Mel Stewart facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mel Stewart
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Stewart as First Sergeant Bryant in Roll Out, 1973.
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| Born |
Milton Stewart
September 19, 1929 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
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| Died | February 24, 2002 (aged 72) Pacifica, California, U.S.
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| Other names | Melvin Stewart Melvin Stuart |
| Occupation | Actor, television director, musician |
| Years active | 1959–1993 |
| Spouse(s) |
Annie Dong
(m. 1976–2002) |
Milton "Mel" Stewart (born September 19, 1929 – died February 24, 2002) was an American actor, TV director, and musician. He appeared in many movies and TV shows from the 1960s to the 1990s. People remember him best for playing Henry Jefferson on the TV show All in the Family. He was also known for his role as Billy Melrose on the TV series Scarecrow and Mrs. King. Sometimes, he was called Melvin Stewart or Mel Stuart.
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Mel Stewart's Acting Career
Mel Stewart started acting in 1959 with small parts in TV shows and movies. In the early 1960s, he also performed in plays on Broadway, which is a famous theater district in New York City. Some of these plays included Purlie Victorious and The Hostage.
Voice Acting and Improv
Stewart also used his voice for acting. He narrated a jazz piece called "Scenes in the City" for a music album in 1957. In 1961, he recorded an album of Langston Hughes' poetry. He was also part of an improv comedy group called The Committee in San Francisco. Improv means making up scenes and dialogue on the spot.
Famous TV Roles
Mel Stewart got roles in many popular TV series. These included That Girl, Marcus Welby, M.D., and The Bob Newhart Show. One of his most famous roles was Henry Jefferson, the brother of George Jefferson, in the TV show All in the Family. He appeared in this show for three seasons.
In 1973, he co-starred in a short TV series called Roll Out. The next year, Stewart directed two episodes of another show, Get Christie Love!. From 1977 to 1978, he played Marvin Decker in Tabitha, which was a spin-off show from Bewitched.
Later Career Highlights
In the 1980s, Stewart starred as section chief Billy Melrose on Scarecrow and Mrs. King. This show ran for four years, from 1983 to 1987. He continued to appear as a guest star in both TV shows and movies. His last movie role was in 1993 in the film Made in America, which starred Whoopi Goldberg.
Other Talents and Activities
Besides acting and directing, Mel Stewart was a talented jazz saxophonist. He played the saxophone, which is a musical instrument.
Teaching and Theater
Stewart lived in San Francisco for a long time. He also taught acting at San Francisco State University. One of his students was the famous actor Danny Glover.
He started a theater group called Black Actors Now Through Unity (BANTU). He directed plays at different art centers in San Francisco and Berkeley, California.
Martial Arts
Mel Stewart was also very skilled in aikido, which is a Japanese martial art. He held a third-degree black belt in aikido. He even opened a dojo, which is a training hall, for young people in San Francisco.
Personal Life
On July 11, 1976, Mel Stewart married Annie Dong. They had one daughter together. Mel Stewart passed away on February 24, 2002, due to Alzheimer's disease.
Images for kids
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Stewart as First Sergeant Bryant in Roll Out, 1973.
