The son of a minstrel and circus tightrope walker, Eddie Anderson developed a gravel voice early in life which would become his trademark to fame. He joined his older brother Cornelius as members of "The Three Black Aces" during his vaudeville years, singing for pennies in the hotel lobby. He eventually moved his way up to the Roxy and Apollo ...
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| 1 | He appeared in two Best Picture Academy Award winners in consecutive years: You Can't Take It with You (1938) and Gone with the Wind (1939). Irving Bacon, Ward Bond, Eddy Chandler, Wallis Clark and Harry Davenport also appeared in both films. |
| 2 | Was cast in a co-starring role with Alice Faye and John Payne in the 1974 stage revival of "Good News," but was too frail and was replaced by Stubby Kaye. |
| 3 | He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Radio at 6513 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California. |
| 4 | Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith; pg. 20. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387. |
| 5 | Eddie Anderson was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2001. |
| 6 | His adopted son, Billy, once played professional football with the Chicago Bears, and was a world class hurdler. He held the world Junior College high hurdle record and just missed making the 1948 & 1952 U.S. Olympic teams. |
| 7 | Overstrained his vocal cords as a 12-year-old newsboy hawking papers in his home town, which explains his inimitable rasp. |
| 8 | Son of minstrel performer Big Ed Anderson and circus performer, Ella May Anderson. Appeared with his brother, Cornelius, in a Vaudeville song and dance act. |
| 9 | Interred at Evergreen Cemetery, Los Angeles, California, USA, Section A, Lot #2504. |
| 10 | Was associated with Jack Benny from 1937 until 1964. |
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|
| The New Scooby-Doo Movies | 1972-1973 | TV Series | Bobby Joe 'B.J.' Mason |
| Harlem Globe Trotters | 1970-1971 | TV Series | Bobby Joe Mason |
| Watermelon Man | 1970 | Drugstore Soda Jerk |
| Love, American Style | 1969 | TV Series | Willie (segment "Love and the Hustler") |
| It Takes a Thief | 1968 | TV Series | Concierge |
| The Jack Benny Program | 1950-1965 | TV Series | Rochester Van Jones / Oatmeal / Anderson Van Jones / ... |
| It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World | 1963 | Second Cab Driver |
| The Dick Powell Theatre | 1963 | TV Series | Walt |
| Bachelor Father | 1962 | TV Series | Rochester Van Jones |
| The Mouse That Jack Built | 1959 | Short | Rochester (voice, as Rochester) |
| The Green Pastures | 1959 | TV Movie | Noah |
| Shower of Stars | 1958 | TV Series | Rochester Van Jones |
| The Green Pastures | 1957 | TV Movie | Noah (as Eddie Anderson) |
| The Red Skelton Hour | 1957 | TV Series | Rochester Van Jones |
| The Jack Benny Program | 1949 | TV Movie | Rochester |
| The Show-Off | 1946 | Eddie |
| Brother Bill | 1945 | Short | Fortune-teller |
| The Sailor Takes a Wife | 1945 | Harry |
| I Love a Bandleader | 1945 | Newton H. Newton (as Rochester) |
| Brewster's Millions | 1945 | Jackson |
| Broadway Rhythm | 1944 | Eddie |
| What's Buzzin', Cousin? | 1943 | Rochester |
| Cabin in the Sky | 1943 | Little Joe Jackson |
| The Meanest Man in the World | 1943 | Shufro |
| Tales of Manhattan | 1942 | Rev. Lazarus |
| Star Spangled Rhythm | 1942 | Rochester- 'Sharp as a Tack' Number (as Rochester) |
| Birth of the Blues | 1941 | Louey (as Rochester) |
| Kiss the Boys Goodbye | 1941 | George |
| Topper Returns | 1941 | Chauffeur |
| Love Thy Neighbor | 1940 | Rochester Van Jones (as Eddie Anderson) |
| Buck Benny Rides Again | 1940 | Rochester Van Jones (as Rochester) |
| Gone with the Wind | 1939 | Uncle Peter - Her Coachman (as Eddie Anderson) |
| Man About Town | 1939 | Rochester (as Eddie Anderson) |
| You Can't Get Away with Murder | 1939 | Sam (uncredited) |
| You Can't Cheat an Honest Man | 1939 | Rochester (as Eddie Anderson) |
| Honolulu | 1939 | Washington (as Eddie Anderson) |
| Going Places | 1938 | Groom (as Eddie Anderson) |
| Kentucky | 1938 | Groom (as Eddie Anderson) |
| While New York Sleeps | 1938 | Janitor (uncredited) |
| Strange Faces | 1938 | William |
| Thanks for the Memory | 1938/II | Janitor |
| Exposed | 1938 | William |
| Five of a Kind | 1938 | Hotel Doorman (uncredited) |
| You Can't Take It with You | 1938 | Donald (as Eddie Anderson) |
| Gold Diggers in Paris | 1938 | Doorman (as Eddie Anderson) |
| Jezebel | 1938 | Gros Bat (as Eddie Anderson) |
| Reckless Living | 1938 | Dreamboat |
| Over the Goal | 1937 | William (as Eddie Anderson) |
| On Such a Night | 1937 | Henry Clay, Fentridge Handyman (as Eddie Anderson) |
| One Mile from Heaven | 1937 | Henry Bangs (as Eddie Anderson) |
| Reported Missing | 1937 | Porter (uncredited) |
| Wake Up and Live | 1937 | Elevator Operator (uncredited) |
| White Bondage | 1937 | Old Glory (uncredited) |
| Public Wedding | 1937 | Man Carrying Coat (uncredited) |
| Melody for Two | 1937 | Exodus Johnson (as Eddie Anderson) |
| When Love Is Young | 1937 | Taxi Driver (uncredited) |
| Bill Cracks Down | 1937 | Chauffeur (as Eddie Anderson) |
| Love Is News | 1937 | Man Getting Marriage License (uncredited) |
| Mysterious Crossing | 1936 | Hotel Porter (uncredited) |
| Rainbow on the River | 1936 | Doctor (uncredited) |
| Three Men on a Horse | 1936 | Moses (as Eddie Anderson) |
| Two in a Crowd | 1936 | Swipe (uncredited) |
| Star for a Night | 1936 | Maid's Boyfriend (uncredited) |
| The Green Pastures | 1936 | Noah (as Eddie Anderson) |
| Show Boat | 1936 | Young Black Man (uncredited) |
| The Music Goes 'Round | 1936 | Lucifer |
| His Night Out | 1935 | Bellhop (uncredited) |
| Transient Lady | 1935 | 'Noxious' (as Eddie Anderson) |
| The Gay Bride | 1934 | 2nd Bootblack (uncredited) |
| Behold My Wife! | 1934 | Chauffeur (uncredited) |
| I Love That Man | 1933 | Charlie - Porter (uncredited) |
| Terror Aboard | 1933 | Seaman (uncredited) |
| From Hell to Heaven | 1933 | Sam's Pal (uncredited) |
| Billion Dollar Scandal | 1933 | Railroad Steward (uncredited) |
| False Faces | 1932 | Chauffeur (uncredited) |
| Hat Check Girl | 1932 | Walter (uncredited) |
| What Price Hollywood? | 1932 | James - Max's Butler (uncredited) |
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|
| That's Entertainment, Part II | 1976 | Documentary performer: "Taking a Chance on Love" 1940 - uncredited |
| The Jack Benny Program | 1950-1958 | TV Series performer - 11 episodes |
| I Love a Bandleader | 1945 | performer: "Eager Beaver" - as Rochester |
| Brewster's Millions | 1945 | performer: "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" - uncredited |
| What's Buzzin', Cousin? | 1943 | performer: "Short, Fat and 4F", "Eighteen Seventy-five" $18.75 War Bond Cost |
| Cabin in the Sky | 1943 | performer: "Cabin in the Sky" 1940 uncredited, "Taking a Chance on Love" 1940 uncredited, "Life Is Full of Consequence" 1943, "Happy Birthday to You" 1893 uncredited |
| The Meanest Man in the World | 1943 | "Down Argentina Way", uncredited |
| Star Spangled Rhythm | 1942 | performer: "Sharp as a Tack" |
| Kiss the Boys Goodbye | 1941 | performer: "Sand in My Shoes" |
| Buck Benny Rides Again | 1940 | performer: "MY! MY!" 1940, "I'M AN OLD COW HAND FROM THE RIO GRANDE" 1936, "DRUMS IN THE NIGHT" 1940 - uncredited |
| Man About Town | 1939 | performer: "THAT SENTIMENTAL SANDWICH", "FIDGETY JOE", "STRANGE ENCHANTMENT" |
