| Mel Stewart | |
|---|---|
in the opening credits for Scarecrow and Mrs. King |
|
| Born | Milton Stewart September 19, 1929 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | February 24, 2002 (aged 72) Pacifica, California, U.S. |
| Other names | Melvin Stewart Melvin Stuart |
| Occupation | Actor, television director, musician |
| Years active | 1959–1993 |
| Spouse | Annie Dong (m. 1976–2002) |
Milton "Mel" Stewart (September 19, 1929 – February 24, 2002) was an American character actor, television 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.
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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] In 1961, Stewart recorded an album of Langston Hughes' poetry on Folkways Records – Langston Hughes' The Best of Simple.[2]
Stewart went on to land roles in various television series including That Girl, Marcus Welby, M.D., The Bob Newhart Show, Good Times, and Harry O. One of his most memorable roles was as Henry Jefferson on the series All in the Family. In 1973, he co-starred in the short-lived series Roll Out. The following year, Stewart directed two episodes of yet another short-lived series Get Christie Love!, before co-starring in On the Rocks. After On the Rocks was canceled in 1976, Stewart portrayed the role of Marvin Decker in the Bewitched spin-off series Tabitha from 1977 to 1978.
In the 1980s, Stewart continued guest starring in both television and films. He also had a recurring role on Scarecrow and Mrs. King as Billy Melrose during the show's four year run. His last on screen appearance came in the 1993 film Made in America, starring Whoopi Goldberg and Ted Danson.
In addition to acting and directing, Stewart was an accomplished jazz saxophonist. A longtime resident of San Francisco, he also 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]
On July 11, 1976, Stewart married Annie Dong. The couple had one child together, a daughter.[1] On February 24, 2002, Mel Stewart died of Alzheimer's disease.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Odds Against Tomorrow | Hotel Juno Elevator Operator | Uncredited |
| 1964 | Nothing But a Man | Riddick | |
| 1970 | The Landlord | Professor Duboise | Credited as Melvin Stewart |
| 1971 | Cry Uncle! | Lt. Fowler | Alternative titles: American Oddballs Super Dick Credited as Melvin Stewart |
| 1972 | Hammer | Professor | Alternative title: BJ Hammer |
| 1972 | Trick Baby | Blue Howard | |
| 1973 | Steelyard Blues | Black Man in Jail | Alternative title: The Final Crash |
| 1975 | Let's Do It Again | Ellison | |
| 1981 | Whose Life Is It Anyway? | Dr. Barr | |
| 1988 | Dead Heat | Captain Mayberry | |
| 1990 | Martians Go Home | Judge | |
| 1990 | Bride of Re-Animator | Dr. Graves | Alternative title: Re-Animator 2 |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Car 54 Where Are You? | Officer | Episode: "That's Show Business" Uncredited |
| 1963 | Naked City | Pharmacist | Episode: "Barefoot on a Bed of Coals" Uncredited |
| 1964 | The Nurses | Grand Jury Foreman | Episode: "The Love of a Smart Operator" |
| 1969 | The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour | Mr. Harris | Episode #1.1 |
| 1972 | The Bold Ones: The Senator | Dawson | Episode: "A Single Blow of a Sword" |
| 1974 | Toma | George Sawtelle | Episode: "A Funeral for Max Berlin" |
| 1974 | Lucas Tanner | Mr. Browder | Episode: "Look the Other Way" |
| 1975 | The Rockford Files | Police Lieutenant | Episode: "Charlie Harris at Large" |
| 1975 | That's My Mama | Laforche | Episode: "Business Is Business" |
| 1977 | What's Happening!! | Spike Gibbs | Episode: "The Hospital Stay" |
| 1977 | Sanford and Son | Clarence | Episode: "Fred the Activist" |
| 1979 | Roots: The Next Generations | Dr. Crawford | Miniseries |
| 1979 | Benson | Loromo | Episode: "The President's Double" |
| 1980 | Soap | Walter Coleman | Episode: "3.14 |
| 1981 | Little House: A New Beginning | Hertzell Lundy | Episode: "Make a Joyful Noise" |
| 1981 | The Greatest American Hero | Sherman | Episode: "Saturday Night on Sunset Boulevard" |
| 1984 | Cheers | Man | Episode: "Coach Buries a Grudge" |
| 1987 | Amen | Brother Clark | Episode: "California Dreaming" |
| 1988 | Frank's Place | Ben Coleman | Episode: "Cultural Exchange" |
| 1989 | 227 | Jack McGee | Episode: "The Real Decoys" |
| 1989 | Matlock | Sgt Lou Marshall | Episodes: "The Mayor: Part 1" "The Mayor: Part 2" |
| 1989 | The Golden Girls | Judge | Episode: "Love Under the Big Top" |
| 1990 | In the Heat of the Night | Calvin Peterson | Episodes: "Brotherly Love: Part 1" "Brotherly Love: Part 2" "Lessons Learned" |