Lew Payton
Lew Payton was an African American film actor, stage performer, and writer known for several films and stage productions including Chocolate Dandies with Josephine Baker, Smash Your Baggage, Jezebel, On Such a Night, and Lady for a Night featuring John Wayne and Joan Blondell. In Lady for a Night, he performed Napoleon, the Alderson Family's manservant for characters Stephen Alderson and Katherine Alderson.
Early life
Payton was born on June 27, 1874, in Huntington, West Virginia.Film and stage career
Payton performed as an actor in several films and stage productions. With Noble Sissle, Payton co-wrote and performed in Chocolate Dandies, a 1924 film that launched the career of Josephine Baker. Chocolate Dandies, The : "New Musical Comedy" by Noble Sissle and Lew Payton. Music and lyrics by Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake. Produced at the Colonial Theatre in Boston, the film also featured Eubie Blake and Amanda Randolph.Writing
In 1937, Payton authored "Did Adam Sin? and Other Stories of Negro Life in Comedy-Drama and Sketches." As a member of "Black Hollywood," Payton wrote the book as an attempt to teach other African-Americans the art of screenwriting.Film and stage productions
- The Chocolate Dandies as "Mose Washington"
- Harlem as "Pa Williams"
- The Boundary Line as "Elbert"
- Solid South as "Jasper"
- Never No More as "Deacon"
- Bridal Wise as "Tom"
- Smash Your Baggage
- Jezebel as "Uncle Billy"
- Valiant Is [the Word for Carrie] as "Lons John". Starring Gladys George.
- Did Adam Sin?, a stage production written by Payton and performed by the Chicago Negro Unit of the Federal Theatre Project from 1936 to 1939.
- Racing Lady as "Joe". Starring Ann Dvorak.
- Wells Fargo as "Sam – Pryor's Butler"
- On [Such a Night |On Such a Night] Starring Grant Richards and Karen Morley
- Jezebel as "Uncle Billy". Starring Bette Davis and Henry Fonda.
- The Lady's from Kentucky as "Sixty". Starring George Raft
- The [Sun Never Sets |The Sun Never Sets] as "the Village Chief". Starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
- Lady for a Night as "Napoleon", Alderson Family's Servant"
- Presenting Lily Mars as "Thornway's Butler". Directed by Norman Taurog featuring Judy Garland
Death
Discography
- Lew Payton – A Musical Autobiography Of Louis Armstrong 1923–1925 album art All The Wrongs You've Done Me Satchmo – A Musical Autobiography Of Louis Armstrong 1923–1925; 4 versions Decca