Jess Lee Brooks
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Jess Lee Brooks | |
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.jpg) Brooks in Jungle Siren (1942) | |
| Born | June 9, 1894 Jefferson, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | December 13, 1944 (aged 50) Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Education | |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, singer |
| Years active | 1930–1944 |
Jess Lee Brooks (June 10, 1894 – December 13, 1944), also known as Jesse Brooks, was an American bass-baritone concert artist, and a film and stage actor. He played an African-American church preacher in the motion picture Sullivan's Travels, where he leads his congregation in singing "Go Down Moses".[1]
Early life and career
Born in Jefferson, Texas and raised in Seattle,[2][3] Brooks attended the University of Kansas and Northwestern University.[4][5]
Personal life and death
On Tuesday morning, December 13, 1924, Brooks suffered a fatal heart attack while en route to Paramount Studio, where he had a supporting in The Lost Weekend. Police later found him slumped over the wheel of his parked car, at 326 North Van Ness Boulevard.[6]
Partial filmography
- Dark Manhattan (1937)
- Spirit of Youth (1938)
- Two-Gun Man from Harlem (1938)
- The Sun Never Sets (1939)
- Four Shall Die (1940) as Bill Summers
- Sullivan's Travels (1941) as Black preacher (uncredited)
- Lucky Ghost (1942) as Door Man
- Jungle Siren (1942) as Chief Selangi
- Broken Strings (1942)
- Mr. & Mrs. North (1942) as Oscar
- Drums of the Congo (1942) as Chief Madjeduka
- Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943) as The Justice (uncredited)
- Girl Crazy (1943) as Bickets[7]
- Son of Dracula (1943) (uncredited) as Steven
- The Lost Weekend (1945) as Hospital Patient (uncredited)[6][8]
References
- ^ Klawans, Stuart (April 14, 2015). "Sullivan's Travels: Self-Portrait in a Fun-House Mirror". The Current.
- ^ "Jess Lee Brooks, Actor, Succumbs". California Eagle. December 14, 1944. p. 1. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
- ^ "'Believe It or Not' Brooks". New Pittsburgh Courier. April 30, 1938. p. 22. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
- ^ "Jess Brooks Scores in Shakespearean Role". California Eagle. March 26, 1937. p. 10. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
- ^ "Jess Lee Brooks In New Role". California Eagle. July 14, 1938. p. 14. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
- ^ a b Lamar, Lawrence (December 23, 1944). "Jesse Brooks, Actor, Dies of Heart Attack; Colorful Movie Career Ends Suddenly as Actor Was Enroute to Film Studio". New York Amsterdam News. p. 25. ProQuest 226026856.
Evidently aware that death was upon him, Jesse Lee Brooks, giant actor enroute to work on the picture he was engaged in making at Paramount studio, eased his car to the curb in front of 326 N. Van Ness Tuesday morning, shut off the ignition, then quietly awaited the switch of life to be turned off by his God. Police found the actor slumped over the wheel of his car. [...] Brooks at the time of his death was working in a Paramount Studio picture, 'The Lost Weekend,' starring Ray Milland. In the picture, oddly enough, Brooks played the role of a hospital patient.
- ^ "Jess Lee Brooks".
- ^ "Rolland Jones Takes Over Lee Brooks Role". Daily Variety. December 14, 1944. p. 3. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
External links
- Jess Lee Brooks at IMDb
- Jess Lee Brooks: A Black Western Actor in the Narrative of the American West
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