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DIED
March 18, 1990

RECENT CREDITS
Bebe's Kids (FILM)  Jul. 31, 1992
House Party 2 (FILM)  Oct. 23, 1991
Mo' Better Blues (FILM)  Aug. 3, 1990
House Party (FILM)  Mar. 9, 1990
Harlem Nights (FILM)  Nov. 17, 1989

BIOGRAPHY
This large-eyed African-American stand-up comedian's churlish brand of humor and quick put-downs briefly found a place in screen comedies during the late 1980s and early 90s. Harris made a promising feature debut....
This large-eyed African-American stand-up comedian's churlish brand of humor and quick put-downs briefly found a place in screen comedies during the late 1980s and early 90s. Harris made a promising feature debut playing a smart-ass bartender in Keenan Ivory Wayan's sendup of 1970s Blaxploitation movies, "I'm Gonna Get You Sucka" (1988). But it was his next feature, Spike Lee's sweltering "Do the Right Thing" (1989), where he first stood out. As Sweet Dick Willie, Harris served as part of the neighborhood "Greek chorus" that commented on the events of an increasingly tense day. The producing/directing team of Reginald and Warrington Hudlin found Harris a perfect platform when they cast him as Pop, the no-nonsense, quick-witted father of Kid in the agreeably raucous comedy "House Party" (1990). He followed up later that year with a small turn as a jazz club MC in Lee's "Mo' Better Blues". The film was dedicated to Harris who died after production wrapped.

In 1992, the Hudlins paid tribute to the late comic when they wrote and produced the animated feature "Bebe's Kids". Based on characters from Harris' standup act, the film told the story of a man's (ostensibly Harris but voiced by another comic) attempt to go out on a blind date despite the antics of a group of unruly inner-city kids. The film served as a nice, if regrettably posthumous, calling card for a man whose work was just beginning to receive the exposure it deserved.




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Recently Worked With...

House Party 2
Released: Oct. 23, 1991

Denzel Washington
Mo' Better Blues
Released: Aug. 3, 1990

Eddie Murphy at the Los Angeles Premiere of 'Imagine That'. Paramount Pictures, Hollywood, CA. 06-06-09
Harlem Nights
Released: Nov. 17, 1989

Danny Aiello as Sal and Spike Lee as Mookie in Universal Pictures' 'Do The Right Thing'
Do the Right Thing
Released: Jun. 30, 1989

Keenen Ivory Wayans
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka
Released: Jan. 1, 1988



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