Eugene Jackson
Eugene W. Jackson II was an American child actor who was a regular of the Our Gang short series during the silent Pathé era.
Career
When he joined the gang, Jackson replaced the series' first black cast member, Ernie Morrison who was billed in the series as Sunshine Sammy, Jackson's characters nickname was "Pineapple" because of his haircut's similarity to the shape of the pineapple fruit.
He played the character "Humidor" in one of Mary Pickford's most successful films, Little Annie Rooney. A large film poster of the cast of Little Annie Rooney, including Jackson, hangs in the lobby of the Mary Pickford Theatre of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Hollywood.
Jackson also starred in Hearts in Dixie, one of the first all-talking, big-studio productions to boast a predominately African-American cast. He was the first African-American child to have a speaking part in a major motion picture.
In television, Jackson was a recurring character on Julia, the first network sitcom to have a female African-American lead, Diahann Carroll. Jackson played Julia's uncle.
Jackson's last major feature film was The Addams Family with Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia and Christopher Lloyd. He played a one-armed musician.
Jackson wrote an autobiography in 1999 that contains pictures from his career in show business.
Death
Jackson died of a heart attack in Compton, California on October 26, 2001. He was 84.
Partial filmography
Penrod and Sam - VermanHer Reputation - Boy pushed into pondBoy of Mine - Little Boy The Thief of Bagdad - Child Little Annie Rooney - Humidor Flirty Four-Flushers - Boy Eating Watermelon Uncle Tom's Cabin - Child Little Mickey Grogan - Dancing Black Boy Hearts in Dixie - ChinquapinDixiana - Cupid - Plantation House Boy Cimarron - IsaiahSporting Blood - Sam "Sammy"Sporting Chance - HorseshoeSecret Service - Israel PolkLadies Crave Excitement - Lightcrust - Horse Groom Tumbling Tumbleweeds - EightballRed River Valley - IodineThe Lonely Trail - Harmonica Player / DancerHearts in Bondage - Sam Guns and Guitars - EightballMidnight Court - Garfield Brown It Can't Last Forever - Jackson Brothers Act Blonde Trouble - Bootblack Wine, Women and Horses - Eight BallThoroughbreds Don't Cry - Black Stable Boy The Buccaneer - James Smith, a ServantArrest Bulldog Drummond - Hotel Page Boy Tom Sawyer, Detective - Boy Kentucky - Jimmy Rhythm Rodeo - Tap DancerThe Lady's from Kentucky - Winfield Reform School - PeteBoy Friend - Porter Television Spy - Tommy The Honeymoon's Over - Parking Man Seventeen - Attendant Sporting Blood - Sam - Lockwood's Horse Groom Melody and Moonlight - Dancer Golden Hoofs - Curly Unfinished Business - Bootblack Reap the Wild Wind - Dr. Jepson's Black Servant Take My Life - Bill, Harlem Tuff-Kid Gang MemberReveille with Beverly - Franklin Delano Lincoln Van Buren Jones What's Buzzin', Cousin? - Bellboy Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay! - Stable Hand - Tony The Story of Seabiscuit - Stablehand The Killer That Stalked New York - Bootblack Artists and Models - Street Saxophonist Jeanne Eagels - Piccaninny The Long, Hot Summer - Waiter King Creole - Saxophonist in Blue Shade North by Northwest - Security Guard at auction The Gene Krupa Story - Saxophone Player The Apartment - Office Worker Two Weeks in Another Town - Commuter at Airport Critic's Choice - Audience Member Robin and the 7 Hoods - Congregation Member Looking for Love - Office Worker Your Cheatin' Heart - Theatre Patron Zebra in the Kitchen - Newsboy Shenandoah - GabrielWild in the Streets - Congressman Support Your Local Gunfighter - Waiter Aboard Train Chandler - Shoe Shine BoyThe Carey Treatment - Doctor Black Girl - Parishioner Coffy - Man at Rally 40 Carats - Party Dancer Cleopatra Jones - HenryThe Day of the Locust - Doorman All the President's Men - Reporter Sparkle - Hotel Bellboy Treasure of Matecumbe - Man Dancing in the Street Five Days from Home - Inmate Escape from Alcatraz - Inmate #7American Gigolo - BootblackOff the Wall - Old Black ManSwing Shift - Bartender at Kelly'sLife Stinks - Office Janitor The Addams Family - One-Armed Bass Player