Lillian Randolph

February 14, 1898 (age 82)

Her older sister Amanda, an established performer in New York City nightclubs, inspired her to enter the entertainment field. Her career in the entertainment industry spanned five decades and included nightclub, radio, television, motion picture, and personal appearances. Lillian began as a singer on radio station WJR in Detroit, Michigan, where she also performed in nightclubs. She remained in Detroit for another two years, acting in the drama "Lulu and Leander" on WXYZ Radio. In 1936 she moved to Los Angeles, Calif. She spent the first seven years there as a popular singer in nightclubs. She had a strong voice and enthusiastic delivery that propelled her to a productive career in radio. Her first network radio role was as Mammy on the "Al Jolson Show. " Randolph next performed on Edward G. Robinson's "Big Town" series and worked regularly in radio until the 1950's. Until the 1960's, African-American performers were limited to roles that white management deemed appropriate, such as maids, butlers, or singers. These characters were based on white minstrel show interpretations of black figures with exaggerated facial expressions and a "negroid" dialect. Randolph spent three months studying with a white vocal coach to master that dialect. She soon portrayed the stereotypical black maid on several radio comedies during the 1940's and 1950's: "Beulah, " "The Billie Burke Show, " "My Mother's Husband, " and "The Remarkable Miss Tuttle. " Her most famous maid character was Birdie Lee Coggins on "The Great Gildersleeve. " She also played Madam Queen on the "Amos 'n' Andy" show. Randolph's portrayals of a black maid in a white household represented a typical stereotyped role. While displaying warmth, understanding, and common sense, she was a confidante of the white family members. The black housekeeper, emitting self-confidence and an implacable personality, could deflate the central character, such as Gildersleeve, with a verbal jab, delivered with courtesy and deference. Randolph's dynamic persona and perfectionism made her the master of these roles. Because the stereotypical black maid was also a popular movie character, Randolph soon found work in films while continuing to perform on radio and in nightclubs, encouraged by Edward Stevenson, a designer with RKO Studios who had seen her nightclub act. Initially, she acted in several "race" movies such as Life Goes On (1938). She performed in more than thirty films, many of them comedies, and often in the role of the maid. Her most noteworthy films included Little Men (1940); West Point Widow (1941); four Great Gildersleeve movies, in which she reenacted the role of Birdie Lee Coggins (1942 - 1944); The Adventures of Mark Twain (1944); It's a Wonderful Life (1946), playing her favorite and memorable role as Annie the maid; The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer (1947); Once More My Darling (1949); That's My Boy (1951); Bend of the River (1952); Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964); Once Is Not Enough (1975); Magic (1978); and The Onion Field (1979), in her last and most dramatic role, as a foster mother pleading for the life of her accused son. During the 1940's and 1950's, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People protested the small number of blacks working in the entertainment field and the stereotypical roles, speech, and mannerisms that limited African-American performers. The Great Gildersleeve and Randolph's character Birdie were especially criticized for "malicious maligning of minorities" in the minstrel tradition. Several regularly employed African-American entertainers, such as Randolph and Eddie ("Rochester") Anderson, spoke out publicly against the protests. Randolph stated that she had no problems in radio "except the criticism from Negro groups. " Moreover, she said, these portrayals "do not affect the Negroes' past, present, and future. " In 1952 the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) considered a resolution "to prohibit the usual stereotype portrayal of Negroes on radio. " Randolph, the only black delegate to this and other AFTRA conventions, argued successfully that the resolution would put blacks out of work by giving those roles to white actors. In the 1950's several popular radio programs were adapted for television, and Randolph continued her roles as Madam Queen on "Amos 'n' Andy, " Birdie on "The Great Gildersleeve, " and Beulah. During the 1960's and 1970's, she showed a broader range of talent on the first "Bill Cosby Show" (1969 - 1970), "Mannix" (1970), "Room 222" (1970), and "That's My Mama" (1974); as the voice of the aged Miss Pittman on "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman" (1974); on "Sanford and Son" (1975) and "The Jeffersons" (1976); and as Sister Sara in "Roots" (1977). Randolph loved the entertainment field and continued to work professionally until her death. In 1956, after CBS dropped the "Amos 'n' Andy" show, Randolph and other cast members created a touring company called the "TV Stars of Amos 'n' Andy. " The effort was short-lived because CBS threatened legal action. For ten years she provided the voice of the cook in the "Tom and Jerry" cartoons. During the 1960's, Randolph, McKee, and daughter Barbara toured the Far East, entertaining at American military bases and nightclubs. She also made television commercials for Wesson Oil, Pacific Telephone, and American Airlines. Randolph was a music and drama coach for many years and created her own singing group, the Lillian Randolph Singers, which toured the country and gave professional advice to aspiring singers and actors. She also was involved in church and charity work, such as the Benevolent Variety Artists, which she sponsored. A private person whose greatest enjoyment was her family, she died in Arcadia, California.

Lillian Randolph Edit Profile

also known as Castello Randolph

Entertainer singer actress

Background

Lillian Randolph was born on December 14, 1898 in Knoxville, Tennessee, the younger daughter of Jesse and Jane Randolph. The family moved to Cleveland, Ohio.

Education

Lillian attended public schoolin Cleveland, Ohio.

Career

Her older sister Amanda, an established performer in New York City nightclubs, inspired her to enter the entertainment field.

Her career in the entertainment industry spanned five decades and included nightclub, radio, television, motion picture, and personal appearances. Lillian began as a singer on radio station WJR in Detroit, Michigan, where she also performed in nightclubs. She remained in Detroit for another two years, acting in the drama "Lulu and Leander" on WXYZ Radio.

In 1936 she moved to Los Angeles, Calif. She spent the first seven years there as a popular singer in nightclubs. She had a strong voice and enthusiastic delivery that propelled her to a productive career in radio. Her first network radio role was as Mammy on the "Al Jolson Show. " Randolph next performed on Edward G. Robinson's "Big Town" series and worked regularly in radio until the 1950's. Until the 1960's, African-American performers were limited to roles that white management deemed appropriate, such as maids, butlers, or singers. These characters were based on white minstrel show interpretations of black figures with exaggerated facial expressions and a "negroid" dialect.

Randolph spent three months studying with a white vocal coach to master that dialect. She soon portrayed the stereotypical black maid on several radio comedies during the 1940's and 1950's: "Beulah, " "The Billie Burke Show, " "My Mother's Husband, " and "The Remarkable Miss Tuttle. " Her most famous maid character was Birdie Lee Coggins on "The Great Gildersleeve. " She also played Madam Queen on the "Amos 'n' Andy" show. Randolph's portrayals of a black maid in a white household represented a typical stereotyped role. While displaying warmth, understanding, and common sense, she was a confidante of the white family members. The black housekeeper, emitting self-confidence and an implacable personality, could deflate the central character, such as Gildersleeve, with a verbal jab, delivered with courtesy and deference. Randolph's dynamic persona and perfectionism made her the master of these roles. Because the stereotypical black maid was also a popular movie character, Randolph soon found work in films while continuing to perform on radio and in nightclubs, encouraged by Edward Stevenson, a designer with RKO Studios who had seen her nightclub act. Initially, she acted in several "race" movies such as Life Goes On (1938).

She performed in more than thirty films, many of them comedies, and often in the role of the maid. Her most noteworthy films included Little Men (1940); West Point Widow (1941); four Great Gildersleeve movies, in which she reenacted the role of Birdie Lee Coggins (1942 - 1944); The Adventures of Mark Twain (1944); It's a Wonderful Life (1946), playing her favorite and memorable role as Annie the maid; The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer (1947); Once More My Darling (1949); That's My Boy (1951); Bend of the River (1952); Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964); Once Is Not Enough (1975); Magic (1978); and The Onion Field (1979), in her last and most dramatic role, as a foster mother pleading for the life of her accused son.

During the 1940's and 1950's, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People protested the small number of blacks working in the entertainment field and the stereotypical roles, speech, and mannerisms that limited African-American performers. The Great Gildersleeve and Randolph's character Birdie were especially criticized for "malicious maligning of minorities" in the minstrel tradition.

Several regularly employed African-American entertainers, such as Randolph and Eddie ("Rochester") Anderson, spoke out publicly against the protests. Randolph stated that she had no problems in radio "except the criticism from Negro groups. " Moreover, she said, these portrayals "do not affect the Negroes' past, present, and future. " In 1952 the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) considered a resolution "to prohibit the usual stereotype portrayal of Negroes on radio. "

Randolph, the only black delegate to this and other AFTRA conventions, argued successfully that the resolution would put blacks out of work by giving those roles to white actors. In the 1950's several popular radio programs were adapted for television, and Randolph continued her roles as Madam Queen on "Amos 'n' Andy, " Birdie on "The Great Gildersleeve, " and Beulah. During the 1960's and 1970's, she showed a broader range of talent on the first "Bill Cosby Show" (1969 - 1970), "Mannix" (1970), "Room 222" (1970), and "That's My Mama" (1974); as the voice of the aged Miss Pittman on "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman" (1974); on "Sanford and Son" (1975) and "The Jeffersons" (1976); and as Sister Sara in "Roots" (1977).

Randolph loved the entertainment field and continued to work professionally until her death. In 1956, after CBS dropped the "Amos 'n' Andy" show, Randolph and other cast members created a touring company called the "TV Stars of Amos 'n' Andy. " The effort was short-lived because CBS threatened legal action.

For ten years she provided the voice of the cook in the "Tom and Jerry" cartoons. During the 1960's, Randolph, McKee, and daughter Barbara toured the Far East, entertaining at American military bases and nightclubs. She also made television commercials for Wesson Oil, Pacific Telephone, and American Airlines. Randolph was a music and drama coach for many years and created her own singing group, the Lillian Randolph Singers, which toured the country and gave professional advice to aspiring singers and actors. She also was involved in church and charity work, such as the Benevolent Variety Artists, which she sponsored. A private person whose greatest enjoyment was her family, she died in Arcadia, California.

Achievements

Although Randolph is mainly remembered for stereotypical roles, she is important as one of the few talented African-American entertainers who was regularly employed in the early days of radio and television and helped to open the door for others. She was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame in Oakland, California, in 1980. Randolph is most recognized for appearing in It's a Wonderful Life (1946), Magic (1978) and The Onion Field (1979), the last of which was her final onscreen project. She prominently contributed her voice to the character Mammy Two Shoes in the Tom and Jerry cartoons between 1940 and 1952.

Works

Tom and Jerry - Spotlight Collection, Volume 2 Tom and Jerry - Spotlight Collection, Volume 2

$It\'s A Wonderful Life (Black & White Version) It\'s A Wonderful Life (Black & White Version)$ Black Beauty Black Beauty

Sleep, My Love Blu-ray Sleep, My Love Blu-ray

book
- Sleep, My Love Blu-ray
  (A rattled socialite meets another man who figures out wha...)
- Tom and Jerry - Spotlight Collection, Volume 2
- It's A Wonderful Life (Black & White Version)
- Black Beauty

Connections

Randolph married boxer Jack Chase, who died, and then Garcia McKee in 1954. She had at least two children.

Father:: Jesse Randolph
Mother:: Jane Randolph
Spouse:: Frank Baskett
Spouse:: Garcia McKee
Spouse:: Jack Chase
sibling:: Amanda Randolph
Daughter:: Barbara
Son:: Charles

Main Photo