Stepin Fetchit Biography

The Famous People ^ | none given | The Famous People

[DallasBiff]

Stepin Fetchit was an American film actor who became the very first African-American film actor to earn a million dollars in Hollywood. He made his name in an era when the black people were dominated by the whites in the industry. He was also the first ever black actor to receive featured screen credit in a film, which reflects the harsh reality of the industry that time. He was initially signed by the Fox Pictures, then dropped by them, and then re-signed. He acted in over 40 films between 1927 and 1939, a time when contracts for black actors were unheard of. He was famous for his humor and his unique style of acting; often special plots used to be written to make his character more prominent in the films. He always exploited the whites' sense of superiority by pretending to be slow-witted and lazy, like a ‘trickster’.

[DallasBiff]

Stepin made a mint, just like Aunt Jemimah. They had good lives.

Jim Varney, I believe based his character Ernest, on Stepin Fetchit.

Mods pull if inappropriate.

[Responsibility2nd]

Stepin Fetchit still lives on today in the form of rappers and nasty mouth racist comedians who entertain the white folks.

White producers and managers tell them what to do. White Wiggers buy their music. And look at any audience of a black comedian. White People.

Without white people setting these Stepin Fetchits up, they’d be on the street killing each other. Which despite their fame - they often still do.

[Fai Mao]

Mantan Moreland (Birmingham Brown) in the old Charlie Chan movies was a comedy genius.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

I agree. Mantan always steals the show. And it always cheers me up to watch him.

[Dilbert San Diego]

I used to enjoy seeing the old Charlie Chan movies on TV.

I have not seen any of them in many years. Probably they took them off the air for political correctness purposes.

[OldHarbor]

YouTube is full of Charlie Chan movies.

[Fai Mao]

There are bunches of them on the free streaming services and YouTube. Most don’t get enough views even to have many commercials.

I read the books. The first one “The House with no Key” is one of the best murder mysteries I’ve ever read.

[Dilbert San Diego]

Thanks for the tip.

[Dilbert San Diego]

thanks for the tip. I’ll check it out.

[Dilbert San Diego]

thanks for the tip. I’ll check it out.

[Dilbert San Diego]

thanks for the tip. I’ll check it out.

[MikelTackNailer]

Don't forget Eddie "Rochester" Anderson; perpetual valet to Jack Benny on radio and television, who elevated his character from a "Steppin Fetchit" to wit and foil on equal level with Benny himself.

[MikelTackNailer]

Jim Varney's comedic genius far exceeded his best-known character 'Ernest'. This take on a hillbilly uncle makes me laugh every time.