Scatman Crothers
Biography
Scatman Crothers was an American actor and musician who was raised in Terre Haute, Indiana, and began his musical career at 13. He taught himself guitar and drums, performed in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and at the Apollo Theater, and he suggested Scatman as a nickname for his scat singing. He made his film debut in Meet Me at the Fair (1953) and played Dick Hallorann in The Shining (1980), winning a Saturn Award for best supporting actor. He voiced Scat Cat in The Aristocats (1970) and Jazz on the Transformers television series and in The Transformers: The Movie (1986). He also appeared in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) and The King of Marvin Gardens (1972), both with Jack Nicholson. He played Louie the Garbage Man on Chico and the Man, and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1981. He died in 1986.
76years old at death
- Born Terre Haute
- Died Van Nuys
- Star sign: GeminiThe sign runs May 21 to June 20
- Benjamin Sherman Crothers (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 31
- Career span
- 30 years1956 to 1986
Share
Did you know?!
A first
Crothers joined Dixie Showboat, and that made him the first black person to appear regularly on a Los Angeles television show.
About the name
Crothers came up with the name "Scatman" because of his scat singing, after the station manager said he needed a name that was catchier.
A change of course
Crothers started his musical career when he was 13 years old. He sang and taught himself to play the guitar and drums.
Scatman Crothers movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Bob Rafelson directed two of these films, Robert Clouse two and Arthur Marks two. Jack Nicholson appears in five of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Jack Nicholson's page
John Carradine's page
Bruce Dern's page
Arnold Schwarzenegger's page
Jerry Lewis's page
R.G. Armstrong's page
All films by Bob Rafelson
All films by Robert Clouse
Arthur MarksDirector, 2 films, 1973 to 1975
All films by Arthur Marks
Also two films together16 more actors
- Stockard ChanningThe Cheap Detective (1978) and The Fortune (1975)
- Bill McKinneyBronco Billy (1980) and The Shootist (1976)
- Yaphet KottoFriday Foster (1975) and Truck Turner (1974)
- Louise FletcherThe Cheap Detective (1978) and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
- Shelley DuvallMaking 'The Shining' (1980) and The Shining (1980)
- Woodrow ParfreyBronco Billy (1980) and Stay Hungry (1976)
- Nichelle NicholsTruck Turner (1974) and Porgy and Bess (1959)
- James CocoScavenger Hunt (1979) and The Cheap Detective (1978)
- Garry GoodrowStay Hungry (1976) and The King of Marvin Gardens (1972)
- Nancy KulpThe AristoCats (1970) and The Patsy (1964)
- Phil HarrisThe AristoCats (1970) and The Patsy (1964)
- Doug McGrathTwilight Zone: The Movie (1983) and Bronco Billy (1980)
- Ted LangeFriday Foster (1975) and Black Belt Jones (1974)
- Alan WeeksBlack Belt Jones (1974) and Truck Turner (1974)
- Eddie SmithBlack Belt Jones (1974) and Truck Turner (1974)
- Danny LloydMaking 'The Shining' (1980) and The Shining (1980)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Scatman Crothers's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$542 million
13 of the 31 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 31 films: 13 worldwide figure; 4 us gross only; 2 never in cinemas; 12 figure not found.
- 13Worldwide figure
- 4US gross only
- 2Never in cinemas
- 12Figure not found
Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 93% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$191M35.3% of the total
- 2$109M20.1% of the total
- 3$51M9.4% of the total
- 4$50M9.3% of the total
- 5$29M5.4% of the total
- 6$25M4.6% of the total
- 7$24M4.5% of the total
- 8$24M4.4% of the total
$38.2 millionfrom the other 5 films with a worldwide figure, 7% of the total
Awards
Three awards and honors from 1980 to 1987.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| 1987 | Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame (posthumous) | Won | |
| 1980 | Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor | The Shining | Won |
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.