Career
He left home at the age of 14 to perform with a circus as ventriloquist in state fairs, then after a few years began to appear in clubs in Chicago. During his two-year service in the Korean War, he entertained troops as a ventriloquist. In the 1950s and ’60s he performed his act in clubs nationwide with black audiences, including the Apollo Theater in New York City.
He sometimes performed for mixed-race shows, but in southern states was prevented from appearing onstage at the same time as white performers.
Finally, the Playboy Club circuit placed him before largely white crowds, including in southern states. He appeared on national television in the 1960"s, including The Editor Sullivan Show, Playboy After Dark and The Dean Martin Show.
He is best remembered for his stand-up work and television and film appearances in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1968, Stu was paired with Don Adams and Robert Culp in Get Smart as Agent Samuels in "Die, Spy", a ping-pong spoof of "I Spy".
Gilliam was born in a middle-class area of Detroit, Michigan, and was the grandson of a church minister.