Attended University of Redlands.Co-starred in 70s blaxploitation films as the vampire killer in Blacula (1972) and in the films Cool Breeze (1972) and Willie Dynamite (1974).Won a Theater World award during the 1967-1968 season playing Cornelius Hackl to Pearl Bailey 's Dolly Levi in the all-black revival of "Hello, Dolly!" He was using his real name, Jack Crowder, at the time.His most famous role is playing Bill Thomas, Roger and Dee's father, on the 1970's television show "What's Happening!!" (1976).He is referred to as "Jack Crowder" (his real name) by one of his on screen co-stars in the Andrew Davis film The Package (1989), in which he played the Secret Service Commander.Died of a heart attack in October of 1991 but ironically appeared on an episode of Sanford and Son (Fred's Cheatin' Heart--1974) as the Heart Fund man, advocating heart disease awareness among African-Americans.Died of a heart attack 2 days before Redd Foxx (who also died of a heart attack), with whom he guest starred on Sanford and Son, playing the role of a man warning of heart attacks among African-Americans.
Friday Foster, an ex-model magazine photographer, goes to Los Angeles International airport to photograph the arrival of Blake Tarr, the richest black man in America. Three men attempt to assassinate Tarr. Foster photographs the melee and is plunged into a web of conspiracy involving the murder of her childhood friend, a US senator, and a shadowy plan called "Black Widow".