Julius Harris
Julius W. Harris (August 17, 1923 – October 17, 2004) was an American actor who appeared in more than 70 movies and numerous television series in a career that spanned four decades. Harris is best known for his roles in 1970s films such as Live and Let Die and the blaxploitation films Super Fly, Black Caesar and Hell Up in Harlem.
Julius Harris | |
|---|---|
| Born | Julius W. Harris August 17, 1923 |
| Died | October 17, 2004 (aged 81)[1] |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1964–1997 |
| Known for | Mr. Big – Trouble Man Tee Hee Johnson – Live and Let Die Mr. Gibbs – Black Caesar, Hell Up in Harlem Scatter – Super Fly |
| Children | 2 |
Early life and career
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to a dancer mother and musician father, Harris worked as a nurse, and a bouncer in New York City jazz clubs. Before he began his acting career, Harris served as a medic in the United States Army during World War II. After hanging out with many struggling actors, he took a dare and auditioned for his first role and was cast as the father in Nothing But a Man, a critically acclaimed 1964 film about black life in the South starring Ivan Dixon and Abbey Lincoln.
Some of his most prominent roles included the villainous, steel-armed Tee Hee in the James Bond film Live and Let Die,[2] Scatter in Super Fly, Bubbletop Woodson in Let's Do It Again, Captain Bollin in Shaft's Big Score, Inspector Daniels in The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, Joseph in Islands in the Stream and Ugandan President Idi Amin in the TV movie Victory at Entebbe.
He also appeared in Trouble Man, King Kong, Black Caesar, Hell Up in Harlem, Friday Foster, Shrunken Heads, Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man and in guest-starring roles on Sanford and Son, Good Times, and Love Boat among others. Harris was a member of the Negro Ensemble Company in New York City and appeared on Broadway in the Pulitzer Prize-winning play, No Place to Be Somebody.
Death
On October 17, 2004, Harris died of heart failure while admitted at Motion Picture and Television Hospital, aged 81.[3] Harris was cremated and interred in Philadelphia, his place of birth. At the time of his death, Harris was survived by his two children; his daughter Kimberly and his son Gideon.
Filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1964 | Nothing But a Man | Will Anderson | Julius Harris' first movie role |
| 1969 | Slaves | Shadrach | |
| 1972 | Shaft's Big Score | Captain Bollin | |
| Super Fly | 'Scatter' | ||
| Trouble Man | 'Mr. Big' | ||
| 1973 | Black Caesar | Mr. Gibbs | |
| Live and Let Die | Tee Hee Johnson | ||
| Salty | Clancy Ames | ||
| Hell Up in Harlem | Mr. Gibbs | ||
| Blade | Card Player | ||
| 1974 | The Taking of Pelham One Two Three | Inspector Daniels | |
| 1975 | Let's Do It Again | 'Bubbletop' Woodson | |
| Friday Foster | 'Monk' Riley | ||
| 1976 | King Kong | Boan | |
| 1977 | Islands in the Stream | Joseph | |
| Alambrista! | 2nd Drunk | ||
| Looking for Mr. Goodbar | 'Black Cat' | ||
| 1979 | Delta Fox | 'Tiny' | |
| 1980 | Gorp | Fred, The Chef | |
| First Family | Ambassador Longo | ||
| 1981 | Circle of Power | B.B. | |
| Full Moon High | Hijacker | uncredited | |
| 1983 | Going Berserk | Judge | |
| 1984 | The Enchanted | Booker T. | |
| 1985 | Crimewave | Hardened Convict | |
| 1986 | My Chauffeur | Johnson | Alternative title: My Chauffeur: Licensed to Love |
| Hollywood Vice Squad | Jesse | ||
| 1988 | Split Decisions | Tony Leone | |
| 1990 | To Sleep with Anger | Herman | |
| Darkman | Gravedigger | ||
| Prayer of the Rollerboys | 'Speedbagger' | ||
| 1991 | Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man | Old Man Jiles | |
| 1993 | Maniac Cop III: Badge of Silence | Houngan Malfaiteur | Alternative titles: Maniac Cop 3 MC3: Maniac Cop 3 |
| 1994 | Shrunken Heads | Aristide Sumatra | |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1969 | N.Y.P.D. | Hector | 1 episode |
| 1973 | The Bob Newhart Show | Mr. Billings | 1 episode ("Blues for Mr. Borden") |
| 1975 | Harry O | Arthur "Art Sully" Daniels | 1 episode |
| Cannon | Milner, Liquid Store Owner | 1 episode | |
| Ellery Queen | Doyle, The Butler | 1 episode | |
| 1976 | Rich Man, Poor Man | Augie | Miniseries |
| Victory at Entebbe | President Idi Amin | Television movie | |
| Good Times | Ben | 1 episode | |
| 1977 | Kojak | Joe Addison | 1 episode |
| Sanford and Son | Doctor | 1 episode | |
| 1978 | The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries | Mr. Dove | 2 episodes |
| 1979 | The Incredible Hulk | 'Doc' Alden | 1 episode |
| 1981 | Thornwell | Frisco | Television movie |
| 1982 | The Blue and the Gray | Swamp Preacher | Miniseries |
| Voyagers! | Auctioneer | 1 episode | |
| 1983 | St. Elsewhere | Earl | 1 episode |
| 1983–1986 | Cagney & Lacey | Bardo / Sergeant Major Brennan | 2 episodes |
| 1984 | Hart to Hart | Krohn | 1 episode |
| Gone Are the Dayes | Man #1 | Television movie | |
| Benson | (Benson's) Uncle Buster | 1 episode "the reunion" | |
| The Jeffersons | Reverend Taylor | 1 episode | |
| 1985 | Hollywood Wives | Reverend Daniel | Miniseries |
| Amazing Stories | Joe | 1 episode | |
| 1986 | Capitol | Papa Nebo | Unknown episodes |
| 1987 | Outlaws | Butch | 1 episode |
| A Gathering of Old Men | Coot | Television movie Alternative title: Murder on the Bayou | |
| 1989 | Friday the 13th: The Series | Simpson | 1 episode |
| 1991 | The Golden Girls | Mr. Lewis | 1 episode |
| Murder, She Wrote | Jack Lee Johnson | 1 episode | |
| Civil Wars | Judge Adams | 1 episode | |
| 1992 | Eerie, Indiana | Prop Man | 1 episode |
| 1997 | ER | Gramps | 1 episode, (final appearance) |
References
External links
- Julius Harris at the Internet Broadway Database
- Julius Harris at IMDb
- Julius Harris at Find a Grave