woody strode interview

", NEXT:Psych 2: Lassie Come Home: 10 Easter Eggs You Totally Missed. Besides Ford, Strode also worked with storied directors Cecil B. Kingdom of the Spiders (1977) In 1962, he retired from pro wrestling to concentrate on his film career, which exploded after his role in John Fords Sergeant Rutledge, and then his first starring role in the Western The Professionalsthat starred Lee Marvin and Burt Lancaster in 1966. Stewart said that he didnt like it. RELATED:Psych: 10 Best Gus Nicknames, Ranked. May he forever RIP. In 1941, he began working as a professional wrestler, and in 1946, he and Washington became the first two African-American football players to play in the NFL, when they signed with the Los Angeles Rams. TIMES STAFF WRITER. I was lucky enough this time to have John Ford as my director. African American History: Research Guides & Websites, Global African History: Research Guides & Websites, African American Scientists and Technicians of the Manhattan Project, Envoys, Diplomatic Ministers, & Ambassadors, Education - Historically Black Colleges (HBCU), Political Activists - Radicals and Marxists, Foundation, Organization, and Corporate Supporters. Watch the video below to hear what Jim and the other stars had to say about brotherhood: Freedom, brotherhood, and equality were issues Jimmy Stewart clearly felt strongly about, for he returned to headline American Brotherhood Week the following year. Michael Munns dangerous habit of mixing truth with exaggeration and fallacy calls his alleged interview with. He was a decathlete and football star who was one of the first Black American players in the National Football League in the postwar era. The fame he had built through football and movies helped open up wrestling as well, and Strode wrestled white grapplers in Texas in the early 50s. All I heard was Ford saying that Stewart didnt like Negroes, and that made me mad at Stewart, and Stewart was just even more uncomfortable around me.. In response, Ford said: Whats wrong with Uncle Remus? The director then called the crews attention and shouted: One of ourplayersdoesn't like Woody's costume. Strode played as an End with the Rams in 1946, playing in 10 games that season. Also in the Munn interview, Strode relates an incident in which. Do you find this information helpful? But as a key supporting player, Woody is absolutely perfect, and his many oddities are all the more welcome because of that. Thanks for your kind words, and for reading Damon! link], repeats The Jimmy Stewart Show casting misunderstanding, citing it as evidence of, in Munns own words, Jims racist spirit. Munn also claims that a 1976 interview he conducted with black actor Woody Strode, Jims co-star in 1962s The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, further proves that Jimmy Stewart was a racist. Strode also played the powerful gladiator who does battle with Kirk Douglas in Spartacus (1960)." Played . All Rights Reserved. Woody Strode, the square-jawed, muscular former UCLA athlete who became a character actor with supporting roles in films for nearly a half century, has . Strode continued acting for decades his final film was as Charlie Moonlight in the 1995 film,The Quick and the Deadthat also featured Leonardo Di Caprio, Sharon Stone, and Gene Hackman sadly, Strode passed away from lung cancer in late 1994 before the film was released and the film was dedicated to him upon release. Aka:The Violent Breed This item is part of a JSTOR Collection. They were married in 1940 in Las Vegas. Jimmy Stewart was a remarkable man who loved all his fellowman. A small donation would help us keep this available to all. Strode would play two more seasons in Calgary before an injury ended his football life. The picture was about, oh, more than halfway finished. He and Kenny Washington integrated the National Football League (NFL), and Strode played for the Los Angeles Rams in 1946 before moving to the Canadian Football League in 1948. And I agree, it would be illogical to assume that Jimmy Stewart was racist based on his support of Nixon, Reagan, and US troops in Vietnam. I almost died inside when I heard he was a racist. See SERGEANT RUTLEDGE (60) on 7/31 at 10:45pm ET as we continue our spotlight Directed by John Ford.Look for this films on Watch TCM at http://tcm.com/watch.Connect with Turner Classic Movies:Visit TCM WEBSITE: http://myt.cm/TCMwebsiteFollow TCM on INSTAGRAM: http://myt.cm/TCMinstagramLike TCM on FACEBOOK: http://myt.cm/TCMfacebookFollow TCM on TWITTER: http://myt.cm/TCMtwitterSubscribe now to watch more classic film content from TCM http://spr.ly/6017cTBT Munn is the author of over 25 books, most of which are built on the intimate and often shocking revelations that, according to Munn, these stars were all anxious to share with him. I was too young at the time to realize Ford was using me to get at Stewart. Producer Julian Blaustein, who produced Jims 1950 film, Jim spoke of his Hollywood career in a series of interviews with. Hi Rosemary, Thanks for reading! After being cut by the Rams after just a season, Strode headed north to Canada, where he suited up for the Calgary Stampeders. Its such a demoralizing rumor. debut in 1941 in Henry Hathaway' s Sundown. According to Jimmy Stewart, Los Angeles in 1934 was: Magical! Smith Goes to Washington, did not escape Fords sadism unscathed. He's a baffling combination of crass and innocent, and all of his interactions with every member of the series' primary cast are always guaranteed to bring a laugh. > WrestleMania, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Hockey injury led to wrestling for Karl Von Stroheim. Woody Strode. (He never forgot Calgary, however, and returned to the city in 1986 to aid fundraising for the financially-ailing team. However, while on a trip to London, he caught her in bed with a wealthy night club owner named Siegi Sessler and again the relationship almost foundered. Aka: Chuck Moll I might have to kill you. He appeared in any number of other films, among them The Ten Commandments (1956). Weve dissected the fallacies behind the rumor that Jimmy Stewart was a racist. Lets not allow an unsubstantiated