Theodore Wilson
| Theodore Wilson | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Theodore Rosevelt Wilson December 10, 1943 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Died |
July 21, 1991 (aged 47) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Stroke |
| Other names |
Teddy Wilson Theodore R. Wilson |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1970–1991 |
| Spouse(s) | Joan Pringle (m. 1980–91) |
Theodore "Teddy" Wilson (December 10, 1943 – July 21, 1991) was an American actor, best known for his recurring role as Sweet Daddy Williams on the CBS sitcom Good Times.
Career
Born in New York City, New York, Wilson began as a soul singer fronting a band called the Counts before making his acting debut in the blaxploitation film, Cotton Comes to Harlem. He would go on to appear in several blaxploitation films of the era. In addition to films, Wilson also landed roles in several popular television shows. Wilson portrayed Earl the postman on the series That's My Mama. He also played several characters in the 1970s sitcom What's Happening!!, including the role of Al Dunbar in a popular two-part episode. In the conclusion of the two-part episode, Wilson's character gets arrested for bootlegging a Doobie Brothers concert.[1][2]
In 1976, he played a messenger in Sanford and Son in Episode 1, Season 6, "The Hawaiian Connection". In 1977, Wilson starred in the short-lived sitcom The Sanford Arms, a spin-off of Sanford and Son. After the series was canceled, Wilson made various guest appearances in episodes of The White Shadow (he also wrote a 1980 episode), Enos, Gimme a Break!, The Golden Girls and What's Happening Now. In 1986, he had a recurring role on another short-lived series, The Redd Foxx Show.
Wilson continued to work throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s appearing in Alien Nation, Dallas, Family Matters, Tales from the Crypt, Gabriel's Fire, Mama's Family and Quantum Leap. He was also featured in films The Hunter (1980), Blake Edwards' A Fine Mess and That's Life! (both 1986). Wilson made his last onscreen appearance in Blood in Blood Out, a 1993 crime drama released after his death.
Personal life and death
In 1980, Wilson married actress Joan Pringle. The couple had two children. On July 21, 1991, Wilson died of a stroke at the age of 47 in Los Angeles, California.[3][4]
Filmography/Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Cotton Comes to Harlem | Barry | ||
| 1972 | Come Back, Charleston Blue | Cemetery Guard | ||
| 1972–1973 | The Waltons | Hawthorne Dooley | 2 episodes | |
| 1973 | Cleopatra Jones | Pickle (Doodlebug's hood) | ||
| 1973 | Roll Out | High Strung | 8 episodes | |
| 1973 | The Partridge Family | Sam Mulvoney | ||
| 1974 | Black Eye | Lindy | ||
| 1974–1977 | Police Woman | Harold Martin/Tommy Thompson | ||
| 1974 | M*A*S*H | Warrant Officer Martin "Marty" Williams | Episode: "The General Flipped at Dawn" | |
| 1974–1975 | That's My Mama | Earl Chambers | ||
| 1975 | Medical Story | Hadley | Television movie | |
| 1976 | The River Niger | Chips | ||
| 1976 | All in the Family | Whitey Monroe | 2 episodes | |
| 1976 | Sanford and Son | Messenger | ||
| 1976–1979 | Good Times | Sweet Daddy Williams | Recurring role, 7 episodes | |
| 1976–1978 | What's Happening!! | Al Dunbar/Marty/Mr. Wilson | 4 episodes | |
| 1977 | The Jeffersons | Clarence | ||
| 1977 | Kojak | Joe Penney | ||
| 1977 | Sanford Arms | Phil Wheeler | ||
| 1977 | The Greatest | Gardener | Credited as Theodore R. Wilson | |
| 1979 | The Dukes of Hazzard | Morgan | ||
| 1979 | The White Shadow | Doug Buchanan | Episode: "A Christmas Present" | |
| 1980 | Loose Shoes | Elijah Abdoul Jamaal Muhammed | Alternative titles: Coming Attractions Quackers | |
| 1981 | The Oklahoma City Dolls | Tom Petree | Television movie | |
| 1982 | The Ambush Murders | Jay King | Television movie | |
| 1983 | Amanda's | Episode: "Last of the Red Hot Brothers" | ||
| 1984–1987 | Gimme a Break | Rev. George Dixen/Club owner | ||
| 1984 | Weekend Pass | Nat | ||
| 1985 | What's Happening Now!! | Mr.Lee/Bum | ||
| 1985 | The New Twilight Zone | Henderson | Segment: "Night of the Meek" | |
| 1986 | Stewardess School | Probation Officer | ||
| 1986 | The Redd Foxx Show | Jim-Jam | ||
| 1986 | 227 | Cousin Ray | Episode: "We the People" | |
| 1986–1988 | The Golden Girls | Ben/Albert | ||
| 1987 | Cagney & Lacey | Judge Charnas | Episode: "Easy Does It" | |
| 1987 | Maid to Order | Woodrow | ||
| 1989 | Mama's Family | Gus | Episode: "More Power to You" | |
| 1990 | Beauty and the Beast | Raymond Ensign | Episode: "Legacies" | |
| 1990 | Family Matters | Captain Casper Davenport | ||
| 1991 | Life Stinks | Fumes | Alternative title: Life Sucks | |
| 1992 | The Vagrant | X-Rays | ||
| 1993 | Blood In Blood Out | Wallace | Alternative title: Bound by Honor |
References
- ↑ ""What's Happening!!" Doobie or Not Doobie: Part 1 (TV Episode 1978)". IMDb. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
- ↑ markaran (27 February 2006). ""What's Happening!!" Doobie or Not Doobie: Part 2 (TV Episode 1978)". IMDb. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
- ↑ Associated Press (1991-07-25). "Obituaries: Theodore Wilson, Actor, 47". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
His sister-in-law, Naomi Pringle, said he had suffered a stroke.
- ↑ "Actress Joan Pringle Will Oversee $200,000 Estate of Theodore Wilson". Jet. 1991-11-04. p. 36.