Arthur French (actor) facts for kids

Arthur Wellesley French Jr. (born November 6, 1931 – died July 24, 2021) was an American actor and director. He was most famous for his amazing work in live theatre.

About Arthur French

Arthur French was born in Harlem, New York City, on November 6, 1931. His parents, Arthur and Ursilla French, came to the U.S. from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Arthur French had a long career that lasted over 50 years. He was especially well-known for his many roles on stage. He worked a lot with the Negro Ensemble Company (NEC). This group helped tell important stories through theatre.

He also appeared in movies and TV shows. One of his early film roles was in the 1976 comedy movie Car Wash. Later in his career, he acted in films like 2 Days in New York and Red Hook Summer, both released in 2012.

Arthur French passed away on July 24, 2021, in Manhattan, New York, at the age of 89.

His Work in Theatre

Arthur French was a very busy actor in theatre. He played many different characters in plays.

• In 1969, he was in Ceremonies in Dark Old Men.
• He also acted in Black Girl in 1971.
• In 1983, he performed in You Can't Take It With You.
• One of his notable roles was as Holloway in Two Trains Running in 2006. For this role, he won the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Featured Actor. This is a special award for theatre actors.

Arthur French also directed plays. In 1967, he directed a play called One Last Look.

His Work in Film and TV

Besides theatre, Arthur French also appeared in several movies and television shows.

• In 1976, he played Charlie in the comedy film Car Wash.
• He was also in the 1992 film Malcolm X.
• In 1994, he appeared in the movie Crooklyn.
• On TV, he had a role in the show Another World from 1986 to 1987.
• Later, in 2018, he was in an episode of the TV series New Amsterdam.