Lew Payton (June 27, 1874 – May 27, 1945) was an African American film actor, stage performer, and writer known for several films and stage productions including ''

Chocolate Dandies ''The Chocolate Dandies'' is a Broadway musical in two acts that opened September 1, 1924, at the New Colonial Theatre and ran for 96 performances – finishing November 22, 1924. Initial production The 1924 debut of ''The Chocolate Dandies ...

'' with

Josephine Baker Freda Josephine Baker (; June 3, 1906 – April 12, 1975), naturalized as Joséphine Baker, was an American and French dancer, singer, and actress. Her career was centered primarily in Europe, mostly in France. She was the first Black woman to s ...

, ''

Smash Your Baggage Smash Your Baggage is a 1932 Vitaphone pre-Code short musical comedy film released by Warner Bros., as part of their Vitaphone Varieties series on October 29, 1932. Directed by Roy Mack, the film features African American performers Carrie Marrie ...

'' (1932), ''

Jezebel Jezebel ()"Jezebel"
(US) and

'' (1938), ''On Such a Night'' (1937), and ''

Lady for a Night ''Lady for a Night'' is a 1942 American drama film starring Joan Blondell and John Wayne. The World War II B-17 bomber the ''Memphis Belle'' is named after a steamboat in this film. It is also known as ''The Lady from New Orleans'', ''Memphi ...

'' (1942) featuring

John Wayne Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne, was an American actor. Nicknamed "Duke", he became a Pop icon, popular icon through his starring roles in films which were produced during Hollywood' ...

and

Joan Blondell Rose Joan Blondell (August 30, 1906 – December 25, 1979) was an American actress who performed in film and television for 50 years. Blondell began her career in vaudeville. After winning a beauty pageant, she embarked on a film career, estab ...

. In ''Lady for a Night'', he performed Napoleon, the Alderson Family's manservant for characters Stephen Alderson (played by

Philip Merivale Philip Merivale (2 November 1886 – 12 March 1946) was an English film and stage actor and screenwriter. Life and career Merivale was born in Rehutia, Manickpur, India, to railway engineer Walter Merivale (1855–1902) and Emma Mag ...

) and Katherine Alderson (played by

Edith Barrett Edith Barrett (born Edith Barrett Williams; January 19, 1907 – February 22, 1977) was an American actress. She was a romantic star on Broadway and in the Little Theatre Movement in New England summer stock from the mid-1920s to the late 1930s ...

Early life

Payton was born on June 27, 1874, in

Huntington, West Virginia Huntington is a city in Cabell County, West Virginia, Cabell and Wayne County, West Virginia, Wayne counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia. The County seat, seat of Cabell County, the city is located at the confluence of the Ohio River, O ...

Film and stage career

Payton performed as an actor in several films and stage productions. With

Noble Sissle Noble Lee Sissle (July 10, 1889 – December 17, 1975) was an American jazz composer, lyricist, bandleader, singer, and playwright, best known for the Broadway musical ''Shuffle Along'' (1921), and its hit song "I'm Just Wild About Harry". Ea ...

, Payton co-wrote and performed in

, a 1924 film that launched the career of

. 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 James Hubert "Eubie" Blake (February 7, 1887 – February 12, 1983) was an American pianist and composer of ragtime, jazz, and popular music. Blake began his career in 1912, and during World War I he worked in partnership with the singer, drum ...

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'' (September 1, 1924 – November 22, 1924) as "Mose Washington" *''Harlem'' (February 20, 1929 – May 1929) as "Pa Williams" *''The Boundary Line'' (February 5, 1930 – Mar 1930) as "Elbert" *''Solid South'' (October 14, 1930 – Nov 1930) as "Jasper" *''Never No More'' (January 7, 1932 – Jan 1932) as "Deacon" *''Bridal Wise'' (May 30, 1932 – Sep 1932) as "Tom" *''

'' (October 29, 1932) *''Jezebel'' (December 19, 1933 – Jan 1934) as "Uncle Billy" *''

Valiant Is the Word for Carrie ''Valiant Is the Word for Carrie'' is a 1936 American drama film directed by Wesley Ruggles and written by Claude Binyon, based on the 1935 novel of the same name by Barry Benefield. The film stars Gladys George, Arline Judge, John Howard, Du ...

