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Eddie Anderson 1905 - 1977

Eddie Anderson of Beverly Hills, Los Angeles County, California was born on September 18, 1905 in Oakland, Alameda County, and died at age 71 years old on February 28, 1977 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County. Eddie Anderson was buried on March 1, 1977 at Evergreen Cemetery 204 N Evergreen Ave, in Los Angeles.

Eddie Anderson

Edmund Lincoln Anderson

Beverly Hills, Los Angeles County, California 90211

September 18, 1905

Oakland, Alameda County, California, United States

February 28, 1977

Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States

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Eddie Anderson Eddie Anderson (1905 - 1977)

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Eddie Anderson's History: 1905 - 1977

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Introduction

Eddie Anderson born: Edmund Lincoln Anderson was an American comedian and actor. To a generation of early radio and television comedy he was known as "Rochester." Anderson got his start in show business as a teenager on the vaudeville circuit. In the early 1930s, he transitioned into films and radio. Born: September 18, 1905, Oakland, CA Died: February 28, 1977, Los Angeles, CA Place of burial: Evergreen Cemetery, Los Angeles, CA Children: Evangela Anderson, Jr., Eddie Anderson, Jr., Stephanie Anderson, Billy Anderson Spouse: Eva Simons (m. 1956–1973), Mamie Wiggins Nelson (m. 1939–1954)
09/18

1905

Birthday

September 18, 1905

Birthdate

Oakland, Alameda County, California United States

Birthplace

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Professional Career

Famous comic actor on television and in many movies. Filmography Lobby card depicting Anderson as Noah in The Green Pastures (1936) Year Title Role Notes 1932 What Price Hollywood? James - Max's Butler Uncredited 1932 Hat Check Girl Walter Uncredited 1932 False Faces Chauffeur Uncredited 1933 Billion Dollar Scandal Railroad Steward Uncredited 1933 From Hell to Heaven Sam's Pal Uncredited 1933 Terror Aboard Seaman Uncredited 1933 I Love That Man Charlie, Porter Uncredited 1934 Behold My Wife Chauffeur Uncredited 1934 The Gay Bride Second Bootblack Uncredited 1935 Transient Lady Noxious 1935 His Night Out Bellhop Uncredited 1936 The Music Goes 'Round Lucifer 1936 Show Boat Young Black Man Uncredited 1936 The Green Pastures Noah 1936 Star for a Night Maid's Boyfriend Uncredited 1936 Two in a Crowd Swipe Uncredited 1936 Three Men on a Horse Moses, the Elevator Operator 1936 Rainbow on the River Doctor Uncredited 1936 Mysterious Crossing Hotel Porter Uncredited 1937 Love Is News Man Getting Marriage License Uncredited 1937 Bill Cracks Down Chauffeur 1937 When Love Is Young Taxi Driver Uncredited 1937 Melody for Two Exodus Johnson 1937 Public Wedding Man Carrying Coat Uncredited 1937 White Bondage Old Glory Uncredited 1937 Wake Up and Live Elevator Operator Uncredited 1937 Reported Missing Porter Uncredited 1937 One Mile from Heaven Henry Bangs 1937 On Such a Night Henry Clay, Fentridge Handyman 1937 Over the Goal William 1938 Reckless Living Dreamboat 1938 Jezebel Gros Bat 1938 Gold Diggers in Paris Doorman 1938 You Can't Take It With You Donald 1938 Five of a Kind Hotel Doorman Uncredited 1938 Exposed William 1938 Thanks for the Memory Janitor 1938 Strange Faces William 1938 While New York Sleeps Janitor Uncredited 1938 Kentucky Groom 1938 Going Places George - a Groom 1939 Honolulu Washington, Mason's Hollywood Servant 1939 You Can't Cheat an Honest Man Rochester 1939 You Can't Get Away with Murder Sam Uncredited 1939 Man About Town Rochester 1939 Gone With the Wind Uncle Peter - Pittypat's Coachman 1940 Buck Benny Rides Again Rochester Van Jones 1940 Love Thy Neighbor Rochester Van Jones 1941 Topper Returns Chauffeur 1941 Kiss the Boys Goodbye George 1941 Birth of the Blues Louey Credited as Rochester 1942 Tales of Manhattan Rev. Lazarus 1942 Star Spangled Rhythm Rochester in "Sharp as a Tack" Number Credited as Rochester 1943 The Meanest Man in the World Shufro 1943 Cabin in the Sky Little Joe Jackson 1943 Calling All Kids Buckwheat Voice, Short film 1943 What's Buzzin', Cousin? Rochester 1944 Broadway Rhythm Eddie 1945 Brewster's Millions Jackson 1945 I Love a Bandleader Newton H. Newton Credited as Rochester 1945 The Sailor Takes a Wife Harry 1946 The Show-Off Eddie 1959 The Mouse That Jack Built Rochester Voice, Credited as Rochester 1963 It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World Cab Driver 1970 Watermelon Man Drugstore Soda Jerk Television Year Title Role Notes 1950–1965 The Jack Benny Program Rochester Van Jones 176 episodes 1952 What's My Line? Himself / Rochester Mystery Guest 1957 The Red Skelton Hour Rochester Van Jones Episode: " Freddie Finds a Headlight" 1957 Hallmark Hall of Fame Noah Episode: "The Green Pastures" 1959 The Green Pastures Noah Television film 1962 Bachelor Father Rochester Van Jones Segment: "Pinch That Penny" 1963 The Dick Powell Show Eddie Anderson Episode: "Last of the Private Eyes" 1968 It Takes a Thief Concierge Episode: "A Thief Is a Thief" 1969 Love, American Style Willie Segment: "Love and the Hustler" 1970 Harlem Globetrotters Bobby Joe Mason Voice, 22 episodes 1972–1973 The New Scooby-Doo Movies Bobby Joe Mason Voice, 3 episodes
Personal Life & Family

