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Scatman Crothers (1910–1986)

Actor | Soundtrack

Songwriter ("Dearest One"), actor, composer, singer, comedian, and guitarist who, after high school, appeared in night clubs, hotels, films, and on television. He made many records, including his own compositions. He joined ASCAP in 1959, and his popular-song compositions also include "The Gal Looks Good", "Nobody Knows Why", "I Was There", "A Man's Gotta Eat", and "When, Oh When". See full bio »

Born:

Benjamin Sherman Crothers
in Terre Haute, Indiana, USA

Died:

(age 76) in Van Nuys, California, USA
Clint Eastwood and Scatman Crothers Gene Wilder, Scatman Crothers and Richard Pryor Scatman Crothers, Louise Fletcher, David Ogden Stiers and James Coco Still of Scatman Crothers, Shelley Duvall and Danny Lloyd in The Shining
5 photos | 64 videos | 57 news articles »

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Known For


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Filmography

Hide HideActor (119 titles)
1987 Rock Odyssey
Jukebox (voice)
 
1986 The Transformers: The Movie
Jazz (voice)
 
1986 Morningstar/Eveningstar (TV series)
Excell Dennis
– Episode #1.7 (1986) … Excell Dennis
– Episode #1.6 (1986) … Excell Dennis
– Episode #1.5 (1986) … Excell Dennis
– Episode #1.4 (1986) … Excell Dennis
– Episode #1.3 (1986) … Excell Dennis
See all 7 episodes »
 
1984-1986 The Transformers (TV series)
Jazz
– Starscream's Brigade (1986) … Jazz (voice)
– Cosmic Rust (1985) … Jazz (voice)
– Masquerade (1985) … Jazz (voice)
– Aerial Assault (1985) … Jazz (voice)
– The Key to Vector Sigma: Part 2 (1985) … Jazz (voice)
See all 33 episodes »
 
1985 The Paper Chase (TV series)
Mr. Sims
– Lasting Impressions (1985) … Mr. Sims
 
1985 The Journey of Natty Gann
Sherman
 
1985 Matt Houston (TV series)
Moonshine Moody
– Death Trap (1985) … Moonshine Moody
 
1978-1984 The Love Boat (TV series)
Malcolm / Virgil 'Scattergun' Gibson
– Santa, Santa, Santa/Another Dog Gone Christmas/Noel's Christmas Carol (1984) … Malcolm
– Winner Take Love/The Congressman Was Indiscreet/Isaac's History Lesson (1978) … Virgil 'Scattergun' Gibson
 
1984 Pryor's Place (TV series)
Uncle Moses
– Too Old Too Soon, Too Smart Too Late (1984) … Uncle Moses
 
1984 We Got It Made (TV series)
Franklin
– Mickey Makes the Grade (1984) … Franklin
 
1984 Hill Street Blues (TV series)
Lionel 'Train' Talbot
– The End of Logan's Run (1984) … Lionel 'Train' Talbot
 
1983 Two of a Kind
Earl
 
1983 Hotel (TV series)
Garland Fisk
– Confrontations (1983) … Garland Fisk
 
1983 Casablanca (TV series)
Sam
– Divorce Casablanca Style (1983) … Sam
– The Cashier and the Belly Dancer (1983) … Sam
– Jenny (1983) … Sam
– Master Builder's Woman (1983) … Sam
– Who Am I Killing (1983) … Sam
 
1983 Twilight Zone: The Movie
Mr. Bloom (Segment #2)
 
1983 Taxi (TV series)
Walt
– A Grand Gesture (1983) … Walt
 
1983 Grandpa, Will You Run with Me? (TV movie)
Sketch Performer
 
1982 Jokebook (TV series)
Main Title Singer (1982) (voice)
 
1982 Missing Children: A Mother's Story (TV movie)
Mose Wheeler
 
1982 It Takes Two (TV series)
Manny Gilliam
– Death Penalty (1982) … Manny Gilliam
 
1982 Deadly Eyes
George Foskins
 
1982 Zapped!
Dexter Jones
 
1982 One of the Boys (TV series)
Bernard Solomon
– One of the Boys (1982) … Bernard Solomon
– Don't Bank on It: Part 2 (1982) … Bernard Solomon
– Don't Bank on It: Part 1 (1982) … Bernard Solomon
– On the Rebound (1982) … Bernard Solomon
– Extracurricular Activities (1982) … Bernard Solomon
See all 13 episodes »
 
