Carl Anderson
Biography
Carl Anderson was an American singer and actor of stage and film, best known for portraying Judas Iscariot in the Broadway and film productions of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar. Born in Lynchburg, Virginia, he formed the band The Second Eagle after moving to Washington, D.C. A Palm Sunday performance of songs from the opera led to an audition. He played Judas in a pre-Broadway tour, then took over the role on Broadway and in Los Angeles. His work in the 1973 film brought two Golden Globe nominations and an NAACP Image Award. He also appeared in The Color Purple (1985), signed with Motown in 1972, and released nine solo albums, including the 1986 hit duet Friends and Lovers. He later performed on Broadway in Play On! and died in 2004.
58years old at death
- Born Lynchburg
- Died Los Angeles
- Star sign: PiscesThe sign runs February 19 to March 20
- Carlton Earl Anderson (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 4
- Career span
- 29 years1973 to 2002
Every film, newest first
- 2002It's Black EntertainmentIMDb rating 6.9
- 1985The Color PurpleIMDb rating 7.7
- 1979Mind Over MurderIMDb rating 5.3
- 1973Jesus Christ SuperstarIMDb rating 7.4
Genres
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A first
A production planned to run three months ended up lasting five years, visiting over 50 North American cities and grossing over $100 million. Those showings let Anderson reprise his role over 1,700 times.
Beyond film
The duet "Friends and Lovers" was performed by Anderson and Gloria Loring, and in 1986 it climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Big break
Anderson was flown from Los Angeles to London to test for a role in the film version of the rock opera. After two weeks he departed that show to film in Israel with Ted Neeley and Yvonne Elliman.
A change of course
Anderson enlisted in the U.S. Air Force during his junior year of high school and worked there as a communications technician for two years. After an honorable discharge and high school graduation, he performed at military bases nationwide in the World Wide Air Force Talent Contest.
A change of course
Anderson signed with Motown Records in 1972 and worked with Stevie Wonder on the double album Songs in the Key of Life. In 1982, with Columbia Records talent scout Larkin Arnold, he began a deal to release four albums on Epic.
Carl Anderson movies on Netflix
Worked with
Carl Anderson made one film with each of them. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Danny Glover's page
Whoopi Goldberg's page
Laurence Fishburne's page
Bruce Davison's page
Robert Englund's page
Andrew Prine's page
All films by Steven Spielberg
All films by Norman Jewison
Ivan NagyDirector, 1 film, 1979
All films by Ivan Nagy
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.