Lennie Bluett

American actor

Lennie Bluett

Born| (1919-01-21)January 21, 1919

Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Died| January 1, 2016(2016-01-01) (aged 96)

Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Occupation(s)| Actor, musician
Years active| 1937–2014

Lennie Bluett (January 21, 1919 – January 1, 2016) was an American film actor, pianist, dancer and singer. His mother was a cook for Humphrey Bogart. At age 16, Bluett started playing the piano at Bogart's parties.

He formed a harmonizing group with his friends called "Four Dreamers". Nat King Cole used to play with the band.

Bluett played a soldier in Gone With the Wind in 1939. During production of the film, the outdoor set's bathrooms were segregated with signs that said "white" and "colored," respectively, until an appalled Bluett brought this to the attention of Clark Gable, who threatened to quit the film unless the signs were taken down.

His career consisted of minor roles due to the limited opportunities for African-Americans at the time. He relocated to Vancouver in order to avoid being drafted into World War II, and returned afterwards.[1][2][3] He died on January 1, 2016, in Los Angeles. He was 96.[4]

## Filmography

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

1936 | Strike Me Pink | Dancer | Uncredited
1937 | A Day at the Races | Black Singer | Uncredited
1937 | Ali Baba Goes to Town | Arab | Uncredited
1938 | Spirit of Youth | Dancer | Uncredited
1939 | Gone With the Wind | Yankee Soldier in Shantytown / Townsperson | Uncredited
1941 | The Big Store | Singer | Uncredited
1942 | Born to Sing | Specialty -'Ballad for Americans' | Uncredited
1942 | Star Spangled Rhythm | Dancer - 'Sharp as a Tack' Number | Uncredited
1943 | Cabin in the Sky | Dancer / Jim Henry's Paradise Patron | Uncredited
1943 | Stormy Weather | Dancer / Nightclub Patron | Uncredited
1943 | Thank Your Lucky Stars | Dancer in 'Ice Cold Katy' Number | Uncredited
1943 | I Dood It | Part of Hazel Scott's Entourage / Singer in Jericho | Uncredited
1944 | Broadway Rhythm | Dancer in 'Brazilian Boogie' | Uncredited
1944 | When Strangers Marry | Dancer at Big Jims | Uncredited
1944 | Carolina Blues | Dancer in 'Mr. Beebe' | Uncredited
1945 | Ziegfeld Follies | Dancer ('Love') | Uncredited
1948 | State of the Union | Page Boy | Uncredited
1949 | Mighty Joe Young | Nightclub Dancer | Uncredited
1954 | A Star Is Born | Dancer - 'Born in a Trunk' Number | Uncredited
1993 | La Nuit sacrée | Pianiste | (final film role)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Lennie Bluett: A living legend". Sentinel. May 9, 2002. Archived from the original on March 28, 2015. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
2. ^ "Lennie Bluett: Very much live at 90". Jazz Times. April 27, 2009. Archived from the original on November 5, 2014. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
3. ^ "Readers remember". Los Angeles Times. November 22, 1999. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
4. ^ Barnes, Mike (January 16, 2016). "Lennie Bluett, a Soldier in 'Gone With the Wind,' Dies at 96". hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved February 4, 2016.

## External links

[edit]

* Lennie Bluett at IMDb

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