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 |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

—Source: Internet Broadway Database

Billed as Ernest R. Whitman

  • Harlem as Kid Vamp and in ensemble
  • Savage Rhythm as Sweetback
  • Bloodstream as Duke Taylor
  • The Monster as Caliban
  • John Brown as Frederick Douglass
—Source: Internet Broadway Database

Filmography