Born: May 23, 1910 – Died: November 22, 1986
From the jazz-filled nightclubs to the bustling movie sets of Hollywood, Scatman Crothers lived a life as vibrant as his performances. Benjamin Sherman Crothers was born in the spring of 1910 in Terre Haute, Indiana. The son of a laborer and a homemaker, Crothers grew up with a talent that would eventually see him rubbing shoulders with the stars. His journey from Indiana to the silver screen is one marked with soulful melodies and unforgettable characters that left an indelible mark on the world of entertainment.
Early Life and Career
The Indiana native's upbringing was steeped in the kind of environment that breeds entertainers. After graduating from high school, Scatman took his first steps into show business through the gateway of music, gracing venues with his voice and guitar. It wasn't long before his unique sound found its way into the recording studios, where he left his mark as both a musician and a composer.
Scatman's foray into acting was as dynamic as his stage presence. His debut role came quietly, but by 1970, his voice was leaving a mark on households as Scat Cat in "The Aristocats." However, it was the role of Dick Hallorann in Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining" in 1980 that cemented his place in cinematic history. This role, coupled with a charming turn in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" in 1975, showcased his versatility and brought him critical acclaim.
Accolades were not elusive for Scatman. His shelves held awards, each a testament to his talents and his contributions to the arts. His personal life, filled with the same passion he brought to the screen, included a family, children, and pursuits outside the limelight. His interests ranged from music to helping others, yet his life was not without its trials and public interest.
Scatman Crothers' legacy is a tapestry of cultural milestones, from voice acting in "The Transformers" series to his irreplaceable character roles in both television and film. His distinction as an icon comes from not only his versatility as an actor and musician but also from the authenticity and joy he brought to every performance. His influence resonates, a testament to a man whose life was a melody played beautifully to the end.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Transformers: The Return of Optimus Prime | Video | Jazz (voice) |
| 1987 | Rock Odyssey | Jukebox (voice) |
| 1986 | The Transformers: The Movie | Jazz (voice) |
| 1986 | Morningstar/Eveningstar (TV Series) | Excell Dennis |
| 1985–1986 | Paw Paws (TV Series) | Eugene the Genie (voice) |
| 1984–1986 | The Transformers (TV Series) | Jazz |
| 1985 | The Paper Chase (TV Series) | Mr. Sims |
| 1985 | The Journey of Natty Gann | Sherman |
| 1985 | Matt Houston (TV Series) | Moonshine Moody |
| 1978–1984 | The Love Boat (TV Series) | Malcolm | Virgil 'Scattergun' Gibson |
| 1984 | Pryor's Place (TV Series) | Uncle Moses |
| 1984 | The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries (TV Series) | (voice, credit only) |
| 1984 | We Got It Made (TV Series) | Franklin |
| 1984 | Hill Street Blues (TV Series) | Lionel 'Train' Talbot |
| 1983 | Two of a Kind | Earl |
| 1983 | Hotel (TV Series) | Garland Fisk |
| 1983 | Casablanca (TV Series) | Sam |
| 1983 | Twilight Zone: The Movie | Mr. Bloom (segment "Kick the Can") |
| 1983 | Taxi (TV Series) | Walt |