Mayor of Central Avenue Ticket for Elks' Club reception for Anderson as Mayor of Central Avenue, 1940 While Anderson was born and raised in the Oakland area, he came to the Los Angeles African-American community in the 1930s in search of work in films. At the time of his success on the Benny radio show, the community thought of him as one of their own and was proud of his rise to stardom. The reality of an African-American mayor of Los Angeles would not come in this era; for many years, those living in the Central Avenue area had held mock elections, with the winner being known as "the Mayor of Central Avenue". The title holder had both the right and the duty to speak up about issues affecting the local African-American community. California Eagle readers opened their newspapers on May 23, 1940, to find Eddie "Rochester" Anderson asking for their votes for Mayor of Central Avenue. From his headquarters at the Dunbar Hotel, Anderson conducted his campaign mainly based on real issues, one of them being a need for African Americans to serve their country as aviators. He was deeply committed to this issue, taking flying lessons and lecturing with a Tuskegee Institute representative about this need. After Anderson announced his run for mayor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt also addressed the aviation issue, asking that the nation commit itself to building an air force. On Election Day, Anderson won the right to claim the title. According to Jack Benny's posthumous autobiography, Sunday Nights at Seven, the tone of racial humor surrounding Rochester declined following World War II, once the enormity of The Holocaust was revealed. After the war, Benny and his writers made a conscious effort to remove all stereotypical aspects from the Rochester character. The changing times became very apparent in 1948, when a 1941 script was re-used on The Jack Benny Program. The script including several African-American stereotypes — for example, a reference to Rochester carrying a razor — and prompted some listeners, who were unaware the script was reused, to send in angry letters protesting the stereotypes. Thereafter, Benny insisted that his writers guarantee that no racial jokes or references should be heard on his show. Benny often gave key guest-star appearances to African-American performers such as Louis Armstrong and The Ink Spots, and Benny himself made numerous personal appeals on his show, asking listeners to reject racism in favor of fraternity and peaceful relations between all races of the world. The relationship between Rochester and Benny became more complex and familiar as the popularity of Rochester's character grew, with Rochester's role becoming both less stereotypical (in early episodes he carried a switchblade) and less subservient (though he remained a butler). As a butler he was subservient to the entire cast and was addressed as Rochester, but addressed the other characters as Mr. and Miss. Although Dennis Day's character is much younger and an idiot, Rochester respectfully addressed him as Mr. Day. Rochester often outwitted Benny, by getting Benny to mop the floor, for example. The "Rochester" character retained many of the stereotypes (lazy, gambler, drinker), but they became a part of his character, disassociated from his race. Even though some of the humor was stereotypical, it was always done so that the racial element of the joke came from Anderson and no one else. In a February 1940 multi-episode radio play in which the gang visits Yosemite National Park, Rochester bemoans about having to constantly sing songs for Jack (in order to make up for the lack of a radio in their car). Worse still, he says, "at eight o'clock he wants me to imitate 'Amos and Andy'". After a pause for audience laughter, he continues: "I can't do that blackface stuff!" Later, Rochester asks Jack if he can walk around and explore at Badger Pass. Jack consents, but warns Rochester not to "get lost in the snow", to which Rochester replies, "Who me?". During World War II, Benny toured with his