Cambridge, Godfrey (1933–1976)

CAMBRIDGE , GODFREY (1933–1976). Comedian, actor. The New York born Cambridge was educated at Hofstra University and City College of New York, 1954. He made his Broadway debut in Nature’s Way , and was in both the stage and film versions of Purlie Victorious , for which he received a Tony Award nomination. He appeared in the off-Broadway productions of Lost In the Stars, Take A Giant Step, Detective Story , and he won an Obie award in 1961 for his performance in The Blacks . As a comedian, his routines often addressed the country’s racial problems and his candid style has been praised and emulated. He released four comedy albums on Epic Records, including Those Cotton-Pickin Days Are Over and Godfrey Cambridge Toys with the World . On television, he has appeared on numerous variety hours, including The Jack Paar Show, The David Frost Show , and The Johnny Carson Show . He has also made guest appearances on various dramatic television series, including Naked City , Daktari, Night Gallery , and Police Story . On the big screen, Cambridge played the lead in Watermelon Man , 1970, and portrayed the character of Grave-digger Jones in the films Cotton Comes to Harlem , 1970, and its sequel, Come Back, Charleston Blue , 1973. He made a cameo appearance in the horror film Beware! The Blob , 1972.

Filmography: Purlie Victorious , 1963; Gone Are the Days , 1963; The President’s Analyst , 1967; Watermelon Man , 1970; Cotton Comes to Harlem , 1970; Beware! The Blob , 1972; Come Back Charleston Blue , 1973; Whiffs , 1975; Friday Foster , 1975.