Mel Stewart

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Mel Stewart

Actor Mel Stewart in the opening credits for Scarecrow and Mrs. King
Born Milton Stewart
October 19, 1929(1929-10-19)
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Died February 24, 2002 (aged 72)
Pacifica, California, USA
Other name(s) Melvin Stewart
Melvin Stuart
Spouse(s) Annie Dong (1976-2002)

Mel Stewart (September 19, 1929 - February 24, 2002) was an American character actor, director, and musician who appeared in numerous films and television shows from the 1960s to the 1990s. He is best known for playing Henry Jefferson on the popular television series All in the Family. Stewart is sometimes credited as Melvin Stewart or Melvin Stuart.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Career

Mel Stewart began his career in 1959 with bit parts in tv and films. In the early 1960s, Stewart also appeared in the Broadway shows Purlie Victorious, The Hostage, The Cool World, and Simply Heavenly.[1][2]

Stewart went on to land roles in That Girl, The Bob Newhart Show, Good Times, and the short lived series Tabitha. One of Stewart's most memorable roles was as Henry Jefferson on the series All in the Family.

In 1974, Stewart directed an episode of the short lived series Get Christie Love!.

In the 1980s, Stewart appeared on Scarecrow and Mrs. King as Billy Melrose during the show's four year run. His last on screen appearance came in 1994 in two episodes of Baywatch Hawaii

[edit] Side projects

In addition to acting and directing, Stewart was an accomplished jazz saxophonist.[1]

A longtime resident of San Francisco, Stewart taught acting at San Francisco State University.[1] His students included actor Danny Glover.[3]He established the theater group Black Actors Now Through Unity (BANTU) and directed plays at the Center for African and African-American Art and Culture in San Francisco and the Black Repertory Theater in Berkeley, California.[1]

A third degree black belt in aikido, Stewart opened a dojo for inner-city youths in the Bayview district of San Francisco.[1]

[edit] Personal life

On July 11, 1976, Stewart married Annie Dong. The couple had one child together, a daughter.[1]

[edit] Death

On February 24, 2002, Mel Stewart died of Alzheimer's disease.[4]

[edit] Filmography

[edit] Television

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Hobbs, John. "Milton 'Mel' Stewart: Legit, TV actor", Variety, 2002-04-10. Retrieved on 2007-03-27. 
  2. ^ Internet Broadway Database: Melvin Stewart
  3. ^ "Actor Milton Stewart dies", Jet, 2002-04-01. Retrieved on 2007-12-30. 
  4. ^ White, Rusty. "Immortalized in film: February 2002 Film World Obituaries", 2002-01-01. Retrieved on 2007-12-30. 

[edit] External links

Persondata
NAME Stewart, Mel
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Stewart, Milton
SHORT DESCRIPTION Actor
DATE OF BIRTH 1929-10-19
PLACE OF BIRTH Cleveland, Ohio, USA
DATE OF DEATH 2002-02-24
PLACE OF DEATH Pacifica, California, USA
Languages