The Resume

(December 1, 1907-February 2, 1990)
Born in Monroe, Louisiana
Portrayed Mack Robinson in 'The Jackie Robinson Story' (1950)
Best known roles are Trick in 'The Great White Hope' and Bobo in 'A Raisin in the Sun'
Made three movies with Dorothy Dandridge. ('Tarzan's Peril,' 'The Decks Ran Red,' and 'Porgy and Bess')
Acted in 'Friendly Persuasion,' 'Imitation of Life,' 'Seven Angry Men,' 'The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman,' 'Duffy of San Quentin,' 'Sitting Bull,' 'Monster from Green Hell,' 'He Rides Tall,' 'Roustabout,' 'Walk Softly Stranger,' 'The Flame of New Orleans,' 'The Chase,' 'Man Friday,' 'Skin Game,' and 'Casey's Shadow'

Why he might be annoying:

He usually played servile roles (natives, cabbies, waiters, porters).
Admittedly to be fair, these were often the only type of roles available to him at the time.
Dorothy Dandridge biographer Don Bogle called him 'a social climber,' 'a ruthless snob,' and 'a gossip.'
Dandridge's family and friends accused him of maneuvering his way into her life to boost his own star profile.
He was rumored to have had affairs with several prominent male celebrities, black and white, although names were never divulged.
He was not above acting in blaxploitation vehicles (including ' 'Thomasine & Bushrod' and 'The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings').

Why he might not be annoying:

Juanita Moore called him 'the love of my life.'
He lobbied hard for better parts and working conditions for African-American performers via the Screen Actors Guild.
He could make his roles memorable despite being limited to five-ten minutes of screen time.
He suffered from a near debilitating blindness.
His failing eyesight got to be so severe that he committed suicide by shooting himself at the age of 82.
He was a closeted gay celebrity in black Hollywood (making him a double minority in a difficult period).
Dorothy Dandridge and her family shut him out of their circle after he urged them to stage an intervention for her alcoholism.
He drew favorable notices playing Jackie Robinson's older brother (opposite the athlete himself).
Sidney Poitier was a close personal friend who spoke at his funeral.
Giving the eulogy Poitier drew laughter from attendees joking 'I carry two inches on my waist because of that man' (his cooking skills were legendary in Hollywood).

Credit: BoyWiththeGreenHair

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Allegedly Gay Men
• BoyWiththeGreenHair’s Profiles [Series 15]
• Gays Who Died Closeted
• I am an Angelino [Residents of Los Angeles]
• I Committed Suicide
• I Died in 1990 (Ranked: 82)
• I Last Saw My Shadow on Groundhog's Day [Died on February 2nd] (Ranked: 1990)
• I Took a Bullet
• Perry Mason - Guest Stars
• Porgy and Bess [1959]
• Profiles 46251-46500 (Ranked: 46366)
• Visually Impaired
• We Died on the Same Day (Ranked: 19900202)

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 9 Votes: 88.89% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 10 Votes: 40.0% Annoying