Ernest Whitman
Ernest Whitman was an American stage and screen actor. He was also billed in some Broadway plays as Ernest R. Whitman.
Early years
Whitman was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and was educated at Tuskegee Institute. He was ordained as a minister in 1907. His participation in Chautauquas led to his becoming an entertainer in vaudeville.
Career
Whitman debuted as an entertainer in Purcell, Oklahoma. He performed on stage in The Last Mile and other productions. He sang in a touring production of Lucky Sambo.
He appeared in a number of films, including King for a Day, The Prisoner of Shark Island, The Green Pastures, Jesse James, Gone With the Wind, Third Finger, Left Hand, Among the Living, Road to Zanzibar,
Cabin in the Sky, Stormy Weather, The Lost Weekend, My Brother Talks to Horses, Banjo and The Sun Shines Bright, his last movie.
On radio, Whitman was the wartime host of the Armed Forces Radio Service's Jubilee, which was designed for African-American troops and featured mostly African-American entertainers. He portrayed the character Awful on The Gibson Family. He played Bill Jackson on Beulah on radio and on TV.
Death
Whitman died at his home of a liver ailment on August 5, 1954, in Hollywood, aged 61.
Broadway roles
Billed as Ernest Whitman
The Last Mile as Vincent JacksonChamberlain Brown's Scrap Book as Ashley the penitent
—Source: Internet Broadway Database
Billed as Ernest R. Whitman
Harlem as Kid Vamp and in ensembleSavage Rhythm as SweetbackBloodstream as Duke TaylorThe Monster as CalibanJohn Brown as Frederick Douglass
—Source: Internet Broadway Database
Filmography
King for a Day as Mr. Brown The Prisoner of Shark Island as 'Buck' MilfordThe Green Pastures as PharaohWhite Hunter as AbdiThey Gave Him a Gun as Roustabout Nothing Sacred as Policeman Daughter of Shanghai as Sam Blike Pacific Liner as Professor – Black Stoker Jesse James as PinkieTell No Tales as Slab Griffin 6,000 Enemies as Black Prisoner Willie Johnson Gone With the Wind as Carpetbagger's Friend Congo Maisie as VarnaiCastle on the Hudson as Alexander '8 Ball' Hamilton Buck Benny Rides Again as Colored Gentleman Safari as Witch Doctor Maryland as DogfaceMystery Sea Raider as First Fisherman The Return of Frank James as PinkyThird Finger, Left Hand as SamSanta Fe Trail as Black Man in Barn Back Street as Porter #1 Road to Zanzibar as WhitefaceThe Get-Away as 'Moose'The Pittsburgh Kid as Feets JohnsonMarried Bachelor as Black Men's Room Attendant Birth of the Blues as Fancy-Pants, Doorman Blues in the Night as Black Prisoner #1 Among the Living as PompeyMr. District Attorney in the Carter Case as Sam The Bugle Sounds as CartaretDrums of the Congo as King MalabaArabian Nights as Nubian Slave The Human Comedy as Black Man on Train Cabin in the Sky as Jim HenryStormy Weather as Jim Europe The Impostor as EkouaThe Adventures of Mark Twain as Stoker Goldilocks and the Jivin' Bears as Narrator Dillinger as Jack – Black Prisoner The Lost Weekend as Black Man Talking to Himself She Wouldn't Say Yes as Train Bartender My Brother Talks to Horses as Mr. MordecaiBanjo as Uncle JasperBlonde Savage as TongaHalf-Pint Pygmy as Pygmy Beulah as Bill JacksonThe Sun Shines Bright as Pleasant 'Uncle Plez' Woodford