Joel Fluellen (December 1, 1907 – February 2, 1990) was an actor and an activist for the rights of African Americans. He appeared in the films ''

The Jackie Robinson Story ''The Jackie Robinson Story'' is a 1950 biographical film directed by Alfred E. Green (who had directed ''The Jolson Story'', "one of the biggest hits of the 40s") and starring Jackie Robinson as himself. The film focuses on Robinson's struggle ...

'', '' Perils of the Jungle'', '' Duffy of San Quentin'', '' Sitting Bull'', '' Friendly Persuasion'', ''

Monster from Green Hell ''Monster from Green Hell'' is a 1957 science fiction B movie released on December 12, 1957 as a double feature with the English-dubbed, re-edited version of the Japanese tokusatsu film '' Half Human''. It was directed by Kenneth G. Crane, and s ...

'', '' The Decks Ran Red'', ''

Porgy and Bess ''Porgy and Bess'' () is an English-language opera by American composer George Gershwin, with a libretto written by author DuBose Heyward and lyricist Ira Gershwin. It was adapted from Dorothy Heyward and DuBose Heyward's play '' Porgy'', it ...

'', ''

A Raisin in the Sun ''A Raisin in the Sun'' is a play by Lorraine Hansberry that debuted on Broadway in 1959. The title comes from the poem "Harlem" (also known as "A Dream Deferred") by Langston Hughes. The story tells of a black family's experiences in south Chi ...

'', ''

He Rides Tall ''He Rides Tall'' is a 1964 American Western film directed by R. G. Springsteen and written by Charles Irwin and Robert Creighton Williams. The film stars Tony Young, Dan Duryea, Jo Morrow, Madlyn Rhue, R. G. Armstrong, and Joel Fluellen. The ...

'', ''

Roustabout Roustabout (Australia/New Zealand English: rouseabout) is an occupational term. Traditionally, it referred to a worker with broad-based, non-specific skills. In particular, it was used to describe show or circus workers who handled materials ...

'', '' The Chase'', '' The Learning Tree'', ''

The Great White Hope ''The Great White Hope'' is a 1967 play written by Howard Sackler, later adapted in 1970 for a film of the same name. The play was first produced by Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. and debuted on Broadway at the Alvin Theatre in October 1 ...

'', ''

Skin Game ''Skin Game'' is a 1971 American independent comedy western directed by Paul Bogart and Gordon Douglas, and starring James Garner and Lou Gossett. The supporting cast features Susan Clark, Edward Asner, Andrew Duggan, Parley Baer and R ...

'', ''

Thomasine & Bushrod ''Thomasine & Bushrod'' is a 1974 Western film directed by Gordon Parks, Jr., written by and starring Max Julien and Vonetta McGee and was released by Columbia Pictures. The title song was written by Arthur Lee and performed by his band Love. ...

'', '' The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings'', '' Casey's Shadow'' and '' Butch and Sundance: The Early Days'', among others.

Cinema career

The Jackie Robinson Story (1950) still 1

After getting a series of small roles, Fluellen attracted attention playing the role of Jackie Robinson's brother in ''

'', released in 1950. Other significant roles followed in movies such as '' Friendly Persuasion'', '' The Learning Tree'' and ''

''. He also appeared in television series, including ''

The Dick Van Dyke Show ''The Dick Van Dyke Show'' is an American television sitcom created by Carl Reiner that initially aired on CBS from October 3, 1961 to June 1, 1966, with a total of 158 half-hour episodes spanning five seasons. It was produced by Calvada Product ...

'' and ''

Hill Street Blues ''Hill Street Blues'' is an American serial police procedural television series that aired on NBC in prime-time from January 15, 1981, to May 12, 1987, for 146 episodes. The show chronicles the lives of the staff of a single police station loca ...

''.

Activism

Following calls by the

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is a civil rights organization in the United States, formed in 1909 as an interracial endeavor to advance justice for African Americans by a group including W. E. ...

against the

stereotyping In social psychology, a stereotype is a generalized belief about a particular category of people. It is an expectation that people might have about every person of a particular group. The type of expectation can vary; it can be, for example ...

of African Americans in the film industry, Fluellen tried to get the

Screen Actors Guild The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) was an American labor union which represented over 100,000 film and television principal and background performers worldwide. On March 30, 2012, the union leadership announced that the SAG membership voted to m ...

to protect their Black members against discrimination. The guild, headed by Ronald Reagan at the time, repeatedly rebuffed his resolutions, and Fluellen became an early member of the Negro Actors Guild of America. With Frances Williams, he received the first Paul Robeson Pioneer Awards from the Black American Cinema Society, in 1985.

