227
NBC (ended 1990)
Cast & Crew
EDIT
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Paul Winfield
Julian C. Barlow (Season 5)
A native of Los Angeles's Watts district, Paul Winfield first gained attention while attending Manual Arts High School, where he became the first black actor to win Best Actor in the annual Speech and Drama Teachers Association Drama Festival and the first person of any color to win the same honor three years in a row. In his senior year, he won his first professional acting job. To continue his theatrical education, Winfield won a two-year scholarship to the University of Portland in Oregon and subsequent scholarships to Stanford and Los Angeles City College, finally earning his Bachelor's degree from UCLA.
His first big break came when Burgess Meredith cast him in Le Roi Jones's controversial one-act play The Dutchman and the Toilet. After six months under contract at Columbia Pictures doing minor television work, he asked to be released to join the Stanford Repertory Theatre at Stanford University, where he developed his abilities performing in plays by Chekhov, Shakespeare, and many modern playwrights. In 1969 Mr. Winfield joined the Inner City Cultural Center Theatre in Los Angeles, which produced professional plays for high school students. After two years he resumed his work in television and films, guest-starring in more than 40 television shows, appearing twice with Sidney Poitier in The Lost Man and Brother John, as well as in Stanley Kramer's RPM, Ossie Davis's Gordon's War, the musical version of Huckleberry Finn, and Ivan Dixon's Trouble Man. Winfield's other television appearances include starring roles in Strange Justice (in which he played Thurgood Marshall), Tyson (in which he played Don King), Scarlett, The Blue and the Gray, Maya Angelou's Sister Sister, James Baldwin's Go Tell It on the Mountain, and Breathing Lessons.
Winfield received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his performance in Martin Ritt's Sounder. His other films include A Hero Ain't Nothing But a Sandwich, Carbon Copy, Star Trek II, Damnation Alley, the Australian film On the Run, the controversial White Dog, Dennis the Menace, Cliffhanger, Mike's Murder, Mars Attacks!, Knockout, and Catfish in Black Bean Sauce.
During this period Winfield also performed in more than 20 stage plays at Los Angeles's Mark Taper Forum, including The Latent Heterosexual, starring Zero Mostel and directed by Burgess Meredith. Winfield also appeared in Richard III at New York's Lincoln Center Theatre and served as Artist in Residence at the University of Hawaii and later at the University of California at Santa Barbara.
Winfield has been honored by Cord, the Black Publishers of America, the National Association of Media Women, the California Federation of Black Leadership, and Black Child Development Institution of Washington, D.C. He received the NAACP Image Award for Best Actor and has been inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame. In August 2000 Winfield appeared with John Williams and the Boston Pops Orchestra at Tanglewood on Parade, as narrator of The Unfinished Journey.
Paul Winfield suffered a heart attack and died on March 7, 2004, at the age of 64. He is survived by a sister, Patricia. His partner of 30 years, set designer and architect, Charles Gillan, Jr., predeceased him March 5, 2002 of a rare bone disease.moreless -
Countess Vaughn
Alexandria DeWitt (Season 4)
Vaughn began entertaining at the age of three where she sang in her native Idabel, Oklahoma, church. She remembers listening to gospel great Mahalia Jackson, jazz/blues great Dinah Washington and R&B/pop diva Whitney Houston, each becoming an important influence on the emerging young songstress. At age nine, her soulful rendition of the Bacharach/David classic What the World Needs Now is Love, Sweet Love resulted in her being named the Star Search junior vocalist champion and overall junior champion.
Following that success, Vaughn turned her attention to television with stints on the comedy series 227, Thea, Hangin' With Mr. Cooper and Roc, as well as performing in a variety of television specials including The Lou Rawls Parade of Stars; Magical World of Disney; The Orange Bowl Parade; and The Easter Seals Telethon, and the off-Broadway musical Mama, I Want to Sing, Part 2. And last year, Vaughn was honored with a NAACP Image Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance in Moesha.
In 1992, Vaughn finally got around to releasing the album record executives had been urging her to record since she came to national attention via Star Search in 1988. That album, Countess, displays the full range of her vocal skills on cuts that run the musical gamut - from upbeat dance tunes to heartfelt ballads including Unconditionally, written by Michael Bolton and Randy Goodrum.
