Stepin Fetchit: Biography, Facts and Career
Who is Stepin Fetchit? An evergreen, sourced profile: biography, key facts and career.
Lincoln Theodore Monroe Andrew Perry (May 30, 1902 – November 19, 1985), better known by his stage name Stepin Fetchit, was an American vaudevillian, comedian, and film actor of Jamaican and Bahamian descent, considered to be the first black actor to have a successful film career. His highest profile was during the 1930s in films and on stage, when his persona of Stepin Fetchit was billed as the "Laziest Man in the World". Perry parlayed the Fetchit persona into a successful film career, becoming the first black actor to earn $1 million. He was also the first black actor to receive featured screen credit in a film. Perry's film career slowed after 1939 and nearly stopped altogether after 1953. Around that time, Black Americans began to see his Stepin Fetchit persona as an embarrassing and harmful anachronism, echoing negative stereotypes. Writer Mel Watkins has since argued the Stepin Fetchit character is better described as a prankster rather than simply lazy.
Quick facts about Stepin Fetchit
- Full name: Stepin Fetchit
- Born: 1902-05-30
- Nationality: United States
- Known as: Comedian
- Wikidata ID: Q1265202
Profile compiled from public Wikipedia and Wikidata data. Details can change over time.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Stepin Fetchit?
Lincoln Theodore Monroe Andrew Perry (May 30, 1902 – November 19, 1985), better known by his stage name Stepin Fetchit, was an American vaudevillian, comedian, and film actor of Jamaican and Bahamian descent, considered to be the first black actor to have a successful film career.
What nationality is Stepin Fetchit?
Stepin Fetchit is United States.
When was Stepin Fetchit born?
Stepin Fetchit was born on 1902-05-30.
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