1982 American Playhouse (TV series)
Parking Attendant
– Working (1982) … Parking Attendant
 
1982 Benson (TV series)
Mr. Thompkins
– In the Red (1982) … Mr. Thompkins
 
1981 The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island (TV movie)
Dewey Stevens
 
1981 Magnum, P.I. (TV series)
Tickler
– Lest We Forget (1981) … Tickler
 
1981 Revenge of the Gray Gang (TV movie)
Reuben Milo
 
1980 NBC Special Treat (TV series)
T.P. Jackson
– Sunshine's on the Way (1980) … T.P. Jackson
 
1980 Bronco Billy
Doc Lynch
 
1980 The Shining
Dick Hallorann
 
1980 Laverne & Shirley (TV series)
Porter
– Murder on the Moose Jaw Express: Part 2 (1980) … Porter
– Murder on the Moose Jaw Express: Part 1 (1980) … Porter
 
1979 Banjo the Woodpile Cat (TV short)
Crazy Legs (voice)
 
1979 Scavenger Hunt
Sam
 
1979 The Super Globetrotters (TV series)
Liquid Man / Nate Branch
– The Super Globetrotters vs. Attila the Hun (1979) … Nate Branch/Liquid Man (voice)
– The Super Globetrotters vs. Merlo the Magician (1979) … Nate Branch/Liquid Man (voice)
– The Super Globetrotters vs. Bullmoose (1979) … Nate Branch/Liquid Man (voice)
– The Super Globetrotters vs. Transylvania Terrors (1979) … Nate Branch/Liquid Man (voice)
– The Super Globetrotters vs. The Time Lord (1979) … Nate Branch/Liquid Man (voice)
See all 13 episodes »
 
1979 The Incredible Hulk (TV series)
Edgar McGee
– My Favorite Magician (1979) … Edgar McGee
 
1978-1979 Vega$ (TV series)
Rosey / Rosie
– The Usurper (1979) … Rosey
– High Roller (1978) … Rosie
 
1979 ABC Weekend Specials (TV series)
– The Puppy's Great Adventure (1979) (voice)
 
1978 Flying High (TV series)
Crothers
– South by Southwest (1978) … Crothers
 
1978 Charlie's Angels (TV series)
Jip Baker
– Angels in Vegas (1978) … Jip Baker
 
1974-1978 Chico and the Man (TV series)
Louie
– The Hot Rock (1978) … Louie
– The Peeping Tom (1978) … Louie
– Help Wanted (1978) … Louie
– Della and Son (1978) … Louie
– Ed Brown's Car Wash (1978) … Louie
See all 65 episodes »
 
