Spencer Williams (July 14, 1893 – December 13, 1969) was an African American actor and filmmaker. He was best known for playing Andy in the Amos 'n Andy television show and for the directing the 1941 race film The Blood of Jesus.
Williams (who was sometimes billed as Spencer Williams Jr.) was born in Vidalia, Louisiana. He moved to New York City when he was a teenager and secured work as call boy for the theatrical impresario Oscar Hammerstein. D...
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Spencer Williams (July 14, 1893 – December 13, 1969) was an African American actor and filmmaker. He was best known for playing Andy in the Amos 'n Andy television show and for the directing the 1941 race film The Blood of Jesus.
Williams (who was sometimes billed as Spencer Williams Jr.) was born in Vidalia, Louisiana. He moved to New York City when he was a teenager and secured work as call boy for the theatrical impresario Oscar Hammerstein. During this period, he received mentoring as a comedian from the African American vaudeville star Bert Williams.
Williams served in the U.S. Army during World War I, where he rose to the rank of sergeant. During the 1920s, he began to snag bit roles in motion pictures, including a part in the 1928 Buster Keaton film Steamboat Bill, Jr. He teamed with Lonnie Jackson to record the song "It Feels So Good," which was released on the Okeh Race Records label in 1929.
Also in 1929, Williams was hired by producer Al Christie to create the dialogue for...
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