Godfrey Cambridge
Biography
Godfrey Cambridge was an American actor and stand-up comic. Born in New York City in 1933, he studied medicine at Hofstra College for three years before leaving to act. His first role was Off-Broadway in Take a Giant Step, and he won a 1961 Obie for The Blacks. He made his Broadway debut in Nature's Way and was Tony-nominated in 1962 for Purlie Victorious. His films included The President's Analyst (1967), Watermelon Man (1970), Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970), Beware! The Blob (1972) and Friday Foster (1975). For Dead is Dead (1973), a film warning about drugs, he was host, producer and financier. On television he appeared in Car 54 Where Are You?, The Dick Van Dyke Show, I Spy and Police Story. As a stand-up, he was a headliner by 1965 and appeared on The Tonight Show. Time in 1965 grouped him with Bill Cosby, Dick Gregory and Nipsey Russell as a leading Negro comedian.
43years old at death
- Born New York City
- Died Burbank
- Star sign: PiscesThe sign runs February 19 to March 20
- Also credited as Godfrey MacArthur Cambridge
Movie Career
- Films
- 7
- Career span
- 8 years1967 to 1975
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First role
Cambridge got his start in acting with the part of a bartender. That first role came in Take a Giant Step, a play staged Off-Broadway.
A change of course
In 1949, Cambridge began studying medicine at Hofstra College. He stayed there for three years, then left the school to go after a career in acting.
A change of course
While he built an acting career, Cambridge earned money at many jobs, among them driving a cab or an ambulance, gardening, teaching judo and working as a clerk for the New York City Housing Authority.
A role that slipped away
Cambridge joked on a comedy album that he did not get the lead in King of Kings because it was a marketing problem.
Godfrey Cambridge movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Worked with
Godfrey Cambridge 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
Edward G. Robinson's page
James Coburn's page
Robert Ryan's page
Burgess Meredith's page
Robert Wagner's page
Pam Grier's page
Theodore J. FlickerDirector, 1 film, 1967
All films by Theodore J. Flicker
All films by Melvin Van Peebles
All films by Ossie Davis
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.