Louis Marriott

Born| 22 May 1935

Saint Andrew, Colony of Jamaica, British Empire

Died| 1 August 2016(2016-08-01) (aged 81)

Kingston, Jamaica

Occupation(s)| Actor, director, writer, broadcaster

Louis Marriott (22 May 1935 – 1 August 2016) was a Jamaican actor, director, writer, broadcaster,[1] the executive officer of the Michael Manley Foundation, and member of the Performing Right Society,[2] Jamaica Federation of Musicians, and founding member of the Jamaica Association of Dramatic Artists.[3]

Marriott was born on the Old Pound Road, Saint Andrew, Jamaica, the son of Egbert Marriott and Edna Irene Thompson-Marriott. He was educated at Jamaica College. He died in Kingston at the age of 81 on 1 August 2016.

## Career

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* Government public relations officer - late 1950s[4]
* Editor, public opinion 1960–62[5]
* Assistant public relations officer – Ninth Central American and Caribbean Games (Kingston) 1962
* Press officer – first anniversary Jamaica Independence Festival 1963
* Deputy editor of publications – Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) General Council (London) 1965-70 (lectured widely in Britain on Commonwealth and Caribbean affairs 1965–72. Was consultant-advisor for several C.P.A. conferences in the Caribbean and West Africa 1967–70)
* BBC radio writer and producer 1970–71[6][7]
* Director Jamaica Independence Festival (London) 1972
* Press secretary to Prime Minister of Jamaica 1973 and 1979–80[8]
* Assistant director – National Literacy Programme Communications 1973–74
* Director-general Information Incorporated 1974–76
* Chief organizer – Food and Drink '75 Exhibition (National Arena) July 1975
* Director publications and advertising Agency for Public Information 1976–79
* Freelance writer 1980–present - for CFNI, PAHO, WHO, Jamaica Gleaner, among several national and international bodies, and writer, director, and producer of several stage productions
* Executive officer - Michael Manley Foundation, 2000–present[9]

## Theatre

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Marriott wrote and directed for stage, and acted[10][11][12][13][14][15][16]

* Public Mischief (1957)
* The Shepherd (1960)
* Phineas McUmbridge (1961)
* The Baiting of Reuben (1963)
* A Pack of Jokers (1978)[17]
* More Jokers (1980)
* The New Jokers (1981)[17]
* Playboy (1981)[18][19]
* Pressure (1982)[20]
* Office Chase (1982)[20]
* How to Make Money (1983)
* Singer Man (1984)
* Bedward (1984, 2004) (reprisal of The Shepherd)[21][22]
* Women (1984)
* Lovey (1985)
* Over the Years (1985, 2010)[23][24]
* One Stop Driver (1988) (co-written with Alvin Campbell)
* Last of the Jokers (1988) (co-written with Alvin Campbell, Lavinia Marriott and Karen Marriott)
* The Adventure of Charlie Greenhorne (1991)
* Funny Biz Niz (1992)
* Life in Jamaica (1998)[17]
* Rosie (1999)
* The Year 2000 (2000)

Marriott wrote several books[20] including:

* Gold Rush – Jamaican Style – Jamaica in World Athletics 1948–92 (1992) (co-written with Alvin Campbell)
* Who's Who and What's What in Jamaican Arts and Entertainment (1995)[25][26]

## Journalism

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Marriott authored syndicated articles appearing in some 200 English-language newspapers and magazines throughout the world. He was a regular guest writer in several Jamaican newspaper publications.[27][28] He wrote and produced numerous radio and television plays and documentary broadcast programmes and films in both Jamaica and Britain. He wrote The University of Brixton[6] radio drama series for BBC English Radio 1970–71. He wrote several public education radio series for the CFNI (Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute) during his freelance years.

## Filmography

[edit]

* Dr. No (1962) - Dragon Guard (uncredited)

## References

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1. ^ Discover Jamaica
2. ^ The Original Soundtrack From "Countryman".
3. ^ "Theatre groups to form umbrella association", Jamaica Gleaner. Archived 12 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
4. ^ Howard Campbell, "Nostalgia kept Hartley Neita's adrenaline flowing", Jamaica Gleaner. Archived 12 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
5. ^ 'Federation a Buyers' Syndicate', Public Opinion.
6. ^ a b Louis Marriott, "The Jamaican language issue - Part 1", Jamaica Gleaner, 17 September 2006. Archived 12 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine
7. ^ "Race and the press". `{{cite journal}}`: Cite journal requires `|journal=` (help)
8. ^ Howard Campbell, "1970'S FLASHBACK - The media and Michael Manley", Jamaica Gleaner, 30 May 2006. Archived 12 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine
9. ^ Howard Campbell, "'Joshua' and the rod of correction", Jamaica Gleaner, 18 July 2007. Archived 12 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine
10. ^ Jamaica's soul and spirit. Archived 16 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
11. ^ "One to One - An interview with Jamaican playwright and actor Louis Marriott".
12. ^ A History of African American Theatre.
13. ^ 40 Years of Jamaica's Independence: Outstanding Playwrights, Outstanding Producers. Archived 25 April 2010 at the Wayback Machine
14. ^ Andrew Clunis, "Charles Hyatt at 70", The Jamaica Gleaner. Archived 12 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine
15. ^ PJ gets dramatic for PNP conference Archived 23 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine
16. ^ Michael Reckord, "Playwrights in waiting", Jamaica Gleaner, 26 January 2003. Archived 12 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine
17. ^ a b c Tanya Batson-Savage, "Laughter soothes bitter pills", Jamaica Gleaner, 20 June 2004. Archived 12 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine
18. ^ 'Love Games' takes Centerstage Archived 3 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine
19. ^ FRIENDS ON FRIENDS: Fae Ellington - a multi-talented Jamaican. Archived 12 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine
20. ^ a b c Google Books.
21. ^ On Bedward: Ahead of their time.
22. ^ "We need an advancement of literacy", Jamaica Gleaner, 29 March 2004. Archived 12 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine
23. ^ "Marriott show to honour icons", The Gleaner.
24. ^ Basil Walters, "Year-long celebration for Louis Marriott's 75th birthday", Jamaica Observer. Archived 1 April 2010 at the Wayback Machine
25. ^ Who's Who.
26. ^ Tanya Batson-Savage, "J'can theatre is no play thing", Jamaica Gleaner, 19 October 2003. Archived 12 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine
27. ^ "Louis Marriott's columns delightful", Jamaica Gleaner. Archived 12 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine
28. ^ Marriott speaks on linguistics.

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* Germany
* United States
* Netherlands