show, but Rochester did not, because discrimination in the armed forces would have required separate living quarters. However, during performances of the radio program staged before armed forces audiences at bases and military hospitals, the appearance of Rochester routinely drew enthusiastic applause that arguably often outstripped that received by other members of the cast, more so than in civilian audiences. Also referenced in Benny's posthumous autobiography, Sunday Nights at Seven, was an episode at the conclusion of a broadcast originating at a military base which featured Rochester. Benny was reportedly at a table mingling with soldiers, when one serviceman told Benny how he thought Rochester was really funny and one of his favorites. Benny asked if he would like to meet him, but the soldier declined saying that where he comes from whites don't sit with people like Rochester. Appalled, Benny reportedly told him off and left the table. In 1943, when Benny brought his entire radio show cast to Canada at his own expense to perform for those in the various branches of the Canadian services, Anderson and his wife received a warm welcome. Stateside, an incident was defused by Benny when, according to reporter Fredric W. Slater, Anderson was denied a room at the hotel where Benny and his staff were planning to stay in Saint Joseph, Missouri. When it was announced that Anderson could not stay there, Benny replied: "If he doesn't stay here, neither do I." The hotel allowed Anderson to remain as a guest. Anderson, as Rochester, demonstrates to John Forsythe how Benny pinches a penny on Bachelor Father, 1962 It was not the only time a hotel refused Anderson a room. Soon after he became part of the permanent show cast, the program went on location to New York. When a couple from the South complained about staying in the same hotel as Anderson, the hotel manager tried to get him to find a room somewhere else. Hilliard Marks, the show's producer and also Jack Benny's brother-in-law, told the manager that Anderson would leave the hotel the next day. When he did, Jack Benny and the entire radio show cast and crew totaling 44 people, joined Anderson in checking out of the hotel. Among the most highly paid performers of his time, Anderson invested wisely and became wealthy. Until the 1950s, Anderson was the highest paid African-American actor, receiving an annual salary of $100,000. In 1962, Anderson was on Ebony magazine's list of the 100 wealthiest African-Americans.[33] Despite this, he was so strongly identified with the "Rochester" role that many listeners of the radio program mistakenly persisted in the belief that he was Benny's actual valet. One such listener, after hearing Rochester's jokes about his low salary, drove Benny to distraction when he sent him a scolding letter concerning Rochester's alleged pay, and then sent another letter to Anderson, which urged him to sue Benny.[8] In reality, Anderson did well enough to have his own valet.[34] The fact that Anderson was frequently seen at Benny's home may have helped perpetuate the idea that he was a valet to Benny. Benny held the first rehearsal of his weekly radio show at his home in Beverly Hills. Those riding the stars' homes tour buses in the morning often saw Anderson sitting on Benny's front steps, drinking from a quart of milk while waving and calling "Yoo Hoo!" to those on the tour bus. Anderson would not start rehearsal until after Benny's milkman arrived with some of his breakfast.[4] When Benny brought his show to television in 1950, Anderson as Rochester remained part of the cast until the television show left the air after the 1964-1965 season.[35] [36] In 1953, Anderson appeared as Rochester in an episode of The Milton Berle Show with the storyline being that Berle wanted to hire him away from Benny.[37] He appeared on an episode of Bachelor Father in 1962 again as Rochester, where the story was that the Gregg household had borrowed him, hoping some of the thrifty habits he learned working for Benny might cut their own expenses.[38]
02/28

