> Career Records Il Giustiziere del Bronx (1989) In addition to the testaments of people who knew him, Jimmy Stewarts own words and actions prove he was not racist. How many games did . While his pro wrestling career lasted two decades from the 1940s to 1960s, his impact not only on the NFL and in Hollywood was a groundbreaker, making him a pioneer in many genres outside of the squared ring. Your email address will not be published. The fame he had built through football and movies helped open up wrestling as well, and Strode wrestled white grapplers in Texas in the early 50s. And I looked at Duke Wayne, and he was beaming like a cat that had just eaten the mouse And Duke came over, and said, Well, welcome to the club. Tarzans Three Challenges (1963) Despite these flaws, Kanters anecdote is cited as evidence that Jimmy Stewart was racist. Jungle Man-Eaters (1954) As an actor, Strode is forever tied to John Ford (see our Pepper Martin biography for some stories that involve both Strode and Ford). Woodrow Wilson Woolwine "Woody" Strode (July 25, 1914 - December 31, 1994) born in Los Angeles, was a football and track star at UCLA, playing alongside Jackie Robinson on the Bruins squad. The Quick & The Dead (1995) Hi Pete, thanks for your comment. Unlike Robinson, however, neither played much. If she's not ranting about characters who deserved better or typing away at one of her many fan fiction epics, she's probably asleep. Ive done everything but play an Anglo-Saxon. He was interred with military honors at Riverside National Cemetery, east of his hometown.. I dont know if Stewart was a racist but he was a staunch supporter of Nixon, Reagan and the illegal US invasion of Vietnam. Euer Weg fhrt durch die Hlle (1984) Buruuba (1955) According to Strode, John Ford then called the whole cast and crew over, and twisted the comment into something Jimmy Stewart never said. I was a big James Stewart fan until I read he was racist. And he was dressed in blue overalls, a blue work shirt and boots. Was Hal Williams ever contacted regarding the contriversy kanter mentioned? After Gus and Shawn are implicated in yet another murder scene, they scramble to cover up the evidence which Woody is already all too keenly aware of. but i had also read the story of him sticking up for Strode, so I didnt know what to believe. Jimmy Stewart was a remarkable man who loved all his fellowman. It was his enduring appeal in Western films that lead to him being immortalized in tribute by Pixar films the Tom Hanks voiced cowboy toy Woody in theToy Storyseries was named Woody after Woody Strode. Im so glad that you decided to do your own research, and that you came across my article. In this, the last interview Strode ever gave, he expresses only respect for Jimmy Stewart, calling Jim one of the screens greatest actors.. Jungle Gents (1954) She has a passion for character-driven stories with dynamic but flawed leads, and a special weakness for all things 1980s. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I read that Stewart was a racist a few weeks ago and fell for it hook line and sinker. Jims daughter, Kelly Stewart Harcourt, also knew her father was not racist: There were not a lot of black people in Dads life, but he was not a racist.. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. Lee Marvin was impressed by Jimmys impassioned response: I liked Jimmy before that incident, but after it, I liked him a whole lot more.. The Man Who Made The Stars Shine Brighter: An Interview with Woody Strode. from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much. Afterwards, Lee Marvin remembered seeing both. Well researched! And really, that says everything someone needs to know about Woody. Woody Strode in Spartacus July 1952 found Barbara still impersonating a human ping pong ball as she bounced back - you guessed it - to the ever unreliable Mr Neal. Ford had to accept those terms or not make the film.. Aka: Boot Hill Over the past several decades, more and more pro wrestlers are capitalizing on their work in pro wrestling to work in Hollywood as bonafide stars in the movie industry. Another reliable source for Woody Strodes feelings towards Jimmy Stewart is a 1994 interview with Lee Marvin biographer, Dwayne Epstein. I find a lot of this evidence unconvincing. Strode appeared in several subsequent Ford films, though never in a starring capacity. Michael Munns dangerous habit of mixing truth with exaggeration and fallacy calls his alleged interview with Woody Strode into question. Munn is the author of over 25 books, most of which are built on the intimate and often shocking revelations that, according to Munn, these stars were all anxious to share with him. In 1962, he retired from pro wrestling to concentrate on his film career, which exploded after his role in John Fords Sergeant Rutledge, and then his first starring role in the Western The Professionalsthat starred Lee Marvin and Burt Lancaster in 1966. Tarzan and the Perils of Charity Jones (1967) The sheer fact that he shares the anecdote is evidence that Jim did not have any racist behavior to hide. According to the Munn interview, it took Woody Strode years to realize that it was John Fords cruel maneuverings, not anything Jimmy Stewart actually said, that created the tension Strode felt on the Liberty Valance set: I was too young at the time to realize Ford was using me to get at Stewart. Once Upon A Time in the West (1968) He was a good man deserving of the love and admiration that so many of us have for him. His wrestling career? I once played a part written for an Irish prize fighter. Jimmy Stewart worked with several black actors and entertainers throughout his career, including Hal Williams, Woody Strode, Lillian Randolph, Louis Armstrong, and Duke Ellington. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. The Alleged Woody Strode Interview Michael Munn's dangerous habit of mixing truth with exaggeration and fallacy calls his alleged interview with Woody Strode into question. End of story. The Revengers (1972) Though well into middle-age in films like Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) and The Deserter (1971), Strode still looks extraordinarily vital, fitter than most men half his age. According to Woody, he's even less in control of himself, and all of his faculties, when tickling is involved. Your email address will not be published. Katharine Hepburn & Woman of the Year, Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Chickpeas and Tarragon Tahini. Woody Strode's extraordinary career led him from football field to wrestling ring to Hollywood. In its pages African American studies intellectuals, community activists, and national and international political leaders come to grips with basic issues confronting black America and Africa. On top of this, Reese actor Lee Van Clef who went on to star in Clint Eastwood Spaghetti Westerns said that Ford resented the meddling and so would take out his annoyance on Wayne, whose casting as Doniphon was demanded by the studio. Er verffentlichte theologische und philosophische Schriften, Arbeiten zur Musik, insbesondere zu Johann Sebastian Bach, sowie autobiographische Schriften in zahlreichen und vielbeachteten Werken.. Strode played as an End with the Rams in 1946, playing in 10 games that season. Seduto alla sua destra (1968) His fellow Gold Dust Gang member Jackie Robinson would break the color barrier in Major League Baseball a year later in 1947. It changed my outlook on many other things and renewed my faith in mankind, thank you. Con Jock Mahoney, Woody Strode, Tsu Kobayashi, Earl Cameron. At MGM there was a separate entrance and lunchroom for the black laborers and maids. So it's not entirely out of the ordinary for Woody to believe that they're siblings. (Episode 6). You could smell the orange blossoms. link] that first sparked rumors about the beloved stars beliefs. I'm glad you made it.. As already mentioned, Woody has a real hard time knowing when to keep from over sharing. In Liberty Valance, a picture I did with Duke, Stewart recounted. In the alleged interview, Woody Strode never uses the word racist to describe Jimmy Stewart. He shared a story from the set of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Fords 1962 film about an attorney (Stewart) who, robbed and left for dead by a notorious outlaw, is saved by a rancher (Wayne) and has to start over from scratch. But I could tell he preferred to be around Lee Marvin or [John] Wayne than me., Also in the Munn interview, Strode relates an incident in whichLiberty Valance director, John Ford, asked Jim what he thought of Woodys costume, which consisted of old overalls an equally old hat. This is Jimmy Stewart reminding you that this is Brotherhood week; a week reminding us all that the world of the future must be built on the recognition of the rights of each individual, whatever his color, creed, or national background. In fact, Woody was already calling someone on his cell phone: Shawn. According to Peter Fonda, the sheer fact that Jimmy Stewart was best friends with Peters father, Henry Fonda, proves that Jim was not racist. Woody Strode has not been elected into the Hall of Fame. Donald Bogle, Toms, Coons, Mulattoes, Mammies & Bucks (New York: Continuum, 1992); Internet Movie Data Base (IMDB) title search by key word; Woody Strode,; The Timeout Film Guide, edited by Tom Milne, Penguin Books, 3rd Edition, 1992. Watch Jim and Duke at the piano in the scene below: Sharing hotel, meals, and a piano jam session on and off film with Duke Ellington. But in the early 1960s, it was Woody Strode who really broke the mold for professional wrestlers to appear in Hollywood films without just portraying pro wrestlers. Well written, thank you. La collina degli stivali (1969) Ive updated the section to include more facts specific to the show. Hi James, thanks for commenting. Its such a demoralizing rumor. > Video Jimmy Stewart voiced his support for this goal in a 16 second radio campaign that played the week of February 16-23, 1947. When we won, we all got drunk. After being cut by the Rams after just a season, Strode headed north to Canada, where he suited up for the Calgary Stampeders. Aka: Chuck Moll Actor: Spartacus. You can unsubscribe at any time. Where was Woody Strode born? I refer you back to my section on The Jimmy Stewart Show for the facts behind the casting of Hal Williams. In the trailer, Jim, Van Johnson, Shirley Temple, Eddie Cantor, Jennifer Jones, Ingrid Bergman, Walter Pidgeon, Katharine Hepburn, and Edward G. Robinson encouraged Americans to stand together in support of freedom for all, a message particularly relevant in the wake of World War II. Wrestling: Shocking Stories from the Squared Circle; Benoit: Wrestling with the Horror That Destroyed a Family and Crippled a Sport (with Steven Johnson, Heath McCoy and Irv Muchnick); He can be emailed at goliver845@gmail.com, you can follow him on Twitter @gregmep, and visit www.oliverbooks.ca. Electric streetcars went everywhere. And, as my article highlights, Hal Williams was not fired from The Jimmy Stewart Show. If Jim had an issue with casting a black actor, why was Williams not fired? Even in his later films, like Vigilante (1982) and Jungle Warriors (1984), the 70 year-old Strode looks The same year he broke into pro wrestling, he also got his start in Hollywood, making his debut in the 1941 filmSundown. But Woody's own behaviors raise plenty of questions about his intentions, including his admission that he's "been playing with dead things since [he] was a toddler.". Colpo in canna (1975) In comparison, Ford had made combat documentaries for the Office of Strategic Services and had been wounded at the Battle of Midway, while Ranse star Stewart had been a bomber pilot who served with distinction. She's been living in a galaxy far, far away since she was 11 years old, though she makes the occasional stop in Themyscira, Hawkins, and Westeros - and she wouldn't have it any other way. Strode almost singlehandedly won the 1948 Grey Cup for the team. I wanted to crawl into a mouse hole, Stewart recalled. The Ravagers, The Professionals) Fall victim to a spider attack, entomologist Diane Ashley (Tiffany Bolling, Wild Party) arrives and tries to help Rack deal with the crisis. Woody Strode was born in California on July 25, 1914. It needed to be done. Thanks for clearing that up. Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954) So thank you for this I really really appreciate it. Razza violenta (1984) According to Strode, John Ford then called the whole cast and crew over, and twisted the comment into something Jimmy Stewart never said. James Stewart Once Described What It Was Like Working with a Frequent John Wayne Collaborator