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Arthur French
American film, television, and stage actor

Arthur French

The basics

Quick Facts

Intro
American film, television, and stage actor
A.K.A.
Arthur W. French Jr.
Gender
Male
Place of birth
New York City, New York, USA
Age
93 years
Family
Mother:
Ursilla French
Father:
Arthur French
The details

Biography

Arthur French (born 6 November 1931) is an American film, television, and stage actor active since the late 1960s. He is best known for his work on stage in New York. 

Early life

Arthur French was born as Arthur Wellesley French Jr. on November 6, 1931, in New York City, New York. His parents Arthur and Ursilla French both immigrated to the U.S. from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Career

Stage

In his career spanning over fifty years, French has worked regularly on the stage. He worked extensively with the Negro Ensemble Company (NEC) and has played a wide variety of roles including in:

Film and television

French made his film debut in 1969 in the role of a policeman in director Paul Williams' comedy drama Out of It, starring Barry Gordon and Jon Voight. He played a cop again in his next film, Dirtymouth (1970) — a biographical drama on the life of comedian Lenny Bruce.

In 1976, he had a supporting role in director Michael Schultz's comedy Car Wash, starring Ivan Dixon and DeWayne Jessie. In the following year, he was seen as "Records Clerk" in four episodes of the TV series Ryan's Hope.

In the following three decades, French was seen in a wide variety of big-ticket Hollywood films including Hanky Panky (1982), 'Round Midnight (1986), Loose Cannons (1990), Kinsey (2004), 2 Days in New York(2012),  Red Hook Summer (2012), God's Pocket (2014), and The Book of Henry (2017). Most recently, in 2019, French was seen starring as "John" in Grace Rex' short film Others, alongside Evie Bae and Ann Carr.

Personal life

French's son Arthur W. French III (born April 30, 1965) also works in film/TV and has worked in the art department for the 1990 thriller Men of Respect.

Selected credits

Theatre

Acting

Year Production Role Theatre(s) Notes 
1962 Raisin' Hell in the Son  Provincetown Playhouse  
1969 Ceremonies in Dark Old Men William Jenkins St. Mark's Playhouse  
1971 Black Girl Earl Theatre de Lys  
1978 Nevis Mountain Dew Ayton Morris St. Mark's Playhouse  
1981 The Amen Corner Brother Boxer Crossroads Theater Company  
1983 You Can't Take It With You Donald Plymouth Theatre
Royale Theatre 
 
1991 Mule Bone Rev. Singletary
Mayor Joe Clark (understudy) 
Ethel Barrymore Theatre  
1995 Henry VI Earl of Salisbury Theater at St. Clements Church  
2001 Fire Drill Carl Urban Stages Part of "Free Market," a collection of eight short plays. 
Kickin Summit Ski Urban Stages Part of "Free Market," a collection of eight short plays. 
Give Us This Day Dad Urban Stages Part of "Free Market," a collection of eight short plays. 
The Border Crossers Lounge Mother Perez Urban Stages Part of "Free Market," a collection of eight short plays. 
2005 The Master Builder Doctor Herdal Pearl Theatre  
2006 Two Trains Running Holloway Peter Norton Space Lucille Lortel Award, Outstanding Featured Actor 
2007 Dividing the Estate Doug 59E59 Theater A  
2009 Medea  The Riverside Theatre  
The Book of Lambert  La MaMa e.t.c.  
Dividing the Estate Doug Hartford Stage  

Directing

Year Production Theatre(s) Notes 
1967 One Last Look Old Reliable Theatre Tavern One of the first produced plays written by steve carter 

Film

Acting

Year Title Role Distributor Notes 
1976 Car Wash Charlie Universal  
1986 'Round Midnight Booker Warner Brothers  
1994 Crooklyn West Indian Store Manager Universal  
2012 Where is Joel Baum? Detective Robertson Palinka Picutres  
2013 2 Days in New York Lee Robinson Magnolia Pictures  
Movie 43 Old Man Relativity Media  

Television

Acting

Year Title Role Notes 
1986–1987 Another World Al Edwards 2 episodes 
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Arthur French
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