'' (1936) as "Lons John". Starring

Gladys George Gladys George (born Gladys Clare Evans; September 13, 1904 – December 8, 1954) was an American actress of stage and screen. Though nominated for an Academy Award for her leading role in '' Valiant Is the Word for Carrie'' (1936), she spent most ...

. *''Did Adam Sin?'' (1936), a stage production written by Payton and performed by the Chicago Negro Unit of the

Federal Theatre Project The Federal Theatre Project (FTP; 1935–1939) was a theatre program established during the Great Depression as part of the New Deal to fund live artistic performances and entertainment programs in the United States. It was one of five Federal ...

from 1936 to 1939. *'' Racing Lady'' (1937) as "Joe". Starring

Ann Dvorak Ann Dvorak (born Anna McKim; August 2, 1911 – December 10, 1979) was an American stage and film actress. Asked how to pronounce her adopted surname, she told ''The Literary Digest'' in 1936: "My fake name is properly pronounced ''vor'shack ...

. *''

Wells Fargo Wells Fargo & Company is an American multinational financial services company with a significant global presence. The company operates in 35 countries and serves over 70 million customers worldwide. It is a systemically important fi ...

'' (1937) as "Sam – Pryor's Butler" *'' On Such a Night'' (1937) Starring Grant Richards and

Karen Morley Karen Morley (born Mildred Linton; December 12, 1909 – March 8, 2003) was an American film actress. Life and career Born Mildred Linton in Ottumwa, Iowa, Morley lived there until she was 13 years old. When she moved to Hollywood, she attended ...

*''

Jezebel Jezebel ()"Jezebel"
(US) and

'' (1938) as "Uncle Billy". Starring

Bette Davis Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis (; April 5, 1908 – October 6, 1989) was an American actress of film, television, and theater. Regarded as one of the greatest actresses in Hollywood history, she was noted for her willingness to play unsympatheti ...

and

Henry Fonda Henry Jaynes Fonda (May 16, 1905 – August 12, 1982) was an American actor whose career spanned five decades on Broadway theatre, Broadway and in Hollywood. On screen and stage, he often portrayed characters who embodied an everyman image. Bo ...

. *'' The Lady's from Kentucky'' (1939) as "Sixty". Starring

George Raft George Raft (né Ranft; September 26, 1901 – November 24, 1980) was an American film actor and dancer identified with portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s. A stylish leading man in dozens of movies, Raft is remembe ...

*'' The Sun Never Sets'' (1939) as "the Village Chief". Starring

Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Douglas Elton Fairbanks Jr. (December 9, 1909 – May 7, 2000) was an American actor, producer, and decorated naval officer of World War II. He is best-known for starring in such films as '' The Prisoner of Zenda'' (1937), '' Gunga Din'' (1939), ...

*''

'' (1942) as "Napoleon", Alderson Family's Servant" *''

Presenting Lily Mars ''Presenting Lily Mars'' is a 1943 American musical comedy film directed by Norman Taurog, produced by Joe Pasternak, starring Judy Garland and Van Heflin, and based on the 1933 novel by Booth Tarkington. The film is often cited as Garland's fir ...

'' (1943) as "Thornway's Butler". Directed by

Norman Taurog Norman Rae Taurog (February 23, 1899 – April 7, 1981) was an American film director and screenwriter. From 1920 to 1968, Taurog directed 180 films. At the age of 32, he received the Academy Award for Best Director for ''Skippy (film), Skippy' ...

featuring

Judy Garland Judy Garland (born Frances Ethel Gumm; June 10, 1922June 22, 1969) was an American actress and singer. Possessing a strong contralto voice, she was celebrated for her emotional depth and versatility across film, stage, and concert performance. ...

Death

Payton died on May 27, 1945, in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Discography

* Lew Payton – A Musical Autobiography Of Louis Armstrong 1923–1925 album art All The Wrongs You've Done Me (They're Bound To Come Back To You) (as Ley Payton) Satchmo (2) – A Musical Autobiography Of Louis Armstrong 1923–1925; 4 versions Decca (1959)Discog. "Lew Payton". https://www.discogs.com/artist/901758-Lew-Payton

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Payton, Lew 1874 births 1945 deaths African-American writers Male actors from Los Angeles 20th-century African-American male actors 20th-century American male actors 20th-century American actors Writers from Huntington, West Virginia Writers from Los Angeles Male actors from West Virginia Actors from Huntington, West Virginia