Frederick O'Neal
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Notes
O'Neal wrote several feature articles for periodicals and newspapers. He wrote "The Negro in American Theater" for the US Information Service.
He was vice president and a executive council member of the AFL-CIO (1969-88)
Biography
A veteran black American stage actor who also worked in film and TV, Frederick O'Neal had his greatest impact on the industry as a union leader: he was president emeritus of Actors' Equity Association and Associated Actors and Artistes of America. O'Neal was also a major figure in the black theater in New York City and London, where he founded and organized several theater companies and cultural organizations. The American Negro Theater, which O'Neal co-founded, gave a start to the careers of Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier. O'Neal's feature credits include Elia Kazan's "Pinky" (1949), Richard Brooks' "Something of Value" (1958), "Anna Lucasta" (1958), and Ossie Davis' "Cotton Comes to Harlem" (1970). O'Neal was also a regular on the 1960s cop sitcom, "Car 54, Where Are You?."
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Life Events
1920
Moved with his family from Mississippi to St Louis MO
1927
Made first professional stage appearance, in St. Louis
1927
Organized the Aldridge Players, a community theater
1936
Moved to New York City
1940
Co-founded the American Negro Theater
1944
Debuted on Broadway in Philip Yordan's "Anna Lucasta" in the role of Frank
1945
Recreated the role of Frank in a London production of "Anna Lucasta"
1947
Recreated the role again in a production at His Majesty's Theater in London
1948
Initiated and helped organize the British Negro Theater
1949
Made feature debut as Jake Walters in Elia Kazan's "Pinky"
1957
Appeared as Moses in the NBC-TV version of "The Green Pastures" for the "Hallmark Hall of Fame"
1958
Recreated the role of Frank in the film version of "Anna Lucasta" starring Eartha Kitt and Sammy Davis Jr
1962
Appeared as a series regular as Officer Wallace on the sitcom, "Car 54, Where Are You?"
1963
Starred in melodrama entitled "Free, White, and 21"
1975
Inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame
1990
Received a special tribute from the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame
Videos
Movie Clip
Trailer
Companions
Bibliography
Notes
O'Neal wrote several feature articles for periodicals and newspapers. He wrote "The Negro in American Theater" for the US Information Service.
He was vice president and a executive council member of the AFL-CIO (1969-88)
He was chairman of the AFL-CIO Civil Rights Committee.
O'Neal was president of the Catholic Interracial Council.
He was a chairman and organizer of the Harlem Cultural Council.
O'Neal was vice president of the Catholic Actors' Guild.
He served on the advisory board of the Actors' Fund of America.
O'Neal was a visiting professor at Southern Illinois University.
O'Neal was a visiting professor at Clark College in Atlanta, GA.