Vaughn knows there's nothing she'd rather be doing than performing and takes the glare of the showbiz spotlight in stride.moreless -
Alaina Reed Hall
Rose Lee Holloway
Married to Kevin Peter Hall from 1989 until his death in 1991. Mother of two children. -
Marla Gibbs
Mary Louise Jenkins
Marla Gibbs was born June 14, 1931 and grew up to be a television actress. Her most notable role of that of Florence Johnston, on The Jeffersons. She's had other roles on various sitcoms as well, including The Hughleys, Martin, Chappelle's Show, etc...moreless -
Hal Williams
Lester Jenkins
Tall, mustachioed, highly likable African-American staple of 1970s and 80s television, most typically in roles as fairly average joes who explode at the crazed situations around them, only to prove to be warm, teddy bear types in the end. Williams is probably best known as the husband who must cope with an apartment building full of busybody women, especially his wife (played by Marla Gibbs), on the amusing NBC sitcom hit of the late 80s, "227". He is a native of Columbus, OH.moreless -
Jackée Harry
Sandra Clark (Season 1-4)
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Regina King
Brenda Jenkins
Regina King was born on January 15, 1971, to Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Gloria King in Los Angeles, California. She is the oldest out of her and her sister Reina,30. In the summer of 1988, Regina graduated from West Chester High School. King first made her mark as a TV actress when she was cast in the sitcom 227 in 1985, playing Brenda Jenkins (daughter of Mary and Lester Jenkins). After 227 ended in 1990, King moved to films full-time with a role in John Singleton's acclaimed directorial debut Boyz N the Hood (1991). She worked with Singleton again in Poetic Justice (1993) and Higher Learning (1995). Showing her ability with film comedy as well as drama, King appeared in F. Gary Gray's cult-hit comedy Friday (1995) and co-starred opposite Martin Lawrence in A Thin Line Between Love and Hate (1996). After drawing attention with her performance as Cuba Gooding Jr.'s wife in the critically praised hit Jerry Maguire (1996), King landed substantial parts in the adaptation of Terry McMillan's How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998), the hit action-thriller Enemy of the State (1998), and the family friendly animal adventure Mighty Joe Young (1998). Though her 1999 film Love and Action in Chicago was not nearly as successful as her trio of 1998 movies, King began the new decade with parts in HBO's widely watched telefilm If These Walls Could Talk 2 (2000) and the Chris Rock romantic comedy Down to Earth (2000). Most recently King has supporting roles in box office favorites Daddy Day Care (2003) and Legally Blonde 2: Red White & Blonde (2003). 2004-2005 was a huge and successful year for Regina. In October of 2004, she portrayed the late singer Margie Hendrix in the film Ray. And March of 2005, she starred opposite Sandra Bullock, in Miss Congeniality 2 playing the role Sam Fuller. Coming up on November 6, 2005, she will be starring in the television series, The Boondocks.moreless -
Kia Joy Goodwin
Tiffany Holloway (Season 1-2)
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Helen Martin
Pearl Shay (Season 2+, recurring previously)
Helen Martin, the character actress remembered as the little old lady next door in Marla Gibbs' mid-1980s television series "227" and as Halle Berry's matriarch "Momma Doll" in the Warren Beatty film "Bulworth," has died. She was 90. Martin died Saturday at her home in Monterey, Calif., of a heart attack. The actress appeared regularly in more than half a dozen television series about black families over the past three decades, often as a grandmother or other elderly relative and occasionally as a nun or dedicated church worker. In addition to her memorable role as mouthy Pearl Shay in "227," she graced the small screen in "That's My Mama," "Benson," "Good Times," "Full House," "The Parent 'Hood," "The Wayans Brothers," and in the late 1990s "Bananas in Pajamas" and "The Jamie Foxx Show." Born in St. Louis and brought up in Nashville, Tenn., Martin performed with local theater groups in Tennessee and formed a band that she conducted and fronted as a singer. She bowed to parental pressure to attend Fisk University for two years then left for Chicago and later New York City to build a career in show business. Martin became one of the original members of Harlem's American Negro Theater and one of the earliest black actresses to make her mark on the Broadway stage. Orson Welles cast her in his production of "Native Son." Her other Broadway credits included "Deep Are the Roots" directed by Elia Kazan, "The Long Dream" directed by Lloyd Richards, and "The Amen Corner" written by James Baldwin. She was also cast as an African queen in Jean Genet's historical play "The Blacks," which began on Broadway and then toured Europe. Martin also appeared in several specials and TV movies. Her favorite role was as the village elder in the mini-series "Roots." Among her films were "Cotton Comes to Harlem," "A Hero Ain't Nothin' But a Sandwich," "Repo Man," "A Rage in Harlem," "Doc Hollywood," "House Party 2" and "Beverly Hills Cop III." She was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for her role as the hero's grandmother in the 1987 film "Hollywood Shuffle." She had just completed filming "Something to Sing About," scheduled for release this spring. Martin was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame in Oakland, Calif., in 1992.moreless -
Curtis Baldwin
Calvin Dobbs (Season 2+, recurring previously)
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Toukie A. Smith
Eva Rawley (Season 5)
Born Doris Smith in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania sometime in 1955. She is a model, African American actress, and is known for her role as "Eva Rawley" on one season NBC sitcom 227. Talkin' Dirty After Dark, Joe's Apartment, and The Preacher's Wife are other credits she has done and her sister is late fashion designer Willi Smith with long term partner and actor Robert De Niro. She started her modeling career in the 1970s, and has worked with brands like Chanel, Gianni Versace, Geoffrey Beene, Issey Miyake, Norma Kamali, Thierry Muglier, and Patrick Kelly. She has also done a photo campaign for Yves St. Laurent as well as appearances in Vogue, ELLE, Ebony, Cosmopolitan, Redbook, and Seventeen magazines. She became the first African-American model in 1978 for Bloomingdale's Model of the Year.moreless -
