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Scoey Mitchell

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Scoey Mitchell
Mitchell (left) as a boxer on an episode of TV's
That Girl, 1969.
Born (1930-03-12) March 12, 1930 (age 94)
Newburgh, New York, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1967–1990; 2017
SpouseClaire T. Thomas (1973–present)

Scoey Mitchell (born March 12, 1930) is an American actor, writer and TV director known for frequent appearances on 1970s game shows, including Match Game and Tattletales. He starred in the short-lived series Barefoot in the Park (based on the Neil Simon play) and had a recurring role on Rhoda.

He also created two short lived NBC TV series, Me and Mrs. C and 13 East. He appeared as Richard Pryor's father in the film Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling.

Early life and career

Mitchell was born on March 12, 1930, in Newburgh, New York. He started his career on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in 1967.[1] Mitchell was in What's It All About, World? as himself in 1969.[2][3]

He was a guest star in many television series such as The Mothers-in-Law, Here Come the Brides, That Girl, The Odd Couple, The Six Million Dollar Man, and Baretta. Mitchell starred in several made-for-TV movies, such as Voyage of the Yes,[4] Cops,[5] and Cindy.[6] He also turned to directing television with such as Me & Mrs. C. in 1984[7] and episodes of 13 East in 1989–90. Mitchell wrote for television and made-for-TV movies such as The Scoey Mitchell Show in 1972,[8][7] Just a Little More Love in 1983,[9] and Handsome Harry's.[10] In addition, he ventured into production of television and made-for-TV movies such as Grambling's White Tiger in 1981,[11] Gus Brown and Midnight Brewster in 1985,[12] and Miracle at Beekman's Place in 1988.[13] Mitchell also was on a number of television shows as himself such as Match Game from 1974 to 1979, Super Password in 1988, The Joey Bishop Show 1968–69, The Hollywood Squares in 1968, and Tattletales from 1974 to 1978 and from 1982 to 1984.

In September 1970, ABC cast Mitchell in Barefoot in the Park based on Neil Simon's Broadway play of the same name. The series cast members were predominantly black, making it the first American television sitcom since Amos 'n' Andy to have a predominantly black cast (Vito Scotti was the sole major white character). Barefoot in the Park had been a successful 1967 film starring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda.[14] It was thought by ABC that placing Barefoot in the Park behind Bewitched would do well, but because that show was already in a slump, Barefoot in the Park never developed high numbers for the network. During its first few episodes, Barefoot in the Park developed behind-the-scenes strife that sealed its fate: Mitchell was fired due to "differences of opinion" with the series' producers. Rather than replace Mitchell with another actor—and already disenchanted with the low ratings—ABC decided to cancel Barefoot in the Park in December 1970. In 1986, Mitchell was in Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling, a semi-autobiographical film about Richard Pryor.[15] In 2017, after a hiatus of thirty years, Mitchell returned to acting in A Kindred Soul.

Filmography

Acting

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1986 Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling Father Semi-autobiographical;[16] directed by Richard Pryor.[15]

Television

Year Title Role Episode(s) Notes
1965 Get Smart
1967 The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour Himself "Episode #2.12" (S2:Ep 12)
1968 "Episode #2.17" (S2:Ep 17)
"Episode #2.24" (S2:Ep 24)
1969 What's It All About, World? Himself Contract role
The Mothers-in-Law Solomon Elkins "Guess Who's Coming Forever" (S2:Ep 20)
Here Come the Brides Sheriff Bond "Far Cry from Yesterday" (S2:Ep 1)
The Carol Burnett Show Himself "Episode #3.4" (S3:Ep 4)
That Girl Tony Harris "Shake Hands and Come Out Acting" (S4:Ep 9)
1970 Barefoot in the Park Paul Bratter Contract role
1972 The Odd Couple Consul from Nigeria "The Princess" (S3:Ep 3)
1973 Voyage of the Yes Pretty Made-for-TV movie Directed by Lee H. Katzin.[4]
Cops Sergeant Monroe Dupree Made-for-TV movie
1974 The Six Million Dollar Man Major Chooka "Little Orphan Airplane" (S1:Ep 5)
1974–76 Rhoda Justin Culp Recurring
1975 Joe Forrester Guest Pilot: "Stake Out"
Police Story Investigator Mal Groves "The Execution" (S2:Ep 18)
"The Cut Man Caper" (S3:Ep 5)
1976 Doc The Father "And Baby Makes Eight" (S1:Ep 16)
1977 Baretta Mike "Playin' Police" (S3:Ep 24)
1978 Cindy Cindy's father Made-for-TV movie Directed by William A. Graham.[6]
Baretta Aterna "The Bundle" (S4:Ep 24)
Taxi Robber "Memories of Cab 804: Part 1" (S1:Ep 11)
1979 Lou Grant Minister "Skids" (S2:Ep 23)
Stockard Channing in Just Friends Guest "Room at the Top" (S1:Ep 8)
A New Kind of Family Carl Ashton "Thank You for a Lovely Evening" (S1:Ep 7)
Password Plus Guest Air date 4/2/79 with Lee Meriwether
1985 Gus Brown and Midnight Brewster Maurice Made-for-TV movie Directed by James Fargo.[12]
Handsome Harry's Harry Marquette Made-for-TV movie
1986 Me & Mrs. C. Reverend Kilgore "Ladies' Choice: Part 1" (S1:Ep 2)
"Ladies' Choice: Part 2" (S1:Ep 3)
Miracle at Beekman's Place Dr Cyrus Beekman Made-for-TV movie Directed by Bernard L. Kowalski and written by Mitchell.[13]

Directing

Television

Year Title Production Type Episodes Notes
1984 Me & Mrs. C. Made-for-TV movie Co-directed with Drew R. Handley [7]
1987 Me & Mrs. C. TV series

"The Jailbird" (S2:Ep 2)
"Happy Birthday to You" (S2:Ep 3)
"A Bump in the Night" (S2:Ep 12)
"Smarty Pants" (S2:Ep 13)

1989–90 13 East TV series

Pilot: "Where's the Ticket?" (S1:Ep 1)
"I've Got a Loan to Pick with You" (S1:Ep 2)
"A Day in the Life" (S1:Ep 3)
"The Switch" (S1:Ep 4)
"Tabloid Time" (S1:Ep 5)
"Poppa's Coming" (S1:Ep 6)
"Bullseye" (S2:Ep 10)

Writing

Television

Year Title Production Type Directed by Notes
1972 The Scoey Mitchell Show Made-for-TV movie Marc Breslow [7]
1983 Just a Little More Love Made-for-TV movie Burt Brinckerhoff [9]
1984 Me & Mrs. C. Made-for-TV movie Co-directed with Drew R. Handley [7]
1985 Gus Brown and Midnight Brewster Made-for-TV movie James Fargo [12] Story by Mitchell and Martin Rips; teleplay by Mitchell.[12]
Handsome Harry's Made-for-TV movie Bill Foster [10] Co-written and story by Mitchell with Calvin Kelly and James Tisdale (credited as Jim Tisdale).[10]
1986 Me & Mrs. C. TV series Episodes:
  • Pilot: "Moving in and Moving Out" (S1:Ep 1)
  • "Ladies' Choice: Part 2" (S1:Ep 3)
  • "The Checks Are in the Mail" (S1:Ep 4)
  • "The Lottery" (S1:Ep 5)
  • "Let's Have a Party" (S1:Ep 6)
1988 A Whole Lotta Fun Made-for-TV movie Co-written with Cassandra Clark, James Hampton, Tracy Morgan, Deborah Pearl (credited as Debbie Pearl), Steve Robertson, and John Vornholt.[17]
Miracle at Beekman's Place Made-for-TV movie Bernard L. Kowalski [13]

Production

Television

Year Title Production Type Credited as Notes
1981 Grambling's White Tiger Made-for-TV movie Associate producer [11] Directed by Georg Stanford Brown [11]
1983 Just a Little More Love Made-for-TV movie Executive producer[9]
1984 Me & Mrs. C. Made-for-TV movie Producer[7]
1985 Gus Brown and Midnight Brewster Made-for-TV movie Producer [12]
Handsome Harry's Made-for-TV movie Executive producer [10]
1986 Me & Mrs. C. TV Series Producer
1988 A Whole Lotta Fun Made-for-TV movie Executive producer [17]
Miracle at Beekman's Place Made-for-TV movie Producer [13]
1989 13 East TV series Producer

References

  1. ^ "Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour Episode Schedule". Smothers Brothers. Retrieved 2016-06-11.
  2. ^ "What's It All About, World?". Getty Images. The Carlyle Group. 1969-03-20. Retrieved 2016-06-10.
  3. ^ "What's It All About, World?". Getty Images. The Carlyle Group. 1969-03-20. Retrieved 2016-06-10.
  4. ^ a b "Voyage of the Yes". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 2016-06-10.
  5. ^ a b "Cops". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 2016-06-10.
  6. ^ a b "Cindy". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 2016-06-10.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "Me & Mrs. C." Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 2016-06-10.
  8. ^ Terrace, Vincent (2013-06-06). Television Specials: 5,336 Entertainment Programs, 1936-2012 (2nd ed.). McFarland. p. 325 of 488. ISBN 978-0-7864-7444-8. Retrieved 2019-09-28.
  9. ^ a b c "Just a Little More Love". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 2016-06-10.
  10. ^ a b c d e "Handsome Harry's". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 2016-06-10.
  11. ^ a b c "Grambling's White Tiger". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 2016-06-10.
  12. ^ a b c d e "Gus Brown and Midnight Brewster". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 2016-06-10.
  13. ^ a b c d "Miracle at Beekman's Place". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 2016-06-10.
  14. ^ "Barefoot in the Park". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 2016-06-10.
  15. ^ a b "Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 2016-06-10.
  16. ^ Siskel, Gene (May 4, 1986). "Richard Pryor Comes Clean In Harrowing Recap Of Life". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved 2016-06-10.
  17. ^ a b "A Whole Lotta Fun". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 2016-06-10.
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