Laurence Criner facts for kids
Laurence Criner was an amazing actor from the United States. He was an African-American performer who starred in many movies. Sometimes, he was also known as J. Lawrence Criner. He often played the main character in his films.
Laurence Criner was part of a famous acting group called the Lafayette Players. This group helped many African-American actors get their start. He also worked at Norman Studios in Jacksonville, Florida. This studio was special because it made "race films." These were movies made by and for African-American audiences during a time when they weren't often seen in mainstream Hollywood films. Criner starred in two of these important movies. Later, he also worked with another African-American film company called Million Dollar Productions.
Criner's work is still remembered today! The famous Smithsonian Institution has a special lobby card from his movie The Flying Ace. The Library of Congress also keeps a movie poster for Life Goes On, which even shows a picture of Criner. The National Museum of African American History has a special advertisement, called a herald, for The Flying Ace.
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Criner's Stage Performances
Laurence Criner also performed on stage in plays. One of his known theater roles was in a play called Meek Mose.
Notable Stage Roles
- Meek Mose (1928), where he was credited as J. Lawrence Criner.
Laurence Criner's Film Career
Laurence Criner had a long and busy career in movies. He appeared in many films, often playing important characters. His roles ranged from brave pilots to wise high priests and even sheriffs.
Selected Movies Featuring Criner
- The Flying Ace (1926) as Capt. Billy Stokes
- The Millionaire (1927 film) (1927)
- Black Gold (1928 film) (1928)
- Black Moon (1934), playing the high priest Kala
- Bargain with Bullets (1937)
- The Duke Is Tops (1938) as Doc Dorando
- Gang Smashers (1938)
- Life Goes On (1938 film) (1938)
- Midnight Shadow (1939) as Prince Alihabad
- Four Shall Die (1940) as Roger Fielding
- Gang War (1940 film) (1940)
- The Gang's All Here (1941 film) (1941) as Ham Shanks
- Up Jumped the Devil (1941) as Sheriff
- King of the Zombies (1941) as Dr. Couillie
- Freckles Comes Home (1942) as Roxbury B. Brown, III
- Law of the Jungle (film) (1942) as Chief Mojobo, an Oxford graduate
- Miracle in Harlem (1948), as Albert Marshall
- What a Guy (1948)
- The Jackie Robinson Story (1950)
