Eddie Anderson

Anderson resided in the Woodland Hill section of Los Angeles which was where more affluent members of the Afro-American community lived during that time period.

Anderson once appeared as a Mystery Guest on an episode of What's My Line?

Anderson played Noah in the 1936 movie Green Pastures. It was this role which first got him noticed by critics.

Some Afro-American newspapers of the 1940's listed the Jack Benny Program as The Eddie Anderson Show.

According to Jack Benny's autobiography, Anderson was nearly always late for rehearsals.

A listener once sent Anderson a letter urging him to sue Jack Benny for higher pay in the mistaken belief that he actually was Benny's valet.

Anderson appeared as a cab driver in the 1963 ensemble comedy It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.

Anderson got frequent speeding tickets because he loved to drive fast.

Anderson made three movies with Jack Benny: Man About Town, Buck Benny Rides Again, and Love Thy Neighbor.

Anderson appeared in Gone With the Wind as a character named Uncle Peter but was virtually unrecognizable due to wearing "old man" makeup.

Anderson is buring at Evergreen Cemetary in Los Angeles.

Anderson was belatedly inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2001.

Son Billy played in the NFL with the Chicago Bears and was a world class hurdler who twice narrowly missed making the U.S. Olympic team.

Many radio listeners actually believed that Anderson worked for Benny as his valet.

In real life, Anderson was a car lover who owned several automobiles. He also owned racehorses.

During his heyday, Anderson was one of the highest paid Afro-Americans in any field.

His role on Jack Benny's radio show was originally supposed to be a one shot appearance but Anderson's hilarious repartee with Benny earned him a regular spot on the program.

Anderson and his older brother Cornelius sang as a part of the group The Three Black Aces when they were young.

Anderson was the son of a minstrel and a circus tightrope walker.

Anderson was frequently billed as Eddie "Rochester" Anderson after his character on the Jack Benny Program.

There's a misconception today that Anderson's character, Rochester, was an Uncle Tom. In reality, the character frequently poked fun of and got the better of his "Boss."