Died of a heart attack 2 days before Redd Foxx (who also died of a heart attack), with whom he guest-starred on Sanford and Son (1972), playing the role of a man warning of heart attacks among African-Americans.
His most famous role is playing Bill Thomas, Roger and Dee's father, on
the 1970's television show What's Happening!! (1976).
Died of a heart attack in October of 1991 but, ironically, appeared on the Sanford and Son (1972) episode, Fred's Cheating Heart (1974), as "the Heart Fund Man", advocating heart disease awareness among African-Americans.
He is referred to as "Jack Crowder" (his real name) by one of his on
screen co-stars in the Andrew Davis film The Package (1989), in which he
played the Secret Service Commander.
Won a Theater World award during the 1967-1968 season playing Cornelius
Hackl to Pearl Bailey's Dolly Levi in the all-black revival of "Hello,
Dolly!" He was using his real name, Jack Crowder, at the time.
Attended University of Redlands.
Biological father of popular Bay Area hip hop producer One Drop Scott.