Spencer Williams (actor)

Spencer Williams
Spencer Williams as "Andy".
Born	(1893-07-14)July 14, 1893 Vidalia, Louisiana, U.S.
Died	December 13, 1969(1969-12-13) (aged 76) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting place	Los Angeles National Cemetery Section 209, row Z, space 3
Occupation	Actor, filmmaker
Years active	1928–1962

Spencer Williams (July 14, 1893 – December 13, 1969) was an American actor and filmmaker. He was best known for playing Andy in the Amos 'n Andy television show and for directing the 1941 race film The Blood of Jesus. Williams was a pioneer African-American film producer and director.

Williams (who was sometimes billed as Spencer Williams Jr.) was born in Vidalia, Louisiana, where the family lived on Magnolia Street. As a youngster, he attended Wards Academy in Natchez, Mississippi. He moved to New York City when he was a teenager and secured work as call boy for the theatrical impresario Oscar Hammerstein. During this period, he received mentoring as a comedian from the African American vaudeville star Bert Williams. Williams began his studies at the University of Minnesota, taking some time out to serve his country.

Williams served in the U.S. Army during and after World War I, where he rose to the rank of sergeant major. During the course of his time in service, Williams traveled the world, serving as General Pershing's bugler while in Mexico before he was promoted to camp sergeant major. In 1917, Williams was sent to France to do intelligence work there. After World War I, Williams continued his military career; he was part of a unit whose job was to create war plans for the Southwestern United States, in case they might ever be needed. He arrived in Hollywood in 1923 and his involvement with films began by assisting with work on Octavus Roy Cohen material. Williams began to snag bit roles in motion pictures, including a part in the 1928 Buster Keaton film Steamboat Bill, Jr. Though he had found steady work since arriving in California, Williams had a short period in 1926 where there were no roles for him; he then went to work as an immigration officer. In 1927, Williams was working for the First National Studio, going on location to Topaz, Arizona to shoot footage for a film called The River.