Barry Sobel
Dylan McMillan (Season 5, recurring previously)
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Stoney Jackson
Travis Filmore (Season 5)
Stoney Jackson is a character actor who has had a versatile career, working steadily in television and movies since the late '70s. He was one of many African-American teen heartthrobs who was regularly featured in Right On! (a Black version of Tiger Beat), as well as Teen Beat and Tiger Beat. He first gained notoriety as part of the ensemble cast of The White Shadow but has gone on to star in tens of dozens of movies and TV guest spots. He has been the co-star of several short-lived TV shows, like The Insiders and 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage. Many of his movies are arguably "B-list" and pretty forgettable but he has had some notable roles, including Streets of Fire, Angels in the Outfield and CB4 with Chris Rock. He has also had roles in several Black indie films. Additionally, he played a police detective in the (now cancelled) soapie Santa Barbara. Many may also remember Stoney as a gang member in the now legendary Michael Jackson video "Beat It." Stoney also sings and provided songs on the Streets of Fire and
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Kevin Peter Hall
Warren Merriwether (Season 5)
Married to Alaina Rose - they met on the set of "227." -
Lynn Hamilton
Emma Johnson
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Jackée Harry
Sandra Clark
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Helen Martin
Pearl Shay
Helen Martin, the character actress remembered as the little old lady next door in Marla Gibbs' mid-1980s television series "227" and as Halle Berry's matriarch "Momma Doll" in the Warren Beatty film "Bulworth," has died. She was 90. Martin died Saturday at her home in Monterey, Calif., of a heart attack. The actress appeared regularly in more than half a dozen television series about black families over the past three decades, often as a grandmother or other elderly relative and occasionally as a nun or dedicated church worker. In addition to her memorable role as mouthy Pearl Shay in "227," she graced the small screen in "That's My Mama," "Benson," "Good Times," "Full House," "The Parent 'Hood," "The Wayans Brothers," and in the late 1990s "Bananas in Pajamas" and "The Jamie Foxx Show." Born in St. Louis and brought up in Nashville, Tenn., Martin performed with local theater groups in Tennessee and formed a band that she conducted and fronted as a singer. She bowed to parental pressure to attend Fisk University for two years then left for Chicago and later New York City to build a career in show business. Martin became one of the original members of Harlem's American Negro Theater and one of the earliest black actresses to make her mark on the Broadway stage. Orson Welles cast her in his production of "Native Son." Her other Broadway credits included "Deep Are the Roots" directed by Elia Kazan, "The Long Dream" directed by Lloyd Richards, and "The Amen Corner" written by James Baldwin. She was also cast as an African queen in Jean Genet's historical play "The Blacks," which began on Broadway and then toured Europe. Martin also appeared in several specials and TV movies. Her favorite role was as the village elder in the mini-series "Roots." Among her films were "Cotton Comes to Harlem," "A Hero Ain't Nothin' But a Sandwich," "Repo Man," "A Rage in Harlem," "Doc Hollywood," "House Party 2" and "Beverly Hills Cop III." She was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for her role as the hero's grandmother in the 1987 film "Hollywood Shuffle." She had just completed filming "Something to Sing About," scheduled for release this spring. Martin was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame in Oakland, Calif., in 1992.moreless -
Curtis Baldwin
Calvin Dobbs
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Barry Sobel
Dylan McMillan
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Eve Smith
Cora
Eve Smith was sometime in the year 1906. She died on August 28, 1997 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. -
Reynaldo Rey
Ray the Mailman
Reynaldo Rey was born sometime on January 1940 in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma. His nickname is Ray, and has a spouse named Evelyn. He is a stand-up comedian, has co-wrote some songs, and is going to be in American Dream (2007) as the Manager.moreless -
Jim Doughan
Larry
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Jim Doughan
Rusty
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Jeff Maynard
Tony DeCarlo
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Phill Lewis
Ken
Phill Lewis is a veteran to acting. He has appeared on television and film. Phill also has the passion for theatre; in which he has been in numerous productions, like "Passions", "King", and "Sincerity Forever". Phill is currently living in the L.A. area with his wife and two children. Phill is currently playing the role of Mr. Moseby on the Disney Channel TV Series "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody".moreless -
Pierrino Mascarino
Rudolph Zambini
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Walter Olkewicz
Eddie
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Kristen Lowman
Secretary
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Tom Wright
Dr. Holt
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Kenneth Mars
Joe Bouvier
He is best known for his roles in Mel Brooks films. His earliest job was in The Producers back in 1968 as Franz Liebkind. His other well-known role was as Police Inspector Hans Wilhelm Friedrich Kemp in the 1974 film Young Frankenstein.moreless
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