Timmie Rogers | |
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| Born | Timothy Louis Ancrum July 4, 1915 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | December 17, 2006 (aged 91) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Other names | Timmie Rodgers |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1927–1993 |
| Children | 2 |
Timmie Rogers (born Timothy Louis Ancrum July 4, 1915 – December 17, 2006) was an American comedian, singer-songwriter, bandleader and actor who appeared on many national TV shows in the 1960s and 1970s.[1][2] Rogers was one of the first Black comedians allowed to directly address a white audience when he worked. Before Rogers, African-American funny men had to either work in pairs or groups, only conversing with each other, and they had to play a character, while popular white comedians, such as Bob Hope and Jack Benny got to play themselves. Rogers worked by himself,[2] always dressed well, often wearing a tuxedo, and never wore blackface.[1]
His humor was clean, topical, and political. Rogers was inducted into the National Comedy Hall of Fame in 1993,[1] and is often called the Jackie Robinson of comedy, because he opened the door for other performers such as Dick Gregory and Bill Cosby.
As a singer, he often accompanied himself on a distinctive 10-stringed stringed instrument called a Martin tiple, including a 1975 television performance in a musical duet with Redd Foxx on the Sanford and Son series, playing a character named "Smiley Rogers."[3]
- ^ a b c Batts, Denise Watson (3 February 2008). "Timmie Rogers: Revolutionary for a new black comedy". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
- ^ a b "Timmie Rogers mimics oldtime aces in TV skit". The Afro American. ANP. 15 July 1961. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
- ^ "Timmie Rogers". IMDb.