Biography for
James Edwards (I) More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

6 March 1918, Indiana, USA

Date of Death

4 January 1970, San Diego, California, USA (heart attack)

Birth Name

James Johnson Edwards

Nickname

Jimmy

Mini Biography

Pioneering actor who was among Hollywood's first - years ahead of Sidney Poitier - to crush the Stepin Fetchit stereotype of black males as shiftless illiterates. Although in some pictures Edwards would portray subservient characters (e.g. "General" George C. Scott's valet in Patton (1970)), he delivered true dignity in his performances. He is especially remembered for his leading role in Home of the Brave (1949).

IMDb Mini Biography By: Bill Takacs

Spouse

Everdinne

(? - 4 January 1970) (his death) 1 child

Trivia

Stage and television actor.

First black actor to play the role of a fighter pilot in a film. This was in the film Battle Hymn (1957). This was not done again until Iron Eagle (1986) with Louis Gossett Jr..

When Dorothy Dandridge read for the title role in "Carmen Jones", Edwards read the part of Joe, though he was not considered for the role.

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