1977

Death

February 28, 1977

Death date

Heart Trouble.

Cause of death

Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California United States
Death location

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03/1

1977

Gravesite & Burial

March 1, 1977

Funeral date
Evergreen Cemetery 204 N Evergreen Ave, in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California 90033, United States
Burial location
Obituary

EDDIE ANDERSON, 71, BENNY'S ROCHESTER; Gravel‐Voiced Comedian Noted for ‘What's That, Boss?’ Line Played Valet for More Than 30 Years March 1, 1977 Eddie (Rochester) Anderson, the gravelvoiced comedian who played Jack Benny's valet for more than 30 years, died yesterday at the Motion Picture Country House and Hospital in Los Angeles. He was 71 years old and had been under treatment for a heart ailment since December. From his first radio appearance on Easter Sunday in 1937 to the last of the television “specials” that followed the formal demise of Benny's television series in 1964, the surest laugh in show business was the one that renewed itself every time Mr. Anderson summoned a full measure of skepticism to his throat and punctured the ultimate poseur's latest pretension with a rasping, “What's that, boss?” It was a line that exposed Benny for what the whole world knew him to be, a vain, penny‐pinching charlatan who could not even fool his own servant. Turned Verbal Tables As the instrument that gave the vast radio audience its burst of satisfied glee every time he turned the verbal tables on his employer. Mr. Anderson became an overnight sensation and by far the best known and most popular character on the series. To most listeners, however, lost in the “reality” that characterized big‐time radio. Rochester was not a character on a show, but an actual employee of an actual person, who, after all, was playing himself. Mr. Benny added to the illusion by omitting Mr. Anderson's name from the cast, so the audience would not think of hint as an actor. While Mr. Anderson was an accomplished actor who appeared in a number of movies his talent was upstaged by single, distinctive feature—his unforgettable voice. The result of a strain on his vocal chords suffered when he was a 12‐yearold hawking, newspapers in his native Oakland. Calif., Mr. Anderson's voice was a challenge to describe. It was most often associated with gravel, frequently with sandpaper, and was described van nusly as rasping, wheezing and scratchy, and, in one valiant journalistic attempt. was likened to “a grinding rasp that sounds like a crosscut saw biting through a knot in a hardwood log.” Mr. Anderson himself, noting that his natural voice was actually deeper than his performing voice, once described how he achieved the effect that became his trademark pitch it up and put more pres. sure behind it to get that vibration.” he said. “To me, I'm talking very high but on the radio it resonates very deep.” Started in Pullman Skit The part that made Mr. Anderson one of the most famous comedians in the country originated as a skit in which he played a Pullman porter during a trip the Benny troupe was making from New York to Los Angeles. The port had been based on an actual porter during an actual trip, but after the show, Mr. Anderson, who had got the part by answering an open call proved as popular that the Benny writers had to, have Jack hire Rochester away from the railroads and become a permanent part of the Benny household. Mr. Anderson whose father. Big Ed. was a minstrel performer and whose mother. Ella Mae was a circus tightrope walker began his own show‐business career at the age of 14, appearing in an all black revue. He and his older brother, Cornelius, formed a vaudeville team and he toured as a song‐and‐dance man for six years before he secured a choice movie part as Noah in the 1936 production of “Green Pastures.” In the early 40's, he parlayed Rochester into a series of movie parts, including several with Mr. Benny, and won critical acclaim for his portrayal of Little Joe in “Cabin in the Sky.” As one of the first black performers to make a major dent, in Hollywood's color barrier. Mr. Anderson was grateful for his own rare opportunity and kept his distance from the angry voices demanding sweeping and immediate civil‐rights reform. He, himself figured in 1945 in one well-publicized case, however, when one of his movies, “Brewster's Millions,” was banned in Memphis as “inimical to the friendly relations between the races” because it portrayed “too much social equality and racial mixture.” While he enjoyed his success and wealth enormously—he made 5100,000 in 1942, and, as late as 1962, was listed by Ebony magazine as one of the 100 wealthiest Negroes in to country—he often reverted to the role of public clown. After the Jack Benny show ended its scheduled run, Mr. Anderson lived in semi-retirement, making an occasional personal appearance. He devoted most of his time to his stable of racehorses. Mr. Anderson, whose first wife died in 1954, is survived by his second wife, Eva, from whom he was divorced, and three children Stephanie, Evangela and Edmond.

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Eddie Anderson lived 2 years shorter than the average family member when died at the age of 71.

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