| 1982 | Missing Children: A Mother's Story (TV Movie) | Mose Wheeler |
| 1982 | Madame's Place (TV Series) | Scatman Crothers |
| 1982 | It Takes Two (TV Series) | Manny Gilliam |
| 1982 | Deadly Eyes | George Foskins |
| 1982 | Zapped! | Dexter Jones |
| 1982 | One of the Boys (TV Series) | Bernard Soloman | Bernard Solomon |
| 1982 | Jokebook (TV Series) | Main Title Singer (1982) (voice) |
| 1982 | American Playhouse (TV Series) | Parking Attendant |
| 1982 | Benson (TV Series) | Rev. Tompkins |
| 1981 | Revenge of the Gray Gang (TV Movie) | Reuben Milo |
| 1981 | Trollkins (TV Series) | Additional Voices (voice) |
| 1981 | The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island (TV Movie) | Dewey Stevens |
| 1981 | Magnum, P.I. (TV Series) | Tickler |
| 1981 | Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (TV Series) | Rawhide Red |
| 1980 | NBC Special Treat (TV Series) | T.P. Jackson |
| 1980 | The Harlem Globetrotters Meet Snow White | Nate (voice) |
| 1980 | Bronco Billy | Doc Lynch |
| 1980 | *The Shining* | Hallorann |
| 1980 | Palmerstown, U.S.A. (TV Series) | Rifle Johnson |
| 1977–1980 | Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels (TV Series) | Additional Voices |
| 1980 | Laverne & Shirley (TV Series) | Porter |
| 1979 | Scavenger Hunt | Sam |
| 1979 | Banjo the Woodpile Cat (TV Movie) | Crazy Legs (voice) |
| 1979 | The Super Globetrotters (TV Series) | Nate Branch | Liquid Man |
| 1979 | The Incredible Hulk (TV Series) | Edgar McGee |
| 1978–1979 | Vega$ (TV Series) | Rosey | Rosie |
| 1979 | ABC Weekend Specials (TV Series) | (voice) |
| 1974–1978 | Chico and the Man (TV Series) | Louie Wilson |
| 1978 | Flying High (TV Series) | Crothers |
| 1978 | Charlie's Angels (TV Series) | Jip Baker |
| 1978 | The Cheap Detective | Tinker |
| 1978 | Mean Dog Blues | Mudcat |
| 1977 | Heyyy, It's the King! (TV Series) | (voice) |
| 1977 | Scooby's Laff-A Lympics (TV Series) | Additional Voices (voice) |
| 1977 | The Skatebirds (TV Series) | Scat Cat (voice) |
| 1977 | C B Bears (TV Series) | Segment title narrator |
| 1977 | Starsky and Hutch (TV Series) | Fireball |
| 1977 | Roots (TV Mini Series) | Mingo |
| 1976 | Petrocelli (TV Series) | Jubilee Jones |
| 1976 | *Silver Streak* | Ralston |
| 1976 | The David Steinberg Show (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1976 | The Shootist | Moses |
| 1976 | Stay Hungry | William |
| 1976 | Chesty Anderson U.S. Navy | Ben Benson (as Scat-Man Crothers) |
| 1975 | Friday Foster | Reverend Noble Franklin |
| 1975 | *One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest* | Turkle |
| 1975 | The Fortune | Fisherman |
| 1975 | Linda Lovelace for President | Super Black |
| 1975 | Sanford and Son (TV Series) | Bowlegs (as Scat Man Crothers) |
| 1974 | ABC Nutrition Spots (TV Series) | Singer | Yuk Mouth (voice) |
| 1974 | Hong Kong Phooey (TV Series) | Hong Kong Phooey | Penrod 'Penry' Pooch (voice) |
| 1974 | Win, Place or Steal | Attendant |
| 1974 | The Odd Couple (TV Series) | Blind Man |
| 1974 | Mannix (TV Series) | Mudcat |
| 1974 | McMillan & Wife (TV Series) | Floyd (as Scat Man Crothers) |
| 1974 | Kolchak: The Night Stalker (TV Series) | Uncle Filemon (as Scat Man Crothers) |
| 1974 | Coonskin | Pappy | Old Man Bone (voice, as Scat Man Crothers) |
| 1974 | The Sty of the Blind Pig (TV Movie) | Doc |
| 1974 | Toma (TV Series) | Dr. Jazz |
| 1974 | Man on the Outside (TV Movie) | Ruben Hammer |