Later life

Fluellen was gay. He suffered health problems and was becoming blind toward the end of his life. He shot and killed himself on February 2, 1990, at his home in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

Selected filmography

*'' Dark Manhattan'' (1937) - Henchman (uncredited) *'' Spirit of Youth'' (1938) - Kitchen Worker (uncredited) *''

The Duke Is Tops ''The Duke Is Tops'' is a 1938 United States, American musical film released by Million Dollar Productions and directed by William Nolte. The film was later released in 1943 under the title ''The Bronze Venus''. It features top-billed Lena Horne i ...

'' (1938) - Tonic Customer (uncredited) *''

Congo Maisie ''Congo Maisie'' is a 1940 comedy-drama film directed by H. C. Potter and starring Ann Sothern for the second time in the ten film Maisie Maisie Ravier is a fictional character, the leading character of ten films (1939–1947) and the radio ...

'' (1940) - Native (uncredited) *'' While Thousands Cheer'' (1940) - Waiter (uncredited) *'' The Flame of New Orleans'' (1941) - Servant (uncredited) *''

Heart of the Golden West '' Heart of the Golden West '' is a 1942 American Western film starring Roy Rogers. Plot Roy helps the ranchers of Cherokee City when Ross Lambert (McDonald) doubles the rates to ship their cattle to market. Roy contacts the owner of a steamboa ...

'' (1942) - Member - Hall Johnson Choir (uncredited) *'' Happy Go Lucky'' (1943) - Trinidad Native (uncredited) *'' Cabin in the Sky'' (1943) - Mr. Kelso / Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited) *'' Hit the Ice'' (1943) - Club Car Bartender (uncredited) *'' I Dood It'' (1943) - Member of Hazel Scott's Group (uncredited) *'' Jungle Queen'' (1945, Serial) - Native (uncredited) *'' Shady Lady'' (1945) - Dining Car Waiter (uncredited) *'' White Pongo'' (1945) - Mumbo Jumbo *''

This Love of Ours ''This Love of Ours'' is a 1945 American drama film directed by William Dieterle and starring Merle Oberon, Claude Rains, Charles Korvin and Carl Esmond. The film's composer, Hans J. Salter, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original ...

'' (1945) - Porter (uncredited) * ''

The Negro Sailor ''The Negro Sailor'' is a 1945 documentary short film made for the U.S. Navy and shown by All-American News, a company producing newsreels and later feature films for the race film market. It was directed by Henry Levin. The film was inspired by t ...

'' (1945) *''

Without Reservations ''Without Reservations'' is a 1946 RKO Radio Pictures American comedy film directed by Mervyn LeRoy and starring Claudette Colbert, John Wayne and Don DeFore. The film was adapted by Andrew Solt from the novel ''Thanks, God! I'll Take It From H ...

'' (1946) - Club Car Waiter (uncredited) *''

Two Guys from Milwaukee ''Two Guys from Milwaukee'' (UK title: ''Royal Flush'') is a 1946 American comedy film directed by David Butler and starring Dennis Morgan, Jack Carson, and Joan Leslie. It was distributed by Warner Bros. The film is about a Balkan prince who ...

'' (1946) - Porter (uncredited) *'' The Burning Cross'' (1947) - Charlie West *''

Family Honeymoon ''Family Honeymoon'' is a 1949 domestic comedy film made by Universal International, directed by Claude Binyon, and written by Dane Lussier, based on novel by Homer Croy. It was shot in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. Plot Katie Armstrong ...

'' (1948) - Waiter (uncredited) *''

Sun Tan Ranch ''Sun Tan Ranch'' is a comedy western produced by Norwanda Pictures in 1948. Little is known about the film and its crew, not to mention whether a print of the film still exists. Like Norwanda's other 1948 production, ''No Time for Romance'', the ...

'' (1948) *''

No Time for Romance ''No Time for Romance'' is a 1948 musical directed by Corney Cook. The film was noted for having an all-Black cast and for being one of the few all-Black films to be filmed in color during the era. Plot A struggling L.A. nightclub performer (Eu ...

'' (1948) - Drums Miller *'' Mighty Joe Young'' (1949) - Tall Native (uncredited) *'' Rope of Sand'' (1949) - Native (uncredited) *'' Buccaneer's Girl'' (1950) - Black Man in Marketplace (uncredited) *''

'' (1950) - Mack Robinson *'' The Great Jewel Robber'' (1950) - Train Waiter (uncredited) *''

Walk Softly, Stranger ''Walk Softly, Stranger'' is a 1950 American romantic drama film starring Joseph Cotten and Alida Valli and directed by Robert Stevenson. Also regarded by some as either or both a film noir and crime film, it tells the story of a small-time crook ...

