James Beskett is an American actor best known for his role as Uncle Rem in the 1946 Disney feature film "Songs of the South", singing the song "Zi-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" in it. In recognition of his warm portrayal of the famous black storyteller, he was presented with an honorary Oscar. Thus, he became the first black actor to receive this award.
Biography
James Beskett was born on February 16, 1904 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Since childhood, he wanted to become a doctor, but due to extreme poverty he could not pay for his education and became an actor.
Career
Refusing to study pharmacology due to lack of money to pay for education, James Beskett moved from Indianapolis to New York and got into the group of actors Billy Robinson, better known as Mr. Bojungles. In 1929, she appeared on the stage of Broadway theaters in Louis Armstrong's musical revue Hot Candy, which consisted entirely of black actors. In 1933, he planned to participate in the musical production of "Hammin Sam", but it never took place.
James Besquette has starred in several all-black films set in New York. Among them was the popular movie Harlem in Heaven (1932), starring Bill Robinson.
For Walt Disney Studios, he voiced the character Fats Crow in the animated film Dumbo. After that, he was invited to Los Angeles, California, where he played a minor role in the film "Straight to the Sky" starring Nina Mae McKinney, as well as the films "Revenge of the Zombies" (1943) and "Heavenly Body" (1944).
In 1944 he was invited by Freeman Gosdenon to participate in the radio show "Amos and Andy" as lawyer Gabby Gibson, which aired from 1944 to 1948.
In 1945, he auditioned to voice one of the animals in Walt Disney's new feature film, Songs of the South (1946), based on the stories of Joel Chandler Harris (Rem's uncle). The talented actor was noticed by Walt Disney himself and invited Beskett to play the role of the main character of Uncle Rem in this film. In addition, Beskett also got the role of voice acting for Brer Fox, one of the animated antagonists of the film, and then also played the role of the main animated character Brer Rabbit in the same film. It was one of the first Hollywood appearances of a black actor as a protagonist as a serious character in a film aimed at the general public.
James Beskett was not allowed to attend the film's premiere in Atlanta, Georgia because blacks were not allowed on it. And Antlanta herself was known for her racial segregation.
Subsequently, Beskett was criticized for playing such a "humiliating" role. However, his acting talent, which he showed at the same time, was beyond praise. Columnist Hedd Hopper, along with Walt Disney and supported by many journalists and activists, have advocated for the Academy Award for James Beskett's work.
On March 20, 1948, the American Film Academy decided to present James Beskett with an honorary Oscar for his performance as Uncle Rem. This is how he became the first African American male actor to receive this award.
Creation
"Harlem in Heaven" or "Harlem in Paradise" (1932) - the role of Johnson (Beskett's acting debut). American musical crime drama directed by Irwin Franklin, almost all composed of African American actors. Starring Bill "Bojungles" Robinson, starring Putney Dadringe, John Mason, James Beskett, Anise Boyer, Henri Wessell and Alm Smith. Yubi Blake and his orexter as a musical concoction.
"Dumbo" (1941) - the voice role of a character named Fats Crow. American animated film by Walt Disney. The main character is a semi-anthropomorphic elephant with the cruel nickname "Dumbo". It is ridiculed for its large ears, but is actually capable of flying using its ears as wings. Throughout most of the film, his only real friend besides his mother is Timothy the mouse. Their relationship parodies the stereotypical feud between mice and elephants. In 2017, the film was declared a national treasure of the United States, despite the fact that at one time it was deliberately made as simple and cheap as possible. The whole picture was completed in 64 minutes - it was one of the shortest animated films by Disney.
"Revenge of the Zombies" (1943) - the role of Lazarus. A horror film directed by Steve Szekeli. Starring John Carradine and Gail Storm. In the story, Dr. Max Heinrich von Altermann played by Carradine, a mad scientist, is working to create a race of the living dead for the Third Reich. The film was a sequel to the 1941 horror comedy "King of the Zombies".
"Heavenly Body" (1944) - the role of the receptionist (no indication in the shooting galleries). American romantic comedy directed by Alexander Hall. Starring William Powell and Heli Mamarr. Based on the story of Jacques Terry about the beautiful wife of an astronomer professor, who is predicted by an astrologer that his dream of meeting true love will come true. Manufactured by Metro-Goldwin-Mayer.
Songs of the South (1946) - the role of Uncle Rem, the voice of Brer Fox, the voice of Brer Rabbit. American animated musical film by Walt Disney, based on a collection of short stories by Joel Chandler Harris (Uncle Remus). The action takes place in the southern United States in the era of Reconstruction after the end of the American Civil War and the abolition of slavery. Seven-year-old Johnny comes to visit his grandmother's plantation and becomes friends with Uncle Remus (Uncle Remus in the Russian version), one of the plantation workers. Uncle Rem tells Johnny about the adventures of Brer Fox (Brother Fox), Brer Rabbit (Brother Rabbit) and Brer Bear (Brother Bear). From these stories, Johnny learns to cope with the problems that arise during his stay on the plantation.
For James Beskett, his work on Songs of the South was his last film work.
The last years of life and death
In 1946, on the set of the film "Songs of the South," Beskett felt very bad. The doctors diagnosed him with diabetes. Subsequently, he even suffered a heart attack. Gradually his health began to deteriorate, and he began to skip filming the show "Amos and Andy", in which he participated. On July 9, 1948, during a break in this show, Beskett unexpectedly died of heart failure. At that time he was 44 years old.
His funeral was attended by his wife Margaret and his mother Elizabeth. The actor's body was buried in Crown Hill Cemetery in his hometown of Indianapolis.