rumor to tarnish the reputation of one of the few Hollywood stars worthy of our complete respect and admiration. Jimmy Stewart was not racist. Semantic Scholar is a free, AI-powered research tool for scientific literature, based at the Allen Institute for AI. In its pages African American studies intellectuals, community activists, and national and international political leaders come to grips with basic issues confronting black America and Africa. Jungle Man-Eaters (1954) Released two years before To Kill a Mockingbird, Rutledge is one of the first mainstream Hollywood films to address racism frankly. Im delighted that you took the time too elaborate on its origins. Here's why. Id do that if I could. It took skill to do that fight scene without actually hurting myself or hurting Douglas., Kirk Douglas faces off with Woody Strode in Spartacus, He left for Italy in 1969, frustrated with the lack of meaty roles as an African-American. Che! Apr 16: Impact Rebellion However, cinematographer William H Clothier later said: There was one reason and one reason only Paramount was cutting costs. The Harder They Fall, the Black Western in theaters now and on Netflix on Nov. 3, owes a tip of the Stetson to Woody Strode, one of the NFLs first Black players (he signed briefly with the Los Angeles Rams in 1946), who later found a niche playing strong, silent types in Westerns. The Quest: The Longest Drive (TV) (1976) It would be interesting to hear Janes thoughts. I wanted to crawl into a mouse hole, Stewart recalled. link] that first sparked rumors about the beloved stars beliefs. He made more than sixty movies including his last film, The Quick and The Dead [1995]. When Strode tried to help him, Duke knocked his co-star away. Thanks again for reading! > Photo Galleries Your email address will not be published. At MGM there was a separate entrance and lunchroom for the black laborers and maids. It is such a terrible rumor. Aka: Black Kingpin Jim and Duke got to know each other during filming in Marquette County, Michigan, where the entire company stayed at the same hotel and shared meals. Retro book review: Strodes story a fascinating read, WOODY STRODES MOVIES Woody Strode, the football player turned actor who had supporting roles in John Wayne films and costume period epics such as "Spartacus" and "The Ten Commandments," has died at age 80. Due to the intense love and fandom ofPsych fans (known as Psych-os) all around the world,Psych has evolved from being a series to being a franchise that shows no sign of slowing down. In his role as the Coroner (and later Assistant Coroner) for the Santa Barbara Police Department, Woody often gets far too involved and far too close for comfort with all of the dead bodies that come his way. During the episode, the main group of guys find themselves unable to remember what they did the night before, only to find themselves involved in a murder investigation. The season eight episode "Someone's Got A Woody" finds poor Woody being held captive in the morgue, even as he works to help prove his abductor's innocence. Thanks for reading Brice! I wanted to set the record straight, for Jim and all of us who admire his remarkable work and life. He became part of Hollywood lore after meeting director John Ford and becoming a part of the Ford "family," appearing in four Ford motion pictures. Im glad that it clears up that rumor about him. Strode is perhaps best remembered as the stoic slave gladiator in Spartacus (1960) who tells Kirk Douglas: I dont want to be your friend. Forego a bottle of soda and donate its cost to us for the information you just learned, and feel good about helping to make it available to everyone. Woody's whispered warning - "Don't pick up" - is easily one of the series' best line deliveries. It is like when people try to pretend John Wayne and Winston Churchill were not racist. Before judging Jimmy Stewarts character by the recollections of one man 25 years after an alleged conversation occurred, consider the facts that can be confirmed: Based on the facts that can be confirmed, Hal Kanters anecdote cannot be used as evidence that Jimmy Stewart was racist. Strode was a college track and football star at UCLA, one of the first Blacks to integrate the NFL, a professional wrestler, a Golden Globe nominated actor, and a WWII veteran. This article looks at Woody Strode, an early African-American and Native American star who left pro wrestling in the early 1960s to become an actor in Hollywood for decades. Martinelli, Outside Man (TV) (1977) After World War II Woody and Kenny Washington became the first blacks to play in the NFL. Actor: Spartacus. For his book, Dewey interviewed the producer of Jimmys 1971 television show, writer Hal Kanter. But after reading your entire article I know Mr. Stewart was a decent human being and my admiration for him has grown after reading your article. Actually, I had been rassling in the off-season anyhow, Strode told the late, great Canadian newspaper columnist Jim Proudfoot. So it's not entirely out of the ordinary for Woody to believe that they're siblings. Scream (1985) Strode, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, died of lung cancer in Los Angeles in 1994 at the age of 80. His fellow Gold Dust Gang member Jackie Robinson would break the color barrier in Major League Baseball a year later in 1947. I really cried for days because hes one of my favorite actors and I am African-American. Afterwards, Lee Marvin remembered seeing both John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart lunge for the offending actor. Aka: We Are No Angels There's no easier way to put it: Woody is weird. After Gus and Shawn are implicated in yet another murder scene, they scramble to cover up the evidence which Woody is already all too keenly aware of. He and Kenny Washington integrated the National Football League (NFL), and Strode played for the Los Angeles Rams in 1946 before moving to the Canadian Football League in 1948. I want to thank you for your research into one of my favorite actors. Strode served in the Air Force from 1942 to 1946, including time in Guam and the Marianas where he unloaded bombs.