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Scatman Crothers

Actor

Scatman Crothers

Born May 23, 1910 in Terre Haute, Indiana, USADied November 22, 198657 films

Benjamin Sherman "Scatman" Crothers (May 23, 1910 – November 22, 1986) was an American actor, singer, dancer and musician known for his work as Louie the Garbage Man on the TV show Chico and the Man, and as Dick Hallorann in The Shining in 1980. He was also a prolific voiceover artist, and provided the voices of Meadowlark Lemon in the animated TV version of The Harlem Globetrotters, Jazz the Autobot in The Transformers, the title character in Hong Kong Phooey, and Scat Cat in the 1970 film The Aristocats.

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One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest posterFirst watchOne Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest19758.4as Orderly TurkleA petty criminal fakes insanity to serve his sentence in a mental ward rather than prison. He soon finds himself as a leader to the other patients—and an enemy to the cruel, domineering…View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
The Shining poster8.2The Shining1980The Aristocats poster7.3The Aristocats1970The Transformers: The Movie poster7.1The Transformers: The Movie1986Twilight Zone: The Movie poster6.5Twilight Zone: The Movie1983The Shootist poster7.1The Shootist1976Hello, Dolly! poster7.0Hello, Dolly!1969Silver Streak poster6.7Silver Streak1976Scooby-Doo! Meets the Harlem Globetrotters poster9.0Scooby-Doo! Meets the Harlem Globetrotters1973

Filmography

57 films as actor
  1. 2024Transformers: 40th Anniversary EventJazz (archive audio)
  2. 1987Transformers: The Return of Optimus PrimeJazz
  3. 1987Rock OdysseyJukebox (voice)
  4. 1986The Transformers: The MovieJazz (voice)
  5. 1986The Transformers: More Than Meets the EyeJazz (voice)
  6. 1985The Journey of Natty GannSherman
  7. 1983Two of a KindEarl
  8. 1983Twilight Zone: The MovieMr. Bloom
  9. 1982Missing Children: A Mother's StoryMose Wheeler
  10. 1982Deadly EyesGeorge Faskins
  11. 1982Zapped!Dexter Jones
  12. 1982WorkingParking Attendant
  13. 1981The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's IslandDewey Stevens
  14. 1980The Harlem Globetrotters Meet Snow WhiteNate (voice)
  15. 1980Bronco BillyDoc Lynch
  16. 1980The ShiningHallorann
  17. 1979Scavenger HuntSam
  18. 1979Banjo the Woodpile CatCrazy Legs (voice)
  19. 1978The Cheap DetectiveTinker
  20. 1978Mean Dog BluesMudcat
  21. 1976Silver StreakRalston
  22. 1976Chesty Anderson U.S. NavyBen Benson
  23. 1976The ShootistMoses
  24. 1976Stay HungryWilliam
  25. 1975Friday FosterReverend Noble Franklin
  26. 1975One Flew Over the Cuckoo's NestOrderly Turkle
  27. 1975CoonskinPappy / Old Man Bone (voice)
  28. 1975Man on the OutsideRuben Hammer
  29. 1975The FortuneFisherman
  30. 1975Linda Lovelace for PresidentSuper Black
  31. 1975Win, Place or StealAttendant
  32. 1974Truck TurnerDuke
  33. 1974Sty of the Blind PigDoc
  34. 1974Black Belt JonesPop Byrd
  35. 1973Scooby-Doo! Meets the Harlem Globetrotters(voices)
  36. 1973Slaughter's Big Rip-OffCleveland
  37. 1973Detroit 9000Reverend Markham
  38. 1972The King of Marvin GardensLewis
  39. 1972Lady Sings the BluesBig Ben
  40. 1972The LoraxSinger
  41. 1971ChandlerSmoke
  42. 1970The AristocatsScat Cat (voice)
  43. 1970The Great White HopeCarnival Barker (uncredited)
  44. 1970Bloody MamaMoses
  45. 1969Hello, Dolly!Mr. Jones (Porter) (uncredited)
  46. 1969Hook, Line and SinkerThe Corpse (uncredited)
  47. 1964The PatsyShoeshine Boy
  48. 1964Lady in a CageMr. Paul's Assistant (uncredited)
  49. 1961The Sins of Rachel CadeMusinga
  50. 1960Tarzan and the TrappersTyana
  51. 1959Porgy and BessCrabman
  52. 1959Alias Jesse JamesRailroad Porter (uncredited)
  53. 1956Between Heaven and HellGeorge (uncredited)
  54. 1953Walking My Baby Back HomeSmiley
  55. 1953East of SumatraBaltimore (as Scat Man Crothers)
  56. 1953Meet Me at the FairEnoch Jones
  57. 1951Yes Sir, Mr. BonesScatman