Career
Born in New York City, New York, Wilson began as a soul singer fronting a band called the Counts before making his acting debut in the blaxploitation film, Cotton Comes to Harlem. He would go on to appear in several blaxploitation films of the era. In addition to films, Wilson also landed roles in several popular television shows.
Wilson portrayed Earl the postman on the series That"s My Mama.
He also played several characters in the 1970s sitcom What"s Happening!!, including the role of First Rate (at Lloyd's) Dunbar in a popular two-part episode. In the conclusion of the two-part episode, Wilson"s character gets arrested for bootlegging a Doobie Brothers concert.
In 1976, he played a messenger in Sanford and Son in Episode 1, Season 6, "The Hawaiian Connection". After the series was canceled, Wilson made various guest appearances in episodes of The White Shadow (he also wrote a 1980 episode), Enos, Gimme a Break!, The Golden Girls and What"s Happening Now.
In 1986, he had a recurring role on another short-lived series, The Redd Foxx Show.
Wilson continued to work throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s appearing in Alien Nation, Dallas, Family Matters, Tales from the Crypt, Gabriel"s Fire, Mama"s Family and Quantum Leap. He was also featured in films The Hunter (1980), Blake Edwards" A Fine Mess and That"s Life! (both 1986). Wilson made his last onscreen appearance in Blood in Blood Out, a 1993 crime drama released after his death.
In 1980, Wilson married actress Joan Pringle.
The couple had two children. On July 21, 1991, Wilson died of a stroke at the age of 47 in Los Angeles, California.