| 1974 | Truck Turner | Duke |
| 1974 | Black Belt Jones | Pop |
| 1973 | Griff (TV Series) | Joe Rawls |
| 1973 | Ironside (TV Series) | Jason |
| 1973 | Kojak (TV Series) | Gaylord Fuller |
| 1973 | The New Temperatures Rising Show (TV Series) | Timmy |
| 1972–1973 | The New Scooby-Doo Movies (TV Series) | Additional Voices | George 'Meadowlark' Lemon (voice) |
| 1973 | Slaughter's Big Rip-Off | Cleveland |
| 1973 | Detroit 9000 | Reverend Markham |
| 1972 | Adam-12 (TV Series) | George Strothers |
| 1969–1972 | Love, American Style (TV Series) | (segment "Love and the Perfect Wedding") | One-Man Band (segment "Love and the Dummies") |
| 1972 | Lady Sings the Blues | Big Ben |
| 1972 | The King of Marvin Gardens | Lewis (as Benjamin 'Scatman' Crothers) |
| 1972 | The Lorax (TV Movie) | Singer (voice, uncredited) |
| 1972 | Nichols (TV Series) | Jack |
| 1971 | The Magical World of Disney (TV Series) | King Louie (voice, uncredited) |
| 1971 | Bewitched (TV Series) | Handler |
| 1971 | The Good Life (TV Series) | Rodney |
| 1971 | Chandler | Smoke |
| 1970–1971 | Harlem Globe Trotters (TV Series) | George 'Meadowlark' Lemon (voice) |
| 1970 | The Aristocats | Scat Cat (voice) |
| 1970 | The Governor & J.J. (TV Series) | Rupert |
| 1970 | Barefoot in the Park (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1970 | The Great White Hope | Carnival Barker (uncredited) |
| 1970 | Bloody Mama | Moses (as 'Scatman' Crothers) |
| 1969 | Hello, Dolly! | Mr. Jones - Porter (uncredited) |
| 1969 | Hook, Line and Sinker | The Corpse (uncredited) |
| 1967 | Dragnet 1967 (TV Series) | Dave Richmond |
| 1966 | Alvarez Kelly | Bellhop (uncredited) |
| 1966 | Three on a Couch | Man (uncredited) |
| 1965 | The Family Jewels | Airport Employee (uncredited) |
| 1964 | The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo (TV Series) | (voice) |
| 1964 | The Patsy | Shoeshine Boy (as Scat Man Crothers) |
| 1964 | Lady in a Cage | Mr. Paul's Assistant (uncredited) |
| 1961 | Bonanza (TV Series) | Jud |
| 1961 | The Sins of Rachel Cade | Musinga |
| 1960 | Tarzan and the Trappers (TV Movie) | Tyana (as Sherman Crothers) |
| 1960 | Johnny Midnight (TV Series) | Train Attendant (uncredited) |
| 1959 | Bourbon Street Beat (TV Series) | Joe (as Sherman 'Scat Man' Crothers) |
| 1959 | Matty's Funnies with Beany and Cecil (TV Series) | Wildman of Wildsville (voice) |
| 1959 | Porgy and Bess | Crabman |
| 1959 | Alias Jesse James | Railroad Porter (uncredited) |
| 1958 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV Series) | Timothy |
| 1958 | Schlitz Playhouse (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1958 | The Gift of Love | Sam the Gardener (uncredited) |
| 1957 | The Adventures of Jim Bowie (TV Series) | Cicero |
| 1956 | Between Heaven and Hell | George (uncredited) |
| 1955 | Climax! (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1953 | Big Town (TV Series) | Janitor (uncredited) |
| 1953 | Walking My Baby Back Home | 'Smiley' Gordon (as Scat Man Crothers) |
| 1953 | East of Sumatra | Baltimore (as Scat Man Crothers) |
| 1953 | Lux Video Theatre (TV Series) | Johnson (as Scat Man Crothers) |
| 1953 | Meet Me at the Fair | Enoch Jones |
| 1952 | Beulah (TV Series) | Herbert Jenkins |
| 1952 | The Return of Gilbert & Sullivan (Short) | Unknown |
| 1951 | Yes Sir, Mr. Bones | Scatman |
General:
Posted Using InLeo Alpha
Posted Using InLeo Alpha
Posted Using InLeo Alpha
