Eddie Anderson | Radio Star | Old Time Radio Downloads

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Eddie Anderson 09.18.1905 - 02.28.1977 (72 years old)

Eddie "Rochester" Anderson: It could be argued that Rochester was even more popular than his boss, Jack Benny. Eddie Anderson was occasionally berated for playing a servant, but Jack always treated him as an equal, and Anderson was still regarded as a leader in the black community. Click here to read more about Eddie Anderson

Thanks

This actor appeared in the following radio shows

Series	Episode title	Date
heres to veterans	the jack benny show
G I Journal	gi journal xxxxxx afrs 152 jack carson [000]
jack benny program	halloween celebration	1941-11-02
jack benny program	going after rommel	1942-11-29
command performance	command performance (067) joan blondell, dick powell, martha tilton	1943-05-15
command performance	command performance (073) kay kyser, lena horne, gertrude niesen	1943-07-03
jubilee	rochester and lucky millinder	1943-08-23
jubilee	erskine hawkins and rochester	1943-10-25
jubilee	duke ellington and louis armstrong	1943-11-02
G I Journal	gi journal (020) first song suwannee	1943-11-19
mail call	al pearce eddie anderson janet blair	1943-12-08
G I Journal	gi journal (044) first song – great day	1944-05-19
G I Journal	gi journal (048) first song fine and dandy	1944-06-02
command performance	command performance (142) highlights of 1944 (assembled show)	1944-10-14
Amos And Andy Show	the employment agency	1944-11-10
mail call	jack benny paulette goddard claudette colbert	1945-03-07
jubilee	guests harry james and kitty kallen	1945-03-12
G I Journal	gi journal (092) guest jack benny, connie haines	1945-04-20
Lone Ranger	the lone ranger (2010) the hidden river	1945-12-10
Bill Stern's Sports Newsreel (Colgate Sports Reel)	bill stern sports newsreel (344) guest eddie anderson	1946-06-07
red feather roundup	red feather roundup	1948-09-30
opportunity usa	guests al jolson and bing crosby	1949-05-16
NBC University Theater	nbc university theater (051) this side of paradise	1949-07-30
private life of rochester, the	audition part 1	1950-05-12
private life of rochester, the	audition part 2	1950-05-12
jack benny program	the don wilson story	1954-01-10

Comments
Photos

He was one funny man!

Gerald

Good dancer as well.

Peter

He was so funny, loved his voice.

Ethel

Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Anderson, 1942.

Mike

Eddie Anderson " Rochester " funny guy, one of my favorite characters from the Jack Benny Show.

Frank

He was so well liked by everyone. He was generous to many and kind to all.

Jeanette

Remembering EDDIE “ROCHESTER” ANDERSON (1905 – 1977), who was born on September 18th. He got his start in show business as a teenager on the vaudeville circuit. In the early 1930s, he transitioned into films and radio. In 1937, he began his most famous role of Rochester van Jones, usually known simply as "Rochester", the valet of Jack Benny, on his radio show The Jack Benny Program. Anderson became the first African American to have a regular role on a nationwide radio program. When the series moved to television, Anderson continued in the role until the series' end in 1965. Anderson's film career debuted with George Cukor's What Price Hollywood? (1932), as 'James, Max's Butler'. In July 1939, Anderson appeared on screen with radio boss Jack Benny for the first time in the film Man About Town. The duo appeared in a few other feature films, including Buck Benny Rides Again . In addition to his role with Benny, Anderson appeared in over sixty motion pictures, including The Green Pastures as Noah (1936), Jezebel (1938) as 'Gros Bat', Capra's You Can't Take It with You (1938) as 'Donald', and 'Uncle Peter' in 1939's Gone with the Wind, among many others. He reprised his 'Rochester' role in Topper Returns, this time as Cosmo Topper's valet (though he jokes about Mr. Benny in the film). He had a rare lead role in the all-star black Hollywood musical, Vincente Minnelli's 1943 debut film, Cabin in the Sky, giving a memorable performance as Joseph 'Little Joe' Jackson. - Wiki

Mike

He was great in The Jack Benny Show.

Niall

Eddie "Rochester" Anderson! After Anderson got his role on The Jack Benny Program he became the first African American to have a regular role on a nationwide radio program. As an integral part of the series when it moved to television, Anderson continued in the role until the series' end in 1965.

Mike

LOVE Mr. Anderson. He was and still is one of my dad's favorites.

Morna

Born in Oakland, California 9/18/1905; died 2/28/1977 of a heart attack in Santa Barbara, California. At age twelve lost his voice after a day of hawking newspapers on a San Francisco street corner. When his voice returned it had the scratchy quality that years later everyone would remember. Screen debut in What Price Hollywood (1930). First appearance with Jack Benny was as Rochester Van Jones, a pullman porter on Jack Benny's show in 1937. Benny thought Anderson would be a great addition to his show, and he became Benny's valet on the show, and the Van Jones name was dropped. One of his duties was to look after Carmichael the polar bear that guarded Benny's vault in the basement of his home. From time to time Rochester would refer to the gas man that Carmichael devoured. Rochester was a featured character on The Jack Benny Program for Radio show until 1950, and Benny's CBS and NBC television programs until 1965. Regular on Jubilee that was produced by the Special Services Division of the American Armed Forces from 1942 until 1953.

Jack