JL
Johnny Lee
Actor
Born July 4, 1898Died December 12, 1965 (67 years)
John Dotson Lee Jr. (July 4, 1898 – December 12, 1965) was an American singer, dancer, and actor known for voicing the role of Br'er Rabbit in Disney's Song of the South (1946) and as the clownish, cringing, tremulous-voiced shyster pseudo-lawyer Algonquin J. Calhoun in the CBS Amos 'n' Andy TV and radio comedy series in the early 1950s. His comedic portrayal of Calhoun was a highlight of a brilliant ensemble cast whose storylines remain eternally funny. Much of his career was spent in vaudeville, but he also performed in motion pictures, on recordings, and on television. He released a record (as "Johnnie Lee") in July 1949 called "You Can't Lose A Broken Heart" (Columbia Records # 30172), with backup vocals by The Ebonaires. Lee also starred in an all-black musical comedy called "Sugar Hill" in 1949 at Las Palmas Theatre in California.
He died of a heart attack on December 12, 1965 age 67.
He died of a heart attack on December 12, 1965 age 67.
Filmography
| 1998 | Scandalize My Name: Stories from the Blacklist · as Algonquin J. Calhoun |
| 1986 | Disney Sing-Along Songs: Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah · as Br'er Rabbit |
| 1983 | Amos 'n' Andy: Anatomy of a Controversy · as Calhoun |
| 1960 | High Time · as Servant At Judge Carter's Ball |
| 1960 | North to Alaska · as Coachman |
| 1960 | The Rat Race · as Janitor (uncredited) |
| 1959 | Dennis the Menace (TV Series) · as Johnny The Locksmith |
| 1958 | Hot Spell · as Colored Man |
| 1957 | The Spirit of St. Louis · as Jess - Cook At Louie's Shack (uncredited) |
| 1956 | The Adventures of Jim Bowie (TV Series) · as Israel |
| 1956 | The First Traveling Saleslady · as Amos |
| 1955 | Screen Directors Playhouse (TV Series) · as Simon |
| 1955 | Soldiers of Fortune (TV Series) · as Kamele |
| 1952 | Ramar of the Jungle (TV Series) · as Chief Warren |
| 1952 | The Narrow Margin · as Waiter |
| 1951 | The Amos 'n Andy Show (TV Series) · as Algonquin J. Calhoun |
| 1951 | My Forbidden Past · as Toy Vendor |
| 1949 | Fireside Theatre (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1948 | Boarding House Blues · as Stanley |
| 1946 | Song of the South · as Br'er Rabbit (voice) |
| 1943 | Stormy Weather · as Lyles (uncredited) |
| 1942 | Tales of Manhattan · as Shantytown Carpenter (robeson Sequence) |
| 1936 | The Green Pastures · as Angel |
| 1932 | The Black King · as Count Of Zanzibar |
| 1929 | St. Louis Blues · as Bartender |