1978 The Cheap Detective
Tinker
 
1978 Mean Dog Blues
Mudcat
 
1977 The Skatebirds (TV series)
Scat Cat (voice)
 
1977 Scooby's Laff-A Lympics (TV series)
Hong Kong Phooey
 
1977 C B Bears (TV series)
Segment title narrator
 
1977 Starsky and Hutch (TV series)
Fireball
– Long Walk Down a Short Dirt Road (1977) … Fireball
 
1977 Roots (TV mini-series)
Mingo
– Part Eight (1977) … Mingo
– Part Four (1977) … Mingo
– Part Nine (1977) … Mingo
 
1976 Silver Streak
Ralston
 
1976 Chesty Anderson U.S. Navy
Ben Benson (as Scat-Man Crothers)
 
1976 The David Steinberg Show (TV series)
– Episode #1.2 (1976)
 
1976 The Shootist
Moses
 
1976 Stay Hungry
William
 
1976 Petrocelli (TV series)
Jubilee Jones
– Jubilee Jones (1976) … Jubilee Jones
 
1975 Friday Foster
Noble Franklin
 
1975 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Turkle
 
1975 Coonskin
Pappy/Old Man Bone (as Scat Man Crothers)
 
1975 Man on the Outside (TV movie)
Ruben Hammer
 
1975 The Fortune
Fisherman
 
1975 Linda Lovelace for President
Super Black
 
1975 Win, Place or Steal
Attendant
 
1975 Sanford and Son (TV series)
Bowlegs
– The Stand-In (1975) … Bowlegs
 
1974 Hong Kong Phooey (TV series)
Hong Kong Phooey / Penrod 'Penry' Pooch
– Comedy Cowboys (1974) … Hong Kong Phooey (voice)
– Dr. Disguiso/The Incredible Mr. Shrink (1974) … Penrod 'Penry' Pooch (voice) / Hong Kong Phooey (voice)
– Mr. Tornado/The Little Crook Who Wasn't There (1974) … Penrod 'Penry' Pooch (voice) / Hong Kong Phooey (voice)
– The Great Choo Choo Robbery/Patty Cake, Patty Cake, Bakery Man (1974) … Penrod 'Penry' Pooch (voice) / Hong Kong Phooey (voice)
– From Bad to Verse/Kong and the Counterfeiters (1974) … Penrod 'Penry' Pooch (voice) / Hong Kong Phooey (voice)
See all 16 episodes »
 
1974 The Odd Couple (TV series)
Blind Man
– The Subway Story (1974) … Blind Man
 
1974 Mannix (TV series)
Mudcat
– The Green Men (1974) … Mudcat
 
1974 McMillan & Wife (TV series)
Floyd
– Downshift to Danger (1974) … Floyd (as Scat Man Crothers)
 
1974 Kolchak: The Night Stalker (TV series)
Uncle Filemon
– The Zombie (1974) … Uncle Filemon (as Scat Man Crothers)
 
1974 The Sty of the Blind Pig (TV movie)
Doc
 
1974 Toma (TV series)
– The Street (1974)
 
1974 Truck Turner
Duke
 
1974 Black Belt Jones
Pop Byrd
 
1973 Griff (TV series)
Joe Rawls
– Isolate and Destroy (1973) … Joe Rawls
 
1973 Ironside (TV series)
Jason
– The Last Payment (1973) … Jason
 
1973 Kojak (TV series)
Gaylord Fuller
– The Corrupter (1973) … Gaylord Fuller
 
1973 The New Temperatures Rising Show (TV series)
Timmy
– The Mothers (1973) … Timmy
 
1972-1974 The New Scooby-Doo Movies (TV series)
George 'Meadowlark' Lemon
– Mystery of Haunted Island (1973) … George 'Meadowlark' Lemon (voice)
– The Loch Ness Mess (1972) … George 'Meadowlark' Lemon (voice)
– The Ghostly Creep from the Deep (1972) … George 'Meadowlark' Lemon (voice)
 
1973 Slaughter's Big Rip-Off
Cleveland
 
1973 Detroit 9000
Reverend Markham
 
1972 Adam-12 (TV series)
Mr. Struthers
– Hot Spell (1972) … Mr. Struthers
 
1969-1972 Love, American Style (TV series)
(segment "Love and the Perfect Wedding") / One-Man Band (segment "Love and the Dummies")
– Love and the Clinic/Love and the Perfect Wedding/Love and the President/Love and the Return of Raymond (1972) … (segment "Love and the Perfect Wedding")
– Love and the Athlete/Love and the Dummies/Love and Mother/Love and the Shower (1969) … One-Man Band (segment "Love and the Dummies")
 
