However, while on a trip to London, he caught her in bed with a wealthy night club owner named Siegi Sessler and again the relationship almost foundered. At many times throughout the stressful saga, Woody is also fearing for his life, even pleading desperately with his captor and the episode's villain. I was lucky enough this time to have John Ford as my director. Now, I don't know if Mr Stewart has a prejudice against Negroes, but I just wanted you all to know about it., Stewart later said he wanted to crawl into a mouse hole after that and Wayne told him: Well, welcome to the club. Che! Thanks for clearing that up. Strode played as an End with the Rams in 1946, playing in 10 games that season. In the alleged interview, Woody Strode never uses the word racist to describe Jimmy Stewart. And he was dressed in blue overalls, a blue work shirt and boots. Well researched! Lets not allow an unsubstantiated rumor to tarnish the reputation of one of the few Hollywood stars worthy of our complete respect and admiration. For nearly two decades he remained a pioneer against racism in the film and television industry. He was a decathlete and football star who was one of the first Black American players in the National Football League in the postwar era. And I went on, and it went around the company: Stewart has never, hes always right up there., The day before the movie finished shooting, the cast was preparing to do the funeral scene. And late Hollywood legend James Stewart got to watch their dynamic up close. Watch Jim and Duke at the piano in the scene below: Sharing hotel, meals, and a piano jam session on and off film with Duke Ellington. Born in Los Angeles in 1914, Woodrow Wilson Woolwine Strode died at age 80 on New Year's Eve 1994. "I was lucky enough this time to have John Ford as my director. When we won, we all got drunk. Never had so much fun as I did in Canada. Hal Kanter is our only primary source on the alleged conversation. Find on Wikipedia. But when it came to shooting 1962s The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance with Duke and Jimmy Stewart on the Paramount lot, the director opted for black and white instead. Woody Strode. This story first appeared in the Nov. 3 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Just ask fans of the Calgary Stampeders. Jimmy Stewart was not racist. Hi Cheryl, thanks for reading! 7 Women (1966) Woody Strode movie reviews & film summaries | Roger Ebert. All I heard was Ford saying that Stewart didnt like Negroes, and that made me mad at Stewart, and Stewart was just even more uncomfortable around me.. The spiritual leader of an oriental country is dying. Jamie Greer joined LWOPW in 2015 and was the site's Managing Editor from 2016 through 2020. I'm glad you made it.. Winterhawk (1975) Is Woody Strode in the Hall of Fame? In fact I dont think he even likes Negroes.. City Beneath the Sea (1953) Sharing hotel, meals, and a piano jam session on and off film with Duke Ellington. Well written, thank you. (A small role in 1941s Sundown marked his actual debut.) Additionally, the. Aka: The Million Dollar Fire At MGM there was a separate entrance and lunchroom for the black laborers and maids. In 1939 Woody, Jackie Robinson and Kenny Washington led UCLA to its first undefeated football season. Strode also had a brief career as a professional gridiron football player and was among the first African . (See The American Creed video in my article above.). Woody Strode, byname of Woodrow Wilson Woolwine Strode, (born July 28, 1914, Los Angeles, California, U.S.died December 31, 1994, Glendora, California), American character actor who was part of director John Ford's "family" of actors, appearing in nearly a dozen of Ford's films. Strode praised Ford in a 1960 interview. I wanted to crawl into a mouse hole, Stewart recalled. Another reliable source for Woody Strodes feelings towards Jimmy Stewart is a 1994 interview with Lee Marvin biographer, Dwayne Epstein. As a 70 year old black man who grew up watching and loving Jimmy Stewart i can only hope he wasnt a racist like so many Americans of his era ! > Canadian Hall of Fame Jimmy Stewart worked with several black actors and entertainers throughout his career, including Hal Williams, Woody Strode, Lillian Randolph, Louis Armstrong, and Duke Ellington. > Obituary Archive (After she died in 1980, Strode would marry Tina in 1982, and they were together until his death.). Kanters interview includes his overwhelmingly positive insights on both Jim and working on The Jimmy Stewart Show (1971-1972). No Time for Love (1943) The Quick & The Dead (1995) Thanks so much for your kind words, and for reading! Pete Thodos would score shortly thereafter to seal a 12-7 Calgary win. Its such a demoralizing rumor. Strode gave the Hollywood establishment what they demanded and appeared in some of the best and the worst of what they offered him. He became part of Hollywood lore after meeting director John Ford and becoming a part of the Ford "family," appearing in four Ford motion pictures. Strode also played the powerful gladiator who does battle with Kirk Douglas in Spartacus (1960)." Played . Jungle Man-Eaters (1954) American actor Woody Strode on the set of Sergeant Rutledge, directed by John Ford. For terms and use, please refer to our Terms and Conditions Washington and Strode? While Bill Fryes comment cannot be used as evidence that Jimmy Stewart was uncomfortable with racial advancement and equality, theres abundant evidence that Jim was not racist. At the time Ford yelled: Dont hit him Woody! He wasnt just an athlete on a scholarship at UCLA, he was an academic. After handing over ME duties to Alex Richards, he remains a frequent contributor to the site. Star Spangled Rhythm (1942) He had a problem with a black guy doing that. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. But after reading your entire article I know Mr. Stewart was a decent human being and my admiration for him has grown after reading your article. According to Peter Fonda, the sheer fact that Jimmy Stewart was best friends with Peters father. Woody Strode was born in Los Angeles, CA. Jim was boiling mad as he grabbed the actor by the shirt and threatened to beat him to an unrecognizable pulp if he ever used the word around Jim again. as a Black American, years ago, I read that Jimmy was racist. In addition to the testaments of people who knew him, Jimmy Stewarts own words and actions prove he was not racist. Then he asked someone to blow a whistle, which they did, and he called out, Everybody, would you please gather around? So they did. Unfortunately, anger at Jimmy Stewart is also the takeaway of less engaged readers of Michael Munns book. American Brotherhood Week, sponsored by the National Conference of Christians and Jews, was meant to encourage not just religious tolerance, but acceptance and equality for all races and nationalities. Aka: Scipio the African Thank you for bringing the evidence together. Spartacus (1960) Ford proceeded to announce to the entire company that: One of the actors here doesnt like Uncle Remus. Perhaps, Henry Fondas daughter Ms Jane Fonda would be perfect to obtain a definitive comment. The Alleged Woody Strode Interview Michael Munn's dangerous habit of mixing truth with exaggeration and fallacy calls his alleged interview with Woody Strode into question. Founded in 1969 and hailed by The New York Times as a journal in which the writings of many of todays finest black thinkers may be viewed, THE BLACK SCHOLAR has firmly established itself as the leading journal of black cultural and political thought in the United States and remains under the editorship of Robert Chrisman, Editor-In-Chief, Robert Allen, Senior Editor, and Maize Woodford, Executive Editor. In 1941, he began working as a professional wrestler, and in 1946, he and Washington became the first two African-American football players to play in the NFL, when they signed with the Los Angeles Rams. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. To promote Brotherhood Week, Jimmy Stewart opened and closed a 3 minute trailer that played before feature films at theaters across the United States. Thanks for your kind words, and for reading! It was the dark side of the American dream.. RELATED:Psych: 10 Best Gus Nicknames, Ranked. > WrestleMania, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Hockey injury led to wrestling for Karl Von Stroheim. Androcoles and the Lion (1952) link] that first sparked rumors about the beloved stars beliefs. Storyville (1992) Bride of the Gorilla (1951) 'The Harder They Fall' owes a tip of the hat to the pro footballer turned actor, who played the title role in one of the first mainstream films to plainly address racism. De Mille (The Ten Commandments as the King of Ethiopia); Stanley Kubrick (Spartacus); and Sergio Leone (Once Upon a Time in the West). But Kanter says that Jimmy mixed up the roles: he explained to Jim that Hal Williams had not been cast as a police officer, but as an FBI agent in a different episode. Cutting Her Down to Size? Thanks for reading Tracy! I am a black American who was heartbroken when I heard this aweful rumor. Woody Strode, the football player turned actor who had supporting roles in John Wayne films and costume period epics such as "Spartacus" and "The Ten Commandments," has died at age 80. A recently posed question casts a shadow on the otherwise pristine legacy of. I once played a part written for an Irish prize fighter. Strode played as an End with the Rams in 1946, playing in 10 games that season. A Los Angeles native, he excelled in athletics at UCLA in the late 1930s, where he was explosive as a decathlete as well as part of the college football team that also included Jackie Robinson he, Robinson, and future NFL starKenny Washington made up three of the four backfields and were dubbed the Gold Dust Gang by the press. Two teammates at UCLA were Jackie Robinson and Kenny Washington. According to Peter Fonda, the sheer fact that Jimmy Stewart was best friends with Peters father, Henry Fonda, proves that Jim was not racist. Film historian and author Donald Bogle explains Fords handling of race in the film compared to his previous work and the representation of the real life Buffalo Soldiers of the Old West. Theyre like father and son.. Michael Munns dangerous habit of mixing truth with exaggeration and fallacy calls his alleged interview with. She's been living in a galaxy far, far away since she was 11 years old, though she makes the occasional stop in Themyscira, Hawkins, and Westeros - and she wouldn't have it any other way.