'' (1950) - Florist (uncredited) *''

You're in the Navy Now ''You're in the Navy Now'' is a 1951 American war drama film about the United States Navy in the first months of World War II. The film was directed by Henry Hathaway and stars Gary Cooper as a new officer wanting duty at sea but who is instead a ...

'' (1951) - Officer's Club Waiter (uncredited) *'' Tarzan's Peril'' (1951) - Attendant (uncredited) *'' His Kind of Woman'' (1951) - Sam (uncredited) *''

Lydia Bailey ''Lydia Bailey'' is a 1952 American historical film directed by Jean Negulesco, based on the novel of the same name by Kenneth Roberts. It stars Dale Robertson and Anne Francis. Plot In 1802, lawyer Albion Hamlin travels from Baltimore to Cap ...

'' (1952) - Toussant's Aide (uncredited) *'' Affair in Trinidad'' (1952) - Jeffrey Mabetes - Fisherman (uncredited) *'' Jungle Drums of Africa'' (1953, Serial) - Matambo, Native Searcher h.4*'' Perils of the Jungle'' (1953) - Kenny *'' The Moonlighter'' (1953) - Black Man in Jail Cell (uncredited) *'' The Royal African Rifles'' (1953) - Soldier *'' Duffy of San Quentin'' (1954) - Bill Lake *'' Riot in Cell Block 11'' (1954) - Al *'' Jungle Gents'' (1954) - Rangori - Witch Doctor (uncredited) *'' Sitting Bull'' (1954) - Sam *'' Seven Angry Men'' (1955) - Heyward - Harper's Ferry Station Master (uncredited) *'' Lord of the Jungle'' (1955) - Molu (uncredited) *''

Lucy Gallant ''Lucy Gallant'' is a 1955 American drama film directed by Robert Parrish and written by John Lee Mahin and Winston Miller. The film stars Jane Wyman, Charlton Heston, Claire Trevor, Thelma Ritter, William Demarest and Wallace Ford. The film wa ...

'' (1955) - Summertime (uncredited) *''

I'll Cry Tomorrow ''I'll Cry Tomorrow'' (1955) is a biopic that tells the story of Lillian Roth, a Broadway star who rebels against the pressure of her domineering mother and struggles with alcoholism after the death of her fiancé. It stars Susan Hayward, Richard ...

'' (1955) - The Porter (uncredited) *'' Friendly Persuasion'' (1956) - Enoch *'' The Opposite Sex'' (1956) - Club Car Bartender (uncredited) *'' Oh, Men! Oh, Women!'' (1957) - Cab Driver (uncredited) *''

'' (1957) - Arobi *'' House of Numbers'' (1957) - Ashlow - Convict (uncredited) *'' Run Silent, Run Deep'' (1958) - Bragg (uncredited) *'' The Decks Ran Red'' (1958) - Pete *'' Imitation of Life'' (1959) - Minister *''

'' (1959) - Robbins *''

The Young Savages ''The Young Savages'' is a 1961 American crime drama film directed by John Frankenheimer and starring Burt Lancaster. It was written by Edward Anhalt from a novel by Evan Hunter. The supporting cast includes Dina Merrill, Shelley Winters, and E ...

'' (1961) - Court Clerk (uncredited) *''

'' (1961) - Bobo *''

'' (1964) - Dr. Sam *'' Good Neighbor Sam'' (1964) - Judge (uncredited) *''

'' (1964) - Cody Marsh *'' The Chase'' (1966) - Lester Johnson *'' Who's Minding the Mint?'' (1967) - Policeman (uncredited) *'' Hang 'Em High'' (1968) - Williams (uncredited) *'' Uptight'' (1968) - Kyle's associate (uncredited) *'' The Learning Tree'' (1969) - Uncle Rob *''

'' (1970) - Tick *''

'' (1971) - Abram *''

Colombo Colombo ( ; si, කොළඹ, translit=Koḷam̆ba, ; ta, கொழும்பு, translit=Koḻumpu, ) is the executive and judicial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka by population. According to the Brookings Institution, Colombo m ...

'' (''Columbo'') - serie TV, episodio 1x05 (1971) *''

Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies An ace is a playing card, die or domino with a single pip. In the standard French deck, an ace has a single suit symbol (a heart, diamond, spade, or club) located in the middle of the card, sometimes large and decorated, especially in the ca ...

'' (1973) - Handyman (uncredited) *''

'' (1974) - Nathaniel *'' Man Friday'' (1975) - Doctor *'' The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings'' (1976) - Mr. Holland *'' Casey's Shadow'' (1978) - Jimmy Judson *'' Butch and Sundance: The Early Days'' (1979) - Jack the Bartender

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Fluellen, Joel 1907 births 1990 deaths 20th-century American male actors American male film actors Suicides by firearm in California 1990 suicides American male television actors People from Monroe, Louisiana Male actors from Louisiana