1972 Lady Sings the Blues
Big Ben
 
1972 The King of Marvin Gardens
Lewis (as Benjamin 'Scatman' Crothers)
 
1972 The Lorax (TV short)
Singer (uncredited)
 
1972 Nichols (TV series)
Jack
– Eddie Joe (1972) … Jack
 
1971 Bewitched (TV series)
Handler
– Three Men and a Witch on a Horse (1971) … Handler
 
1971 The Good Life (TV series)
Rodney
– Butterfield Ate (1971) … Rodney
 
1971 Chandler
Smoke
 
1970 The AristoCats
Scat Cat (voice)
 
1970 The Governor & J.J. (TV series)
Rupert
– Check the Check (1970) … Rupert
 
1970 Barefoot in the Park (TV series)
– Somethin' Fishy (1970)
 
1970 The Great White Hope
Carnival Barker (uncredited)
 
1970 Harlem Globe Trotters (TV series)
George 'Meadowlark' Lemon
 
1970 Bloody Mama
Moses (as 'Scatman' Crothers)
 
1969 Hello, Dolly!
Mr. Jones - Porter (uncredited)
 
1969 Hook, Line and Sinker
The Corpse (uncredited)
 
1967 Dragnet 1967 (TV series)
Dave Richmond
– The Missing Realtor (1967) … Dave Richmond
 
1966 Alvarez Kelly
Bellhop (uncredited)
 
1966 Three on a Couch
Party Guest (uncredited)
 
1965 The Family Jewels
Airport Employee (uncredited)
 
1964 The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo (TV series)
 
1964 The Patsy
Shoeshine Boy
 
1964 Lady in a Cage
Junkyard Proprietor's Assistant (uncredited)
 
1961 Bonanza (TV series)
Jud
– The Smiler (1961) … Jud
 
1961 The Sins of Rachel Cade
Musinga
 
1959 Bourbon Street Beat (TV series)
Joe
– The Mourning Cloak (1959) … Joe (as Sherman 'Scat Man' Crothers)
 
1959 Matty's Funnies with Beany and Cecil (TV series)
Wildman of Wildsville
 
1959 Alias Jesse James
Railroad Porter (uncredited)
 
1958 Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV series)
Timothy, the Waiter
– Don't Interrupt (1958) … Timothy, the Waiter
 
1958 The Gift of Love
Sam the Gardener (uncredited)
 
1958 Tarzan and the Trappers (TV movie)
Tyana (as Sherman Crothers)
 
1957 The Adventures of Jim Bowie (TV series)
Cicero
– The Quarantine (1957) … Cicero
 
1956 Between Heaven and Hell
George (uncredited)
 
1953 Walking My Baby Back Home
'Smiley' Gordon (as Scat Man Crothers)
 
1953 East of Sumatra
Baltimore
 
1953 Lux Video Theatre (TV series)
– Lovely Day (1953)
 
1953 Meet Me at the Fair
Enoch Jones
 
1952 The Return of Gilbert & Sullivan (short)
 
1952 The Colgate Comedy Hour (TV series)
Sketch Actor
– Episode #2.23 (1952) … Sketch Actor
 
1951 Yes Sir, Mr. Bones
 
Show ShowSoundtrack (9 titles)
1982 American Playhouse (TV series)
– Working (1982) (performer: "Lovin' Al", "If I Could've Been")
 
1979 Banjo the Woodpile Cat (TV short) (performer: "I'll Stick with You, Kid")
 
1979 Scavenger Hunt (performer: "There's Enough For Everyone")
 
1978 The Cheap Detective (performer: "Jeepers Creepers")
 
1975 Sanford and Son (TV series)
– The Stand-In (1975) ("All of Me" - uncredited)
 
1970 The AristoCats (performer: "Ev'rybody Wants To Be A Cat")
 
1966 Alice in Wonderland or What's a Nice Kid Like You Doing in a Place Like This? (TV movie) (performer: "What's a Nice Kid Like You")
 
1953 Meet Me at the Fair (writer: "I Was There" - uncredited / performer: "Oh! Susanna" - uncredited, "Ezekiel Saw de Wheel" - uncredited, "All God's Chillun Got Shoes" - uncredited, "I Was There" - uncredited, "I Got the Shiniest Mouth in Town" - uncredited)
 
1952 The Colgate Comedy Hour (TV series)
– Episode #2.23 (1952) (performer: "Birth of the Blues" - uncredited)
 
Show ShowSelf (27 titles)
1996 Biography (TV series documentary)
Himself
– Richard Pryor: Comic on the Edge (1996) … Himself
 
1986 The Wonderful World of Jonathan Winters
Himself
 
1984 This Is Your Life (TV series)
Himself
– Scatman Crothers (1984) … Himself
 
1984 The 5th Annual Black Achievement Awards (TV special)
Himself
 
1983 Salute! (TV series)
Himself
– Jose Feliciano (1983) … Himself
 
1983 Ebony/Jet Showcase (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 10 July 1983 (1983) … Himself
 
1982 Madame's Place (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #1.48 (1982) … Himself
 
1982 The John Davidson Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 12 January 1982 (1982) … Himself
 
1981 Kids Are People, Too (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 4 October 1981 (1981) … Himself
 
1981/I Ad Lib (TV series)
Himself
 
1980 The Third Annual Black Achievement Awards (TV special)
Himself
 
1980 The 1980 Sci-Fi Awards (TV movie)
Himself
 
1980 Making 'The Shining' (TV documentary short)
Himself
 
1978 NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney (TV documentary)
Himself
 
1977 The 3rd Annual People's Choice Awards (TV special)
Himself - Accepting Special Award to Roots
 
1977 Break the Bank (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 4 January 1977 (1977) … Himself
 
1976 The David Steinberg Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #1.11 (1976) … Himself
 
1976 The Rich Little Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #1.12 (1976) … Himself
 
1976 Joys (TV special)
Himself
 
1976 The Mike Douglas Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 9 February 1976 (1976) … Himself
 
1975 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 31 December 1975 (1975) … Himself
– Episode dated 18 June 1975 (1975) … Himself
– Episode dated 14 January 1975 (1975) … Himself
 
1974 Andy Williams Presents (TV movie)
Himself
 
1958 The Spade Cooley Show (TV series)
Himself (Guest Musician)
 
1954 Johnny Dark
Himself
 
1952-1954 The Colgate Comedy Hour (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #4.20 (1954) … Himself
– Episode #4.12 (1953) … Himself
– Episode #3.29 (1953) … Himself
– Episode #3.6 (1952) … Himself
– Episode #3.3 (1952) … Himself
See all 6 episodes »
 
1953 Surprising Suzie (short)
Himself (as Scat-Man Crothers)
 
1950 King Cole Trio & Benny Carter Orchestra (short)
Himself - Comedian (as Scat-Man Crothers)
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (3 titles)
2012 Room 237 (documentary)
 
2011 Renee (documentary)
Himself (uncredited)
 
1992 The Music of Disney: A Legacy in Song (video documentary)
Scat Cat (voice)
 

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Personal Details

Other Works:

Album: "Big Ben Sings", 1973 (Motown)

Publicity Listings:

1 Print Biography  | 2 Interviews  | 1 Article  | See more »

Alternate Names:

'Scatman' Crothers | Benjamin 'Scatman' Crothers | Benjamin Crothers | Scat Man Crothers | Scat-Man Crothers | Sherman 'Scat Man' Crothers | Sherman Crothers

Height:

5' 10" (1.78 m)
Edit

Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

"That movie was all right to make, but you know Stanley likes to do a lot of takes. It gets kind of boring, but when you take a job you do it." (on working with director Stanley Kubrick on "The Shining") See more »

Trivia:

Continued to work after being diagnosed with lung cancer in 1985, but it then spread to his esophagus. See more »

Trademark:

Clean-shaven head. See more »

Star Sign:

Gemini