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Joe Seneca is a Actor American born on 14 january 1919 at Cleveland (USA)

Joe Seneca

Joe Seneca
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Nationality USA
Birth 14 january 1919 at Cleveland (USA)
Death 15 august 1996 (at 77 years) at New York City (USA)

Joe Seneca (January 14, 1919 – August 15, 1996) was an American film and television actor who had a lengthy Hollywood career, portraying bit parts in many major films and television sitcoms spanning from the 1970s to the 1990s. He played the father of Danny Glover's character in the film Silverado.

Biography

Seneca was born Joel McGhee in Cleveland, Ohio. Prior to his Hollywood career, Seneca belonged to the R&B singing group "The Three Riffs", performing at upscale supper clubs in New York City. He was also a songwriter and had big hits with "Talk to Me" which was sung by Little Willie John and "Break It to Me Gently", which was a smash twice, once by Brenda Lee in 1962, and once by Juice Newton in 1982. His song "It's Gonna Work Out Fine" was recorded by Ike & Tina Turner, Manfred Mann, Ry Cooder and The Spencer Davis Group.

Arguably his most well-known roles are that of bluesman Willie Brown in Crossroads and Dr. Meddows in The Blob, the evil head of a government team sent to contain the title creature.

Seneca also made multiple appearances on The Cosby Show as Hillman President Dr. Zachariah J. Hanes. He also played Alvin Newcastle, a man suffering from Alzheimer's disease, on an episode of The Golden Girls entitled "Old Friends." Joe appeared in Spike Lee's School Daze as the Mission College President McPherson in 1988.

Joe appeared on Matlock, in the May 9, 1989 episode "The Blues Singer".

Joe appeared in Michael Jackson's "The Way You Make Me Feel" Music Video In the late 80's.

He died from asthma at the age of 77.

Usually with

Spike Lee
Spike Lee
(3 films)
Bill Lee
Bill Lee
(2 films)
Chuck Russell
Chuck Russell
(1 films)
Source : Wikidata

Filmography of Joe Seneca (20 films)

Display filmography as list

Actor

A Time to Kill, 2h29
Directed by Joel Schumacher
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Crime
Themes Prison films, Films about racism, Films about sexuality, Rape in fiction, Films about capital punishment
Actors Sandra Bullock, Samuel L. Jackson, Matthew McConaughey, Kevin Spacey, Ashley Judd, Donald Sutherland
Roles Reverend Isaiah Street
Rating74% 3.74923.74923.74923.74923.7492
Two white supremacists (Nicky Katt and Doug Hutchison) come across a ten-year-old black girl named Tonya (Rae'Ven Larrymore Kelly) in rural Mississippi. They violently rape and beat Tonya and dump her in a nearby river after a failed attempt to hang her; she survives, and the men are arrested.
The Saint of Fort Washington, 1h39
Directed by Tim Hunter
Origin USA
Genres Drama
Actors Danny Glover, Kevin Corrigan, Matt Dillon, Rick Aviles, Nina Siemaszko, Ving Rhames
Roles Spits
Rating69% 3.494863.494863.494863.494863.49486
Matthew is a young man with a good heart that suffers from sporadic schizophrenic tendencies. He ends up with nowhere to live after a slumlord tears down his tenement. Bullied by punks, Matthew turns to a homeless military veteran, Jerry, for help on how to survive. Together they form a friendship that changes both of their lives forever.
Malcolm X
Malcolm X (1992)
, 3h13
Directed by Spike Lee
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Biography, Action, Historical
Themes Assassinat, Politique, Films about racism, Films about religion, Political films, Films about Islam
Actors Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, Albert Hall, Al Freeman Jr., Delroy Lindo, Spike Lee
Roles Toomer
Rating76% 3.8483353.8483353.8483353.8483353.848335
Malcolm X divides the life of the African-American activist Malcolm X into three sections. The first section deals with the troubled childhood of Malcolm Little, whose father, a preacher, was murdered by the Black Legion and whose mother was institutionalized for insanity. Malcolm grows up and gets a job as a Pullman porter, calling himself Detroit Red. Getting involved with a Harlem gangster named West Indian Archie with whom he has a falling out, Malcolm flees to Boston and decides to become a burglar. He and his best friend, Shorty (played by Spike Lee) are arrested by the police and Malcolm is sentenced to a ten-year prison term. The second section follows Malcolm's life in prison, where a fellow inmate, Baines, introduces him to the teachings of the Nation of Islam.
Mississippi Masala, 1h58
Directed by Mira Nair
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Comedy-drama, Romance
Themes Films set in Africa, Films about racism
Actors Denzel Washington, Roshan Seth, Sarita Choudhury, Sharmila Tagore, Charles Dutton, Joe Seneca
Roles Williben Williams
Rating66% 3.3471053.3471053.3471053.3471053.347105
The film begins in 1972 when Idi Amin expelled Asians from Uganda. This included Jay (Roshan Seth) his wife, Kinnu (Sharmila Tagore), and their daughter, Mina (Sarita Choudhury), a family of third-generation Ugandan Indians residing in Kampala. It then moves forward to 1990. After spending a few years in England, Jay, Kinnu, and Mina have relocated in 1987 to Greenwood, Mississippi to live with family members who own a chain of motels there.
Mo' Better Blues, 2h9
Directed by Spike Lee
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Comedy, Musical theatre, Musical, Romance
Themes Films about music and musicians, Jazz films, Musical films
Actors Denzel Washington, Wesley Snipes, Giancarlo Esposito, Spike Lee, Joie Lee, Bill Nunn
Rating66% 3.3480453.3480453.3480453.3480453.348045
The film begins with a scene set in Brooklyn, New York in 1969. A group of four boys walk up to Bleek Gilliam's brownstone and ask him to come out and play baseball with them. Bleek's mother insists that he continue his trumpet lesson, to his chagrin. His father becomes concerned that Bleek will grow up to be a sissy, and a family argument ensues. In the end, Bleek continues playing his trumpet, and his friends go away.
Tarzan in Manhattan, 1h34
Directed by Michael Schultz
Origin USA
Genres Action, Adventure
Themes Films about animals, Films about children, Le thème de l'enfant sauvage, Films about apes, Superhero films, L'enfance marginalisée, Tarzan films, Mise en scène d'un mammifère
Actors Joe Lara, Jan-Michael Vincent, Tony Curtis, Joe Seneca, Oliver Muirhead
Roles Joseph
Rating42% 2.127342.127342.127342.127342.12734
Tarzan part pour New York afin de sauver la vie de son chimpanzé Cheetah enlevé par un trafiquant d'animaux sauvages. Dans ce nouvel environnement, il sera aidé de Jane Porter, chauffeur de taxi d'archimedes Porter, son père ancien policier de la ville devenu détective privé.
Tarzan in Manhattan, 1h34
Directed by Michael Schultz
Genres Action, Adventure
Themes Films set in Africa, Films about children, Tarzan films
Actors Joe Lara, Tony Curtis, Jan-Michael Vincent, Joe Seneca, Oliver Muirhead
Roles Joseph
Rating42% 2.127342.127342.127342.127342.12734
Tarzan leaves Africa and goes to present-day New York City to seek vengeance for the murder of his Ape mother Kala, and to rescue Cheeta who was taken by hunters working for B. B. Brightmore (Jan-Michael Vincent) and his Brightmore Foundation. Soon Tarzan discovers this supposed philanthropic organization is conducting illegal tests on animal brains in an effort to transfer the thoughts and knowledge of one creature to another, and he sets out to rescue the animals and expose Brightmore. He is aided by Jane Porter (a cab driver, played by Kim Crosby) and her father, Archimedes "Archie" Porter (Tony Curtis), a retired police officer, now the head of his own security agency.
The Blob
The Blob (1988)
, 1h30
Directed by Chuck Russell
Origin USA
Genres Science fiction, Fantastic, Horror
Themes Films about extraterrestrial life, Alien invasions in films
Actors Kevin Dillon, Shawnee Smith, Donovan, Donovan Leitch, Jeffrey DeMunn, Candy Clark
Roles Dr. Meddows
Rating66% 3.3012053.3012053.3012053.3012053.301205
A meteorite crashes near Arborville, California. An elderly transient discovers, within the sphere, a massive slime mold-like substance (the Blob) that attaches itself to his hand. Three high school students, Brian, Meg and Paul, take him to a hospital. After Brian leaves, Paul witnesses the lower half of the transient melting from exposure to the Blob. As he calls for help, the Blob drops on top of him. Meg arrives to see Paul being devoured by the growing Blob. While she tries to free him, his arm dissolves off, Meg is thrown against a wall and knocked unconscious, and the Blob oozes out of the hospital.
School Daze, 2h1
Directed by Spike Lee
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Comedy, Comedy-drama, Musical theatre, Musical
Themes Musical films
Actors Laurence Fishburne, Giancarlo Esposito, Tisha Campbell-Martin, Darryl M. Bell, Jasmine Guy, Joe Seneca
Roles President Harold McPherson
Rating60% 3.0489453.0489453.0489453.0489453.048945
Vaughn "Dap" Dunlap (Fishburne) is a politically conscious black American student at Mission College, a leading historically black college whose motto is "Uplift the Race". The college administration is portrayed as inept.
Big Shots
Big Shots (1987)
, 1h34
Directed by Robert Mandel
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Comedy, Action, Adventure, Crime
Actors Darius McCrary, Robert Joy, Robert Prosky, Paul Winfield, Jerzy Skolimowski, Brynn Thayer
Roles Ferryman
Rating57% 2.8559152.8559152.8559152.8559152.855915
An 11-year-old boy from Hinsdale, Illinois named Obie Dawkins (Ricky Busker) is out fishing with his father, who tells him about the birds and the bees. All the while Obie shows interest in his dad's watch, who eventually gives it to him. Later that morning Obie is in school when his mom arrives to tell him that his dad is in the hospital. The family learns that he suffered a massive heart attack, which he dies from days later. After the funeral, Obie lingers to the memory of him and his father, the day his dad gave him his watch, as he and his family tries to move forward.
A Gathering of Old Men, 1h31
Directed by Volker Schlöndorff
Origin USA
Genres Drama
Actors Louis Gossett Jr., Holly Hunter, Richard Widmark, Woody Strode, Joe Seneca, Will Patton
Roles Clatoo
Rating64% 3.2442153.2442153.2442153.2442153.244215
À la suite d'une rixe, Charlie, un noir, s'enfuit poursuivi par Beau Boutan, un fermier blanc, qui armé d'un fusil veut « lui faire la peau ». Après avoir tenté de lui échapper à travers les plantations de canne à sucre de la famille Marshall, Charlie se réfugie chez Mathu, un fermier noir. Un coup de feu claque et le poursuivant est abattu devant la porte de la masure où le poursuivi s'est précipité. Candy qui habite dans la riche demeure de son oncle Jack Marshall et de sa tante Bea Marshall depuis qu'elle a perdu ses parents, entend le coup de feu et se rend immédiatement sur place pour en comprendre l'origine. Elle arrive chez Mathu qui prostré ne répond pas à ses questions mais elle n'a aucun mal à comprendre ce qui s'est passé. Très attachée à ce fermier qui, pendant son enfance, a été un substitut paternel elle organise sa protection pour éviter à son ami d'être lynché par la famille Boutan et leurs complices ou amis blancs. Avec l'aide de Miss Merle qui, pour elle, a joué le rôle de substitut maternel et celle de Snookum, un gamin déluré, elle rassemble 18 noirs qui, armés de fusils viennent faire bloc à ses côtés.
Crossroads
Crossroads (1986)
, 1h36
Directed by Walter Hill
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Musical, Romance
Themes Films about music and musicians, Transport films, Films about automobiles, Le blues, Musical films, Road movies, Buddy films
Actors Ralph Macchio, Joe Seneca, Jami Gertz, Joe Morton, Tim Russ, Dennis Lipscomb
Roles Willie Brown
Rating71% 3.551583.551583.551583.551583.55158
Eugene Martone (Ralph Macchio) is a classical guitar student at the Juilliard School for Performing Arts in New York City who has an obsession for the blues, especially the famed Robert Johnson. Most intriguing are the legends surrounding exactly how Johnson became so talented most notably the one claiming he "sold his soul to the Devil at the crossroads" along with a supposed lost song that Johnson never recorded.
Silverado
Silverado (1985)
, 2h29
Directed by Lawrence Kasdan
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Comedy, Action, Adventure, Crime, Western
Actors Kevin Kline, Scott Glenn, Rosanna Arquette, John Cleese, Kevin Costner, Brian Dennehy
Roles Ezra
Rating71% 3.5981953.5981953.5981953.5981953.598195
Emmett (Scott Glenn) is ambushed by three men while he sleeps in a deserted shack. In a brief gunfight, he kills all of the assailants. As he sets out for the town of Silverado, Emmett finds a man, Paden (Kevin Kline), lying in the desert, having been robbed and left to die.
The Evil That Men Do, 1h27
Directed by J. Lee Thompson
Origin USA
Genres Thriller, Action, Adventure, Crime
Themes Seafaring films, Transport films, Political films, Films about Latin American military dictatorships
Actors Charles Bronson, Theresa Saldana, Joseph Maher, José Ferrer, René Enríquez, John Glover
Roles Santiago
Rating58% 2.9494952.9494952.9494952.9494952.949495
Holland is a former CIA assassin who lives quietly and peacefully on a West Indies island. He is persuaded out of retirement by the death of Jorge Hidalgo, a friend and dissident journalist. Hidalgo was murdered by Clement Molloch, a Welsh doctor who lives in Guatemala. Molloch has made a science of the practice of torture and sells his knowledge and skills to any government that can pay his price.
Solomon Northup's Odyssey, 1h58
Directed by Gordon Parks
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Biography, Comedy, Historical, Romance
Themes Films about slavery, Films about racism
Actors Avery Brooks, Kent Broadhurst, Joe Seneca, Mason Adams, Michael Tolan, Art Evans
Roles Noah
Rating70% 3.5318753.5318753.5318753.5318753.531875
Solomon Northup's Odyssey is based on the true story of Solomon Northup, a free black man in Saratoga, New York who was kidnapped in 1841 and sold into slavery (see slavery in the United States). Northup was intelligent, skilled in carpentry, and was able to play music. He was enslaved in the state of Louisiana for 12 years before he was released.