Godfrey Cambridge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Godfrey Cambridge
Publicity Photo of Godfrey Cambridge
Born	Godfrey MacArthur Cambridge ( 1933 -02-26)February 26, 1933 New York City, United States
Died	November 29, 1976(1976-11-29) (aged 43) Burbank, California, United States
Resting place	Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills), Los Angeles
Education	Hofstra University (attended) City College of New York (attended)
Occupation	Actor, stand-up comedian
Notable work	Watermelon Man (1970) Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970)
Spouse(s)	Barbara Ann Teer (1962–1965) Audriano Meyers (1972–1976)
Children	2
Comedy career
Medium	Stage and screen
Years active	1957–1976

Godfrey MacArthur Cambridge (born February 26, 1933 – died November 29, 1976) was a famous American comedian and actor. He was known for his stand-up comedy and his roles in movies and TV shows. In 1965, Time magazine called him one of the top Black comedians in the country, alongside stars like Bill Cosby and Dick Gregory.

Early Life and Education

Godfrey Cambridge was born in New York City on February 26, 1933. His parents, Alexander and Sarah Cambridge, had moved from British Guiana. When he was young, his parents sent him to live with his grandparents in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada, for his elementary school years.

At age 13, Cambridge moved back to New York. He attended Flushing High School in Flushing, Queens. In 1949, he started studying medicine at Hofstra University. However, after three years, he left college to follow his dream of becoming an actor.

Acting Career Highlights

While trying to become an actor, Godfrey Cambridge worked many different jobs. He was a taxi driver, an ambulance driver, a gardener, and even a judo instructor. He also cleaned airplanes and made popcorn bunnies to support himself.

Starting on Stage

Cambridge's first acting role was as a bartender in an Off-Broadway play called Take a Giant Step. He made his first appearance on Broadway in 1957 in the play Nature's Way. In 1962, he was nominated for a Tony Award for his role in Purlie Victorious. This play was written by and starred Ossie Davis.

Memorable Film Roles

Godfrey Cambridge had many memorable roles in movies. In The Last Angry Man (1959), he played a character called "Nobody Home." He also appeared in The President's Analyst (1967) as a government agent.

One of his most famous roles was in Watermelon Man (1970). In this movie, he played a white character who wakes up one day to find his skin has turned black. He also starred in Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970) and its sequel, Come Back, Charleston Blue (1972). These films were based on novels by Chester Himes.

Cambridge also made brief appearances in other films. These included Bye Bye Braverman (1968) and Friday Foster (1975). His other movies included The Busy Body (1967), The Biggest Bundle of Them All (1968), The Biscuit Eater (1972), Beware! The Blob (1972), and Whiffs (1975).

Television Appearances

Cambridge appeared on several popular television shows. He was in episodes of Car 54 Where Are You?, The Dick Van Dyke Show, I Spy, and The Monkees. He also had a small part in The Phil Silvers Show in 1957.

He gave a praised performance in an episode of Rod Serling's Night Gallery called "Make Me Laugh." This episode was directed by Steven Spielberg. Cambridge also became well-known for his funny commercials for Jockey brand underwear.

Stand-Up Comedy Success

Besides acting, Godfrey Cambridge was a very successful stand-up comedian. By 1965, he was earning a lot of money and performing at top comedy clubs. He appeared on The Tonight Show and The Hollywood Palace.

His comedy routines were known for being sharp and funny. He often used sarcasm and talked about current events. He was also known for switching between formal speech and Black street-speak in his jokes.

Cambridge believed his comedy helped people see the truth about life. He wanted to show common experiences and make people laugh about them.

Comedy Albums

Godfrey Cambridge released several comedy albums:

• Here's Godfrey Cambridge, Ready or Not... Epic Records FLM 13101 (mono)
• Them Cotton Pickin' Days Is Over Epic Records
• Godfrey Cambridge Toys With The World Epic Records
• The Godfrey Cambridge Show: Recorded Live At The Aladdin, Las Vegas Epic Records

Personal Life and Activism

Godfrey Cambridge was involved in the Civil Rights Movement. He helped organize one of the first benefit events for Martin Luther King Jr. in New York City. This event, held in the late 1950s, raised $9,000 for King's movement.

Cambridge married actress Barbara Ann Teer in 1962, but they divorced three years later. In 1972, he married Audriano Meyers. During the 1970s, he made fewer public appearances.

Death

Godfrey Cambridge passed away from a heart attack on November 29, 1976. He was 43 years old. He died while on the set of a TV movie called Victory at Entebbe, where he was going to play a role. He is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) in Los Angeles.

Filmography