Everything about Godfrey Cambridge totally explained
Godfrey MacArthur Cambridge (
February 26,
1933 -
November 29,
1976) was an
African American comedian and
actor. He was especially popular in the late
1960s and early
1970s as a regular guest on
The Merv Griffin Show and other talk shows. He had originally received a scholarship to study medicine but opted for an acting career instead.
Biography
Cambridge was born in
New York City to parents who were immigrants from
British Guiana. He began school in
Nova Scotia while living with his grandparents, but returned to New York City and graduated from Flushing High School. He then studied at Hofstra College, where he became interested in acting.
Acting career
Cambridge appeared both on stage and screen. Memorable film roles include
Watermelon Man, where he plays the lead character, a white bigot who one day wakes up and discovers his skin color has turned to black, and
The President's Analyst, where he plays a depressed government agent. He also had a starring role in the 1970
Ossie Davis adaptation of the Chester Himes novel
Cotton Comes to Harlem of the same name. He perhaps reached his largest audience in a series of comical television commercials for
Jockey brand underwear.
Cambridge is also remembered for his starring role in
Beware! The Blob, a sequel to the
The Blob, as well as appearances on several syndicated television programs, including
Car 54 Where Are You ("The Curse of the Snitkins"),
The Dick Van Dyke Show ("The Man From My Uncle"), and
I Spy ("Court of the Lion").
He had a number of starring theatrical roles, both on and off Broadway, including his Broadway debut in
Nature's Way (1951). He later appeared in
The Blacks, in a performance that earned him an Obie award in 1961. He also did a stock version of
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum four years later.
In addition to acting, Cambridge was a well-known standup comedian who appeared on
The Tonight Show and other television shows. His routines were imbued with biting sarcasm and trenchant topical humor that was common in comedic circles at the time.
Death
Godfrey Cambridge died of a
heart attack at the age of 43 while on the set of the movie
Victory at Entebbe, in which he was to portray
Idi Amin. Amin claimed Cambridge's death was "punishment from God." It is possible the frequently overweight Cambridge's habit of
yo-yo dieting contributed to his early demise, as his death was preceded by a rapid weight loss.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Godfrey Cambridge'.
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