Manutan moreland biography of william

American actor and comedian (–)

Mantan Moreland (September 3, &#; September 28, ) was an American actor and comedian most popular in the s and s.^[1] He starred in numerous films. His daughter Marcella Moreland appeared as a child actor in several films.

Early years

He was born in Monroe, Louisiana, to Frank, an old-time Dixielandbandleader, and Marcella.^[2] Moreland began acting by the time he was an adolescent; some sources say he ran away to join a minstrel show in , at age eight,^[2] but his daughter told Moreland's biographer she doubts this date is correct.^[3] She and other sources agree it is more likely he left home when he was fourteen.^[4]

Career

After "nearly ten years of working the small, small time", Moreland gained an opportunity in when he was hired as a comedian in Connie's Inn Frolics in Harlem.^[5] He next worked in the musical revue Blackbirds of , which ran for performan Mantan Moreland: The Black Comedian Who Was Almost One of the ...

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