocents of Paris'' is a 1929 black and white American musical film. Directed by Richard Wallace and is based on the play ''Flea Market'', the film was the first musical production by Paramount Pictures. Although the screenplay was regard ...

'' (1929) – Bit Role (uncredited) *'' Fox Movietone Follies of 1929'' (1929) – Swifty *''

Salute A salute is usually a formal hand gesture or other action used to display respect in military situations. Salutes are primarily associated with the military and law enforcement, but many civilian organizations, such as Girl Guides, Boy Sco ...

'' (1929) – Smoke Screen *'' Big Time'' (1929) – Eli *'' Cameo Kirby'' (1930) – Croup *'' The Big Fight'' (1930) – Spot *''

Swing High ''Swing High'' is a 1932 American Pre-Code short documentary film directed by Jack Cummings. In 1932, it was nominated for an Academy Award at the 5th Academy Awards for Best Short Subject (Novelty). The film documents The Flying Codonas, a f ...

'' (1930) – Sam *''La Fuerza del Querer'' (1930) – Spot *'' A Tough Winter'' (1930, Short) – Stepin *'' The Prodigal'' (1931) – Hokey *''

Wild Horse The wild horse (''Equus ferus'') is a species of the genus ''Equus'', which includes as subspecies the modern domesticated horse (''Equus ferus caballus'') as well as the endangered Przewalski's horse (''Equus ferus przewalskii''). The Euro ...

'' (1931) – Stepin *'' The Galloping Ghost'' (1931) – Baxter College Locker Room Attendant *'' Neck and Neck'' (1931) – The Hustler *''

Carolina Carolina may refer to: Geography * The Carolinas, the U.S. states of North and South Carolina ** North Carolina, a U.S. state ** South Carolina, a U.S. state * Province of Carolina, a British province until 1712 * Carolina, Alabama, a town in ...

'' (1934) – Scipio *'' David Harum'' (1934) – Sylvester Swifty *'' Stand Up and Cheer!'' (1934) – Stepin Fetchit *'' The World Moves On'' (1934) – Dixie *'' Judge Priest'' (1934) – Jeff Poindexter *'' Marie Galante'' (1934) – 'Pacific Gardens' Waiter (uncredited) *''

Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four yea ...

'' (1934) – Bulga *''

The Littlest Rebel ''The Littlest Rebel'' is a 1935 American musical drama film directed by David Butler. The screenplay by Edwin J. Burke was adapted from a play of the same name by Edward Peple. Cast * Shirley Temple as Virgie Cary * John Boles as Herbert Ca ...

'' (1935) *'' Helldorado'' (1935) – Ulysses *'' The County Chairman'' (1935) – Sass *'' One More Spring'' (1935) – Zoo Attendant *'' Charlie Chan in Egypt'' (1935) – Snowshoes *'' Hot Tip'' (1935) – Cook *'' Steamboat Round the Bend'' (1935) – Jonah *''

The Virginia Judge Walter C. Kelly (October 29, 1873 – January 6, 1939) was a vaudeville comedian and actor. He was born in Mineville, New York. He was the elder brother of Jack Kelly (Olympic Gold Medalist and father of actress Grace Kelly) and Pulitzer Prize ...

'' (1935) – Spasm Johnson *'' 36 Hours to Kill'' (1936) – Flash *'' Dimples'' (1936) – Cicero *'' On the Avenue'' (1937) – Herman *''

Love Is News ''Love Is News'' is a 1937 romantic comedy film starring Tyrone Power, Loretta Young, and Don Ameche. The movie was directed by Tay Garnett and was the first film for which Power had top billing. The picture was remade in 1947 as ''That Wonderf ...

'' (1937) – Penrod *'' Fifty Roads to Town'' (1937) – Percy *''Super Sleuth'' (1937) – (uncredited) *'' His Exciting Night'' (1938) – Casper, the Baker Butler *'' Zenobia'' (1939) – Zero *'' Open the Door Richard'' (1945) *'' Big Timers'' (1945, Short) – Porter / Specialty Act *''Swingtime Jamboree'' (1946) *''I Ain't Gonna Open That Door'' (1947, Short) – Richard *''

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 de ...

'' (1948) – 'Swifty', the Handyman *''Harlem Follies of 1949'' (1950) *''

Bend of the River ''Bend of the River'' is a 1952 American Western film directed by Anthony Mann and starring James Stewart, Arthur Kennedy, Julie Adams, and Rock Hudson. Based on the 1950 novel ''Bend of the Snake'' by Bill Gulick, the film is about a tough ...

'' (1952) – Adam *'' The Sun Shines Bright'' (1953) – Jeff Poindexter *'' Inquiring Nuns'' (1968, interviewee) *''Cutter'' (1972, TV movie) – Shoeshine Man *''Muhammad Ali, the Greatest'' (1974) *''

'' (1974, cameo appearance) – Cousin Lincoln *''

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" is one of the best-known American songs of the Great Depression. Written by lyricist Yip Harburg and composer Jay Gorney, it was part of the 1932 musical revue '' Americana''; the melody is based on a Russian- ...

'' (1975, archival footage) *'' Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood'' (1976, cameo appearance) – Dancing Butler (final film role)

Notes

References

Sources

* * *

External links

Stepin Fetchit
at TCM Movie Database * * * *
Stepin Fetchit
at Virtual History {{DEFAULTSORT:Fetchit, Stepin 1902 births 1985 deaths 20th-century American male actors Male actors from Florida African-American Catholics American male film actors American people of Bahamian descent American actors of Jamaican descent Burials at Calvary Cemetery (Los Angeles) Deaths from pneumonia in California People from Key West, Florida Vaudeville performers Vee-Jay Records artists Catholics from Florida Former Nation of Islam members 20th-century African-American people