Avon Long facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Avon Long
Long in 1943.
Born	(1910-06-18)June 18, 1910 Baltimore, Maryland
Died	February 15, 1984(1984-02-15) (aged 73) New York City
Years active	1932–1984

Avon Long was a talented American actor and singer. He was famous for his work on Broadway, which is a big theater district in New York City. He was born on June 18, 1910, and passed away on February 15, 1984.

Discovering Avon Long: A Broadway Star

Early Life and Inspiration

Avon Long grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. He went to Frederick Douglass High School. There, his Latin teacher and drama coach, Nellie A. Buchanan, really inspired him. She helped him discover his love for acting.

Shining on Broadway

Avon Long became a well-known face on Broadway. He performed in many popular shows. One of his most famous roles was Sportin' Life in the musical Porgy and Bess. He played this part in a 1942 revival of the show.

In 1934, he introduced a song called "As Long As I Live." He sang it with Lena Horne in a show called Cotton Club Parade. Lena Horne was only 16 years old at the time.

He also appeared in the 1952 show Shuffle Along. His performance in Porgy and Bess was even recorded in 1951. This recording was very important because it was the most complete version of the opera available then.

Tony Award Nomination

Avon Long was nominated for a Tony Award in 1973. This award is one of the highest honors for Broadway actors. He was nominated for his role as Dave in the play Don't Play Us Cheap. This play opened in New York in 1972 and ran for 164 performances.

Many of the actors from the play, including Avon Long, later appeared in a film version. This movie was made by Melvin Van Peebles in 1973.

Later Broadway Roles

In 1976, Long started a new role as John in Bubbling Brown Sugar. This show was also on Broadway. It ran for a long time, with 766 performances, before closing in 1977.

Avon Long in Movies and TV

From Stage to Screen

Avon Long also acted in several movies and television shows. He played an older character named Chicken George Moore in the TV miniseries Roots: The Next Generations.

He had smaller, but memorable, roles in famous films. In Trading Places (1983), he played Ezra. He was also in The Sting (1973) and Harry and Tonto (1974).

Interestingly, he was first chosen to play George Jefferson in the TV show "All in the Family." However, he was later replaced in that role.

Final Years

Avon Long passed away from cancer on February 15, 1984. He was 73 years old. He was buried in Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York.

His oldest granddaughter is JoAnn Pinkney Wilcox. She is an author, artist, and radio talk show host.

Filmography

Images for kids

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  Avon Long in 1943.

See Also

• List of African-American actors