Samuel Vernon Washington (August 10, 1923 – June 7, 1988) was an American

actor An actor (masculine/gender-neutral), or actress (feminine), is a person who portrays a character in a production. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. ...

who starred in film and television.

Biography

Vernon Washington was born and raised in

Hartford, Connecticut Hartford is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The city, located in Hartford County, Connecticut, Hartford County, had a population of 121,054 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 ce ...

, the 8th child of Benjamin and Olive Evans of

Dinwiddie County, Virginia Dinwiddie County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 27,947. Its county seat is Dinwiddie. Dinwiddie County is part of the Richmond, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area. History T ...

and

Frederick, Maryland Frederick is a city in, and the county seat of, Frederick County, Maryland, United States. Frederick's population was 78,171 people as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in Maryland, second-largest ...

, respectively. He was 5 feet and 11 inches tall and father of 4 children with his wife, Marion Blunt. Washington was educated at the Wolter School of Speech and Drama,

Carnegie Hall Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between 56th Street (Manhattan), 56th and 57th Street (Manhattan), 57t ...

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

, where he studied Speech under Madame Annette Wolter and Dr. Walter O. Robinson; and Drama under Rossi, Mary Higgins and Gus Lambluise. Washington is best known for his roles in the 1984

science fiction Science fiction (often shortened to sci-fi or abbreviated SF) is a genre of speculative fiction that deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts. These concepts may include information technology and robotics, biological manipulations, space ...

movie ''

The Last Starfighter ''The Last Starfighter'' is a 1984 American space opera film directed by Nick Castle. The film tells the story of Alex Rogan (Lance Guest), a teenager who, after winning the high score in an arcade game that's secretly a simulation test, is rec ...

'' as Otis and in the 1985

horror Horror may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Genres *Horror fiction, a genre of fiction **Psychological horror, a subgenre of horror fiction **Christmas horror, a subgenre of horror fiction **Analog horror, a subgenre of horror fiction * ...

movie '' Friday the 13th: A New Beginning'' as George Winter and television roles in the 1979 miniseries '' Roots: The Next Generations'' as Rev. Mills. Vernon had a recurring role on the

CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS (an abbreviation of its original name, Columbia Broadcasting System), is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainme ...

hit series ''

The Jeffersons ''The Jeffersons'' is an American sitcom television series that was broadcast on CBS from January 18, 1975, to July 2, 1985. Lasting 11 seasons and a total of 253 episodes, ''The Jeffersons'' is one of the longest-running sitcoms in history ...

'' as Leroy. Later he appeared in an episode of the hit CBS series, ''

Falcon Crest ''Falcon Crest'' is an American prime time television soap opera created by Earl Hamner Jr. that aired for nine seasons on CBS from December 4, 1981, to May 17, 1990. The series revolves around the feuding factions of the wealthy Gioberti/Cha ...

'' as Teddy Eubanks, a horse groomer. Washington's special abilities and training include writer, director and producer. He has been awarded the Stars & Stripes Award for ''Ready, Front, at Ease'', a lighthearted Army musical. He was the founder, producer and director of West End Repertory Theatre in New York City. He has served as Artistic Director of Greensburgh, Newark and Staten Island Theatre Arts Workshops; and Assistant Professor of Drama,

Staten Island Community College Staten may refer to: ;People *Randy Staten (1944-2010), American politician and football player * Roy N. Staten (1913–1999), American politician ;Places *Staten Island, a borough of New York City, New York, United States *Staten, West Virginia ...

, New York City.

Filmography

*''Change at 125th Street'' (1974, TV Movie) as Herbert *''

Uncle Joe Shannon ''Uncle Joe Shannon'' is a 1978 American drama film directed by Joseph Hanwright and written by Burt Young, who also stars. The film was produced by Robert Chartoff and Irwin Winkler and distributed by United Artists. Plot A trumpet player, Joe S ...

'' (1978) as Old Timer *'' Roots: The Next Generations'' (1979, TV Mini-Series) as Rev. Mills *'' The Dark'' (1979) as Henry Lydell *'' Pray TV'' (1981, TV Movie) as Jimmy *''

'' (1983, Episode: "Solitary Confinements") as Teddy Eubanks *''

'' (1984) as Otis *''Joan Rivers and Friends Salute Heidi Abromowitz'' (1988, TV Special) as himself *'' Friday the 13th: A New Beginning'' (1985) as George Winter *''

Dream West ''Dream West'' is a 1986 American television miniseries starring Richard Chamberlain and directed by Dick Lowry. Development The seven-hour miniseries was broken into three parts (2 hours, 2 hours, and 3 hours). Part 1 aired on Sunday, April 1 ...

'' (1986, TV Mini-Series) as Dodson *''

'' (1977-79) as Leroy (6 episodes)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Washington, Vernon 1923 births 1988 deaths American male film actors American male television actors Male actors from Connecticut 20th-century American male actors 20th-century African-American male actors