Ernest Anderson was born in Lynn MA and earned his high school diploma in Washington D.C. at Dunbar High School, formerly named The Preparatory High School for Colored Youth. Founded in 1891, it was America's first public high school for black students. He earned his bachelor's degree at Northwestern University's School of Drama and Speech. He moved to Hollywood and was working in the service department when Bette Davis arranged for him to interview for the role of Perry Clay in the film "In This Our Life" (1942). Mr. Anderson persuaded the director, John Huston, to change the racist dialog of his character typical of Hollywood in that era, to one of dignified intelligence and emotion. After serving his country in WWII, he returned to Warner Brothers where he continued to humanize the roles of America's black performers. He remained active in film until the late 1960's. He died in DeLand, Florida, on March 5, 2011.
Birthday: August 25, 1915
Death: March 05, 2011
September 24, 1951
May 08, 1942
May 13, 1946
June 26, 1947
August 03, 1945
December 22, 1949
June 26, 1952
July 08, 1959
January 26, 1950
June 01, 1947
October 25, 1911
January 09, 1970
March 01, 1950
October 31, 1962
October 23, 1943
November 19, 1952
March 07, 1978
August 16, 1950
June 28, 1947
August 21, 1968