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Herb Jeffries

Actor | Soundtrack | Composer

This velvet-toned jazz baritone and sometime actor was (and perhaps still is) virtually unknown to white audiences. Yet, back in the late 1930s and early 1940s, Herb Jeffries was very big...in black-cast films. Today he is respected and remembered as a pioneer who broke down rusted-shut racial doors in Hollywood and ultimately displayed a positive image as a black actor on celluloid... See full bio »

Born:

Umberto Alejandro Ballentino
in Detroit, Michigan, USA
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Melanie Molnar - Reel

Christopher Mann's Theatrical Demo Reel -- This reel contains Christopher performing in Film and Television. The clips included are from the following: "The Boundary", "The Wire", "Duplicity", "Law & Order(SVU)", "Michael Clayton", "Cost Of A Soul", "HEROES" and "Law & Order (CI)".

Christopher Mann's Theatrical Demo Reel

David H. Lawrence, XVII - Drama -- On-camera drama reel featuring David H. Lawrence XVII, in scenes from Heroes, The Unit, LOST, and more

David H. Lawrence, XVII - Drama

Franklin Ojeda Smith - -- "...back in the day the 'barb wire' was more visible" and early on I chose baseball over acting; then academia and not baseball. Now,"...the kids are grown, the dog is dead and now that I may, I choose acting." Please take a look: 1)Boardwalk Empire - Deacon Cuffy 2)Murder Incorporated - Sam Christenson 3)Cayman Went - Aniston Turnkey 4)Letting Go -Therapist 5)Footsteps in the Sand - Jim. Thank You! Franklin

Franklin Ojeda Smith -

My Demo Reel -- Includes clips from GLORY DAZE, COMMUNITY and horror film URBAN EXPLORER.

My Demo Reel


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Known For


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Filmography

Hide HideActor (18 titles)
1996 The Cherokee Kid (TV movie)
Herb Jeffries
 
1994 The American Experience (TV series documentary)
Commentator (actor)
– Midnight Ramble (1994) … Commentator (actor) (as Herb Jefferies)
 
1979 Portrait of a Hitman
Charlie Blue
 
1974 Twice in a Lifetime (TV movie)
Hank Davis
 
1973 Jarrett (TV movie)
Karoufi
 
1969-1973 Hawaii Five-O (TV series)
Jardine / Klosmosky / Professor / …
– The Diamond That Nobody Stole (1973) … Professor Kung (as Herbert Jeffries)
– Is This Any Way to Run a Paradise? (1971) … Klosmosky
– Highest Castle, Deepest Grave (1971) … Professor
– Face of the Dragon (1969) … Jardine
 
1971 Chrome and Hot Leather
Ned
 
1970 Where's Huddles? (TV series)
Freight Train
– One Man's Family (1970) … Freight Train (voice)
– A Sticky Affair (1970) … Freight Train (voice)
– The Odd Trio (1970) … Freight Train (voice)
– Get That Letter Back (1970) … Freight Train (voice)
– To Catch a Thief (1970) … Freight Train (voice)
See all 10 episodes »
 
1969 The Virginian (TV series)
Frank Hammel
– Stopover (1969) … Frank Hammel
 
1968 The Name of the Game (TV series)
Deputy Coroner / W.B. Keys
– The Black Answer (1968) … W.B. Keys
– Fear of High Places (1968) … Deputy Coroner
 
1967 I Dream of Jeannie (TV series)
Copter Pilot
– The Second Greatest Con Artist in the World (1967) … Copter Pilot
 
1957 Calypso Joe
Calypso Joe
 
1951 Disc Jockey
Herb Jeffries
 
1939 Harlem Rides the Range
Bob Blake (as Herbert Jeffrey)
 
1939 The Bronze Buckaroo
Bob Blake (as Herbert Jeffrey)
 
1938 Two-Gun Man from Harlem
Bob Blake/The Deacon (as Herbert Jeffrey)
 
1938 Rhythm Rodeo
Singing Cowboy
 
1937 Harlem on the Prairie
Jeff Kincaid (as Herbert Jeffries)
 
Show ShowSoundtrack (14 titles)
2009 Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1930s: Dancing Away the Great Depression (video documentary) (performer: "Got the Payday Blues" - uncredited)
 
2008 Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical Treasure (TV documentary) (performer: "Got the Payday Blues" - uncredited)
 
1956 Basin Street Revue (performer: "A Woman is a Worrisome Thing" - uncredited)
 
1955 Show Time at the Apollo (TV series)
– Basin Street Revue (performer: "A Woman Is a Worrisome Thing")
– Beale Street Revue (performer: "My Basin Street Blues")
– Blues in Harlem (performer: "Baby Won't You Please Go Home")
– Harlem Merry-Go-Round (performer: "After Hours")
– Harlem Variety Revue (performer: "In My Heart")
See all 6 episodes »
 
1955 Rhythm and Blues Revue (documentary) (performer: "In My Heart There's a Song")
 
1953 Wicked Woman (performer: "Wicked Woman")
 
1952 Varieties (short) (performer: "Bayou")
 
1951 Disc Jockey (writer: "Disc Jockey", "In My Heart")
 
1949 Manhattan Angel (writer: "Candy Store Blues")
 
1942 Flamingo (short) (performer: "Flamingo")
 
1939 Harlem Rides the Range (performer: "I'm a Happy Cowboy", "Prairie Flower")
 
1939 The Bronze Buckaroo (performer: "I'm a Happy Cowboy", "Got the Payday Blues")
 
1938 Two-Gun Man from Harlem (performer: "I'm a Happy Cowboy")
 
1937 Harlem on the Prairie (performer: "Romance in the Rain", "Harlem on the Prairie", "Albuquerque", "A New Range in Heaven")
 
Show ShowComposer (2 titles)
1957 Calypso Joe
 
1938 Two-Gun Man from Harlem (as Herbert Jeffrey)
 
Show ShowDirector (1 title)
1967 Mundo depravados (as Herb Jefferies)
 
Show ShowWriter (1 title)
1967 Mundo depravados (story and screenplay)
 
Show ShowSelf (16 titles)
2008 A Colored Life: The Herb Jeffries Story (documentary)
Himself
 
2007 In the Shadow of Hollywood: Race Movies and the Birth of Black Cinema (video documentary)
Himself
 
2007 Independent Lens (TV series documentary)
Himself
– Billy Strayhorn: Lush Life (2007) … Himself
 
2006 Frankie Laine: An American Dreamer (video documentary)
Himself
 
2004 Rough Riders & Black Cowboy Legends (TV documentary)
Himself
 
2002 That's Black Entertainment: Westerns (TV documentary)
Interviewee (also archive footage) (as Herbert Jeffries)
 
1999 Keepers of the Frame (documentary)
Himself
 
1996 Spencer Williams: Remembrances of an Early Black Film Pioneer (video documentary)
Himself
 
1979 Down at the Dunbar (documentary short)
Himself
 
1956 Lionel Hampton and Herb Jeffries (short)
Himself
 
1956 Basin Street Revue
Himself
 
1955 Show Time at the Apollo (TV series)
Himself - Singer
– Basin Street Revue … Himself - Singer
– Beale Street Revue … Himself - Singer
– Blues in Harlem … Himself - Singer
– Harlem Merry-Go-Round … Himself - Singer
– Harlem Variety Revue … Himself - Singer
See all 6 episodes »
 
1955 Rhythm and Blues Revue (documentary)
Himself
 
1952 Varieties (short)
Himself
 
1952 Songs for Sale (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 15 March 1952 (1952) … Himself
 
1942 Flamingo (short)
Himself - Singer
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (2 titles)
2000 Golden Saddles, Silver Spurs (TV documentary)
 
1996 America's Music: The Roots of Country (TV mini-series documentary)
Himself (1996)
 

Related Videos

Rhythm and Blues Revue -- Rhythm and Blues Revue Rhythm and Blues Revue -- Rhythm and Blues Revue The Bronze Buckaroo -- Bob Blake and his boys arrive at Joe Jackson's ranch to find him missing. While Slim cheats Dusty out of his money using ventriloquism and marked cards...
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Personal Details

Other Works:

Stage: Appeared in the musical revue "Jump for Joy" at the Mayan Theater, Los Angeles, CA, 1941. See more »

Publicity Listings:

1 Biographical Movie  | 1 Print Biography  | 1 Article  | See more »

Official Sites:

Official Website of Herb Jeffries | See more »

Alternate Names:

Herb Jefferies | Herbert Jeffrey | Herbert Jeffries

Height:

6' 2" (1.88 m)
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Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

The word 'black' means 'a void,' so I have never seen a black man. The word 'white' means 'lack of pigment,' so I have never seen a white man either. There's only one race: the human race. See more »

Trivia:

He is of Ethiopian-French Canadian-Italian & Irish descent. See more »

Nickname:

Bronze Buckaroo See more »

Star Sign:

Libra