Lillian Randolph
Biography
Lillian Randolph was an American actress and singer who worked in radio, film and television from the 1930s into the year of her death. She was born Castello Randolph in Knoxville, Tennessee, and her sister Amanda Randolph also acted. She began as a blues singer on stations in Cleveland and Detroit, where a station owner, George W. Trendle, arranged her radio training. She moved to Los Angeles in 1936 for Al Jolson's radio program and Big Town. On radio she played Birdie Lee Coggins on The Great Gildersleeve and Madame Queen on Amos 'n' Andy, a part she held from 1937 to 1953. Her film work included The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer (1947), in which she played Bessie, and Annie in It's a Wonderful Life (1946). She voiced the maid in nineteen Tom and Jerry shorts and took over Beulah on radio in 1952. She later appeared in Magic (1978) and The Onion Field (1979), her final onscreen project.
81years old at death
- Born Knoxville
- Died Los Angeles
- Star sign: SagittariusThe sign runs November 22 to December 21
Movie Career
- Films
- 10
- Career span
- 39 years1940 to 1979
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Big break
Randolph was a chorus member at MGM when she heard during a rehearsal break that auditions for Gildersleeve were underway. She dashed to NBC, ran down the halls, fell on her face opening the door, and laughed, which got her the job.
A first
In 1954, Randolph also hosted a daily radio show in Hollywood that featured people working in acting. That same year, she was the first African American to join the board of directors of the Hollywood chapter of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.
First role
Randolph launched her professional career as a singer on local radio in Cleveland and Detroit. George W. Trendle, the station owner at WXYZ in Detroit, spotted her there and arranged radio training courses for her.
Lillian Randolph movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Worked with
Lillian Randolph shares three films with William Hanna, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
William Hanna's page
Harry Lang's page
Bess Flowers's page
Christopher Lloyd's page
Anthony Hopkins's page
Irving Bacon's page
All films by Joseph Barbera
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.