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Joe Seneca

 
Actor: Joe Seneca
  • Born: Jan 14, 1919
  • Died: Aug 15, 1996 in Roosevelt Island, New York
  • Occupation: Actor
  • Active: '80s-'90s
  • Major Genres: Drama
  • Career Highlights: School Daze, Mississippi Masala, The Blob
  • First Major Screen Credit: Heart of The Garden (1985)

Biography

Black character actor Joe Seneca almost always brought a sense of dignity and social consciousness to his roles. Born and raised in Cleveland, OH, he began performing with the Three Riffs song and dance trio. Early in his career, he penned songs such as "Break It to Me Gently" (co-written with Diane Lampert) and "Talk to Me." In 1981, Seneca made his Broadway debut in The Little Foxes with Elizabeth Taylor. He made his feature film debut seven years prior in The Taking of Pelham 1, 2, 3 (1974). Seneca has also appeared frequently on television on programs like The Cosby Show and in dramatic specials such as A Gathering of Old Men (1987). Seneca died on August 15, 1996, during an asthma attack while in his Roosevelt Island, NY, home. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
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Joe Seneca
Born January 14, 1919
Cleveland, Ohio
Died August 15, 1996
Roosevelt Island, New York

Joe Seneca (January 14, 1919 – August 15, 1996) was an American film and television actor who had a lengthy Hollywood career, portraying bit parts in many major films and television sitcoms spanning from the 1970s to the 1990s.

Seneca was born Joel McGhee in Cleveland, Ohio. Prior to his Hollywood career, Seneca belonged to the R&B singing group "The Three Riffs", performing at upscale supper clubs in New York City. He was also a songwriter and had big hits with Talk to Me which was sung by Little Willie John and "Break It to Me Gently", which was a smash twice, once by Brenda Lee in 1962, and once by Juice Newton in 1982.

Arguably his most well-known roles are that of bluesman Willie Brown in Crossroads and Dr. Meddows in The Blob, the evil head of a government team sent to contain the title creature.

Seneca also made multiple appearances on The Cosby Show as Hillman President Dr. Zachariah J. Hanes.

He died from asthma at the age of 77.

External links

Movies:

The House Of Diers Drear


 
 
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Profile: Law & Order (TV Episode) (1993 Crime TV Episode)
House of Dies Drear (1984 Horror Film)
Hillman: The Cosby Show (TV Episode) (1987 Comedy TV Episode)

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Copyrights:

Actor. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Joe Seneca" Read more