Stepin Fetchit

He played a "comedy relief" role in a number of motion pictures, and his character epitomized the African American stereotype of a shiftless, lazy servant of low intelligence who bowed and scraped at the feet of white actors at every opportunity.

Though he did not invent this stereotype, his image was used to popularize it, and many black characters in the movies (such as Buckwheat in the Our Gang comedies) were based upon the image of Stepin Fetchit.

Because of the degrading image of African Americans portrayed by Stepin Fetchit, his movies are rarely screened today, and they have not seen a wide release on video. Nonetheless, film historians state that he was a talented comedian, and his career was so successful that he is cited as the first black actor to become a millionaire. He did not manage his fortune well, however, and he declared bankruptcy in 1947.

He converted to Islam in the 1960s.

Filmography

• The Mysterious Stranger (1925)
• In Old Kentucky (1927)
• The Devil's Skipper (1928)
• Nameless Men (1928)
• The Tragedy of Youth (1928)
• Kid's Clever (1929)
• The Ghost Talks (1929)
• Hearts in Dixie (1929)
• Thru Different Eyes (1929)
• Show Boat (1929)
• Innocents of Paris (1929)
• Fox Movietone Follies of 1929 (1929)
• Salute (1929)
• Big Time (1929)
• Cameo Kirby (1930)
• The Big Fight (1930)
• Swing High (1930)
• A Tough Winter (1930)
• La Fuerza del Querer (1930)
• The Prodigal (1931)
• Wild Horse (1931)
• The Galloping Ghost (1931)
• Neck and Neck (1931)
• Carolina (1934)
• David Harum (1934)
• Stand Up and Cheer! (1934)
• The World Moves On (1934)
• Judge Priest (1934)
• Marie Galante (1934)
• Bachelor of Arts (1934)
• Helldorado (1935)
• The County Chairman (1935)
• One More Spring (1935)
• Charlie Chan in Egypt (1935)
• Steamboat 'Round the Bend (1935)
• The Virginia Judge (1935)
• Dimples (1936)
• 36 Hours to Kill (1936)
• On the Avenue (1937)
• Love Is News (1937)
• Fifty Races to Town (1937)
• His Exciting Night (1938)
• Zenobia (1939)
• Big Timers (1945)
• Miracle in Harlem (1948)
• Bend of the River (1952)
• The Sun Shines Bright(1953)
• Cutter (1972) (TV movie)
• Amazing Grace (1974)
• Muhammad Ali, the Greatest (1974)
• Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976)