JS
Photo of Joe Seneca

Joe Seneca

Actor
Born January 14, 1919Died August 15, 1996 (77 years)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Joe Seneca (January 14, 1919 – August 15, 1996) was an American film and television actor who had a lengthy Hollywood career, portraying bit parts in many major films and television sitcoms spanning from the 1970s to the 1990s.

Seneca was born Joel McGhee in Cleveland, Ohio. Prior to his Hollywood career, Seneca belonged to the R&B singing group "The Three Riffs", performing at upscale supper clubs in New York City. He was also a songwriter and had big hits with "Talk to Me" which was sung by Little Willie John and "Break It to Me Gently", which was a smash twice, once by Brenda Lee in 1962, and once by Juice Newton in 1982. His song "It's Gonna Work Out Fine" was recorded by Ike & Tina Turner, Manfred Mann and The Spencer Davis Group.

Arguably his most well-known roles are that of bluesman Willie Brown in Crossroads and Dr. Meddows in The Blob, the evil head of a government team sent to contain the title creature.

Seneca also made multiple appearances on The Cosby Show as Hillman President Dr. Zachariah J. Hanes. He also played Alvin Newcastle [1]on an episode of The Golden Girls entitled "Old Friends."

Joe appeared in Spike Lee's "School Daze" as the Mission College President McPherson in 1988.

Joe appeared on Matlock: The Blues Singer Episode May 9, 1989.

Joe also appeared in Michael Jackson's "The Way You Make Me Feel" Music Video In the late 80's.

He died from asthma at the age of 77.

Description above from the Wikipedia article Joe Seneca, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Movies & Shows on Plex

  • The Evil That Men Do
  • Tarzan in Manhattan
  • The Vernon Johns Story

Known For

  • Crossroads
  • The Blob
  • School Daze
  • Mississippi Masala
  • The Saint of Fort Washington
  • A Gathering of Old Men
  • The Vernon Johns Story
  • Tarzan in Manhattan
  • Wilma
  • Moments Without Proper Names
  • The House of Dies Drear
  • Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story

Filmography

1996
A Time to Kill · as Reverend Isaiah Street
1994
Sweet Justice (TV Series) · as Vince Martin
1994
Christy (TV Series)
1994
1993
1993
seaQuest DSV (TV Series) · as Professor Bingham
1992
Malcolm X · as Toomer
1991
Mississippi Masala · as Williben Williams
1990
Law & Order (TV Series) · as Lionel Jackson
1990
Mo' Better Blues · as Big Stop's Friend
1989
1989
1989
A Man Called Hawk (TV Series) · as Portait Voice
1988
The Blob · as Dr. Meddows
1988
China Beach (TV Series)
1988
In the Heat of the Night (TV Series) · as Rev. John Carter
1988
School Daze · as President Harold Mcpherson
1987
Big Shots · as Ferryman
1987
Friday the 13th: The Series (TV Series) · as Hedley
1987
1987
Mr. President (TV Series) · as Cast
1987
1986
Throb (TV Series)
1986
1986
Crossroads · as Willie Brown
1986
Matlock (TV Series)
1985
Amazing Stories (1985) (TV Series) · as Ben Dumfy
1985
Spenser: For Hire (TV Series)
1985
The Equalizer (TV Series) · as Fossil
1985
The Golden Girls (TV Series) · as Alvin Newcastle
1985
227 (TV Series)
1985
Silverado · as Ezra
1984
1984
1984
The Cosby Show (TV Series) · as Dr. Zachariah J. Hanes
1984
Terrible Joe Moran · as Pittsburgh Billy
1984
1982
The Verdict · as Dr. Thompson
1981
1980
American Playhouse (TV Series) · as Noah
1979
Kramer vs. Kramer · as Partygoer
1979
1979
The Tenth Month · as Doorman
1977
Wilma · as Ed Rudolph
1974
1956
The Edge of Night (TV Series) · as Skipper

Take Plex everywhere

Watch free anytime, anywhere, on almost any device.
See the full list of supported devices