Actor. He is remembered for his recurring, comic relief role as the chauffeur 'Birmingham Brown' in the Charlie Chan film series of the 1940s, which starred Sidney Toler and later Roland Winters. Born in Monroe, Louisiana, he was an African American actor-comedian popular in films from the 1930s to early 1970s. By the late 1920s, he had performed in Vaudeville, on Broadway, and toured Europe. He made his big screen debut in "That's the Spirit" (1933), followed by "The Green Pastures" (1936). He was once considered to become one of the Three Stooges, but Columbia studios vetoed the idea. Moe Howard said, "Had Moreland been one of the Stooges rather than Joe Besser, the Stooges would have been even more successful." His other film credits include "Up in the Air" (1940), "The Scarlet Clue" (1945), "The Sky Dragon" (1949), "The Patsy" (1964), "Watermelon Man" (1970), and "The Young Nurses" (1973), his last movie. He also appeared on the TV series "Hallmark Hall of Fame," "Adam-12," "Julia" and "The Bill Cosby Show." He died of a cerebral hemorrhage in Hollywood, California, at age 71.
Actor. He is remembered for his recurring, comic relief role as the chauffeur 'Birmingham Brown' in the Charlie Chan film series of the 1940s, which starred Sidney Toler and later Roland Winters. Born in Monroe, Louisiana, he was an African American actor-comedian popular in films from the 1930s to early 1970s. By the late 1920s, he had performed in Vaudeville, on Broadway, and toured Europe. He made his big screen debut in "That's the Spirit" (1933), followed by "The Green Pastures" (1936). He was once considered to become one of the Three Stooges, but Columbia studios vetoed the idea. Moe Howard said, "Had Moreland been one of the Stooges rather than Joe Besser, the Stooges would have been even more successful." His other film credits include "Up in the Air" (1940), "The Scarlet Clue" (1945), "The Sky Dragon" (1949), "The Patsy" (1964), "Watermelon Man" (1970), and "The Young Nurses" (1973), his last movie. He also appeared on the TV series "Hallmark Hall of Fame," "Adam-12," "Julia" and "The Bill Cosby Show." He died of a cerebral hemorrhage in Hollywood, California, at age 71.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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