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 |
| Alma mater | Florida A&M University |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1970–1991 |
| Spouse(s) | Joan Pringle (m. 1980–91) |
| Children | 3[1] |
Theodore Rosevelt "Teddy" Wilson (December 10, 1943 – July 21, 1991) was an American stage, film and television actor. Wilson is best known for his recurring role as Earl the Postman on the ABC sitcom That's My Mama, and as Sweet Daddy Williams on the CBS sitcom Good Times.
Career
Born in New York City, Wilson studied music at Florida A&M University before switching to drama. Upon returning to New York, he joined the Negro Ensemble Company and later worked with the Arena Stage Repertory. He made his acting debut in the blaxploitation film, Cotton Comes to Harlem, in 1970. The following year, Wilson moved to Los Angeles. He made his television debut in a two-episode role as "Rev. Hawthorne Dooley" on the drama series The Waltons. In 1973, Wilson was cast the supporting role of "High Strung" on the CBS sitcom Roll Out. The series was canceled after 13 weeks.[2] The following year, Wilson was cast Earl Chambers, a postman on the ABC sitcom That's My Mama. That series was also short lived and canceled after just one season.
In September 1976, Wilson signed with Tandem Productions, the production company owned by Bud Yorkin and Norman Lear who produced some of the most popular sitcoms of the 1970s. Wilson would go on to guest star in several Yorkin/Lear-produced series including All in the Family, Sanford and Son, What's Happening!!, The Jeffersons, and 13 Queens Boulevard.[2] In 1976, Wilson was cast as "Sweet Daddy Williams", a street hustler on the CBS sitcom Good Times. Wilson would appear as "Sweet Daddy" throughout the series' five-year run. In August 1977, it was announced that Wilson would star in a spin-off of the hit sitcom Sanford and Son called Sanford Arms. The series was intended to be a continuation of the highly popular Sanford and Son, which ended in March 1977 when both the series' stars, Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson left the series. Wilson starred as "Phil Wheeler", an Army veteran and widower who has purchased the Sanford Arms, a room house, from his old Army buddy Fred G. Sanford.[3] Upon its premiere in September 1977, Sanford Arms was critically panned and drew low ratings. It was canceled after four episodes.
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.[4] Theodore "Teddy" Wilson graduated from Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida where he was drum major for the "Marching 100"-Dillard High's band Prior to his attending Florida A & M University. I knew him personally at Dillard High School.
Personal life
In 1980, Wilson married actress Joan Pringle. The couple had two children and remained married until Wilson's death in 1991.[5]
Death
On July 21, 1991, Wilson died of a stroke at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, at the age of 47.[1][4][5][6][7]
Selected filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Cotton Comes to Harlem | Barry | |
| 1972 | Come Back, Charleston Blue | Cemetery Guard | |
| 1973 | Cleopatra Jones | Pickle (Doodlebug's hood) | |
| 1974 | Black Eye | Lindy | |
| 1976 | The River Niger | Chips | |
| 1977 | The Greatest | Gardener | Credited as Theodore R. Wilson |
| 1977 | Run for the Roses | Flash | |
| 1979 | Loose Shoes | Elijah Abdoul Jamaal Muhammed | Alternative titles: Coming Attractions Quackers |
| 1980 | Carny | Nails | |
| 1980 | The Hunter | Winston Blue | |
| 1984 | Weekend Pass | Nat | |
| 1986 | Big Trouble | Porter | |
| 1986 | Stewardess School | Probation Officer | |
| 1987 | Maid to Order | Woodrow | |
| 1989 | Penny Ante: The Motion Picture | Willie | |
| 1991 | Life Stinks | Fumes | Alternative title: Life Sucks |
| 1992 | The Vagrant | X-Rays | Released posthumously |
| 1993 | Blood In Blood Out | Wallace | Alternative title: Bound by Honor Released posthumously |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972–1973 | The Waltons | Hawthorne Dooley | 2 episodes |
| 1973 | The Partridge Family | Sam Mulvoney | Episode: "Hate Thy Neighbor" |
| 1973 | Roll Out | High Strung | 8 episodes |
| 1974 | M*A*S*H | Warrant Officer Martin "Marty" Williams | Episode: "The General Flipped at Dawn" |
| 1974–1975 | That's My Mama | Earl Chambers | 38 episodes |
| 1975 | Medical Story | Hadley | Television movie |
| 1976 | Baretta | Flash | Episode: "Pay or Die" |
| 1976 | Good Heavens | Special Bingham | Episode: "Jack the Ribber and Me" |
| 1976–1979 | Good Times | Sweet Daddy Williams | 7 episodes |
| 1977 | Phyllis | Jimmy Carter | Episode: "Boss or Buddy or Both or Neither" |
| 1977 | The Bionic Woman | Warner Williams | Episode: "Iron Ships and Dead Men" |
| 1977 | Sanford Arms | Phil Wheeler | 8 episodes |
| 1977 | Kojak | Joe Penney | Episode: "Once More from Birdland" |
| 1977 | Police Woman | Harold Martin | Episode: "Shadow of a Doubt" |
| 1978 | What's Happening!! | Al Dunbar | 2 episodes |
| 1979 | The Dukes of Hazzard | Morgan | Episode: "Route 7-11" |
| 1979 | The White Shadow | Doug Buchanan | Episode: "A Christmas Present" |
| 1981 | The Oklahoma City Dolls | Tom Petree | Television movie |
| 1982 | The Ambush Murders | Jay King | Television movie |
| 1983 | Amanda's | Philip Oliver | Episode: "Last of the Red Hot Brothers" |
| 1985 | A Bunny's Tale | Older Club Employee | Television movie |
| 1985 | Malice in Wonderland | Collins | Television movie |
| 1985 | What's Happening Now!! | Mr. Lee/Bum | 2 episodes |
| 1985 | The New Twilight Zone | Henderson | Segment: "Night of the Meek" |
| 1985 | Crazy Like a Fox | Eddie | 2 episodes |
| 1986 | 227 | Cousin Ray | Episode: "We the People" |
| 1986 | The Redd Foxx Show | Jim-Jam | 5 episodes |
| 1986 | Easy Street | Jackie | Episode: "Be-Bop Man" |
| 1987 | The New Mike Hammer | Booker | Episode: "Body Shot" |
| 1987 | Cagney & Lacey | Judge Charnas | Episode: "Easy Does It" |
| 1987-1988 | You Can't Take It with You | Durwood M. Pinner | 3 episodes |
| 1988 | Annie McGuire | Jordan | Episode: "The Journey" |
| 1989 | Sweet Bird of Youth | Fly | Television movie |
| 1989 | Midnight Caller | Quinton Oliver | Episode: "Take Back the Streets" |
| 1989 | Alien Nation | Dr. Roscoe Brennan | 2 episodes |
| 1989 | The Munsters Today | Louis | Episode: "The Melting Pot" |
| 1989-1990 | Dallas | Clem | 2 episodes |
| 1990 | Beauty and the Beast | Raymond Ensign | Episode: "Legacies" |
| 1990 | Family Matters | Captain Casper Davenport | Episode: "Sitting Pretty" |
| 1990 | The New Adam-12" | Street Artist | Episode: "The Landlord" |
| 1990 | Quantum Leap | Ernie Tyler / Jimmy Grady | 2 episodes, "Rebel Without a Clue" & "Pool Hall Blues" |
| 1991 | Wings | John | Episode: "Plane Nine from Nantucket" |
References
- 1 2 "Actor Theodore Wilson, 47, Dies Of Stroke In L.A.". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. 80 (17): 56. August 12, 1991. ISSN 0021-5996.
- 1 2 "'Sanford and Son' Replacement Set". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Spokane, Washington. August 26, 1977. p. 23. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
- ↑ "New stars to shine in 'Sanford Arms'". Boca Raton News. Boca Raton, Florida. August 24, 1977. p. 8B. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
- 1 2 "Theodore Wilson dies; appeared on TV shows". The Hour. Norwalk, Connecticut. July 24, 1991. p. 31. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
- 1 2 "Actress Joan Pringle Will Oversee $40,000 Estate Of Late Actor Theodore Wilson". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. 81 (3): 36. November 4, 1991. ISSN 0021-5996.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "Theodore Wilson Dies, Television, Movie Actor". orlandosentinel.com. July 25, 1991. Retrieved April 3, 2016.