Theatre Blog of Darryl Maximilian Robinson

Your Humble Servant In The Theatre, Darryl Maximilian Robinson, Notes A Truly Memorable Performance By An American Cinematic Icon. The late great actor, singer and dancer extraordinaire Fred Astaire received only one Academy Award nomination for his decades-long, illustrious career in film. In 1975, he won a Best Supporting Actor nod for his portrayal of a charming con man opposite an equally charming Jennifer Jones as a wealthy female mark in Irwin Allen's 1974 disaster movie "The Towering Inferno". Some critics and fans may have thought Mr. Astaire should have been nominated for a lead performance in his acclaimed roles in his musical and comedy films from the early days of his career. And I wholeheartedly agree. His roles from "Top Hat" in the 1930s through "Royal Wedding" in the 1950s do define the work of an Oscar worthy American master. But it is the moviegoing audiences' knowledge of Astaire's work that makes his role in

YOUR HUMBLE SERVANT IN THE THEATRE, DARRYL MAXIMILIAN ROBINSON, IS DELIGHTED TO SHARE SOME MEMORIES OF ONE OF THE ENTERTAINMENT WORLD'S BEST AND FUNNIEST PERFORMERS: "THE GREAT ONE"! REMEMBERING JACKIE GLEASON WHO WOULD HAVE TURNED 107 YEARS OLD LAST MONTH! He never once won an Emmy Award ( though his scene-stealing co-star Art Carney won a grip of them ). He is considered one of the greatest stars and most memorable talents of the television comedy / variety show ( "The Honeymooners" show segments solidified his television legacy ) and he would be gladly recognized with a Peabody Award for his efforts. He would score an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor In A Motion Picture for his wonderful and uncanny portrayal of Minnesota Fats opposite his truly gifted co-star Paul Newman in "The Hustler". And screen legend Orson Welles would eternally nickname him as "The Great One." His greatest career glory

YOUR HUMBLE SERVANT IN THE THEATRE, DARRYL MAXIMILIAN ROBINSON OF THE EXCALIBER SHAKESPEARE COMPANY OF CHICAGO, REFLECTS ON THE CAREER OF A SKILLED AND ACCLAIMED LATE THEATRE ARTIST! REMEMBERING CLEAVON LITTLE! To most audiences in all mediums: stage, screen and television, this fine and talented African-American actor is best remembered as Sherriff Bart in Mel Brooks' 1974 smash hit parody of western films "Blazing Saddles," a role for which he would receive a 1974 BAFTA ( British Oscar ) Award nomination for Most Promising Newcomer To Leading Film Roles. Though he would appear in featured and supporting roles in numerous films between the late 1960s through the early 1990s, the role of Sherriff Bart in "Blazing Saddles" remains to this day his most memorable screen role. On television over the years as a guest performer, he would make appearances on numerous popular shows including "The Mod Squad," "All In The Family," "