Acting
Ernest Anderson
EN cinema · 22 credits
Born
25 August 1915
Died
5 March 2011 (aged 95)
Birthplace
Lynn, Massachusetts, USA
Ernest Anderson was born in Lynn MA and earned his high school diploma in Washington D.C. at Dunbar High School, formerly named The Preparatory High School for Colored Youth. Founded in 1891, it was America's first public high school for black students. He earned his bachelor's degree at Northwestern University's School of Drama and Speech. He moved to Hollywood and was working in the service department when Bette Davis arranged for him to interview for the role of Perry Clay in the film "In This Our Life" (1942). Mr. Anderson persuaded the director, John Huston, to change the racist dialog of his character typical of Hollywood in that era, to one of dignified intelligence and emotion. After serving his country in WWII, he returned to Warner Brothers where he continued to humanize the roles of America's black performers. He remained active in film until the late 1960's. He died in DeLand, Florida, on March 5, 2011.
Known for
Filmography
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as Homer
The Legend of Lylah Clare
as Hot Dog Man (uncredited)
No Greater Love
1960
No Greater Love
as Queto's Father
North by Northwest
as Porter on Twentieth Century Ltd. (uncredited)
The Mississippi Gambler
as Bellhop (uncredited)
Three for Bedroom C
as Fred Johnson
The Iron Mistress
as Riverboat Cabin Boy
The Well
as Ralph Crawford
Backfire
as James - Party Servant 9 (uncredited)
Buccaneer's Girl
as Mme. Brizar's Footman (uncredited)
No Way Out
as School Teacher (uncredited)
The Peanut Man
as Robert
Riff-Raff
as Wong - Houseboy (uncredited)
Without Reservations
as Dining Car Waiter (uncredited)
Princess O'Rourke
as Messenger (uncredited)
In This Our Life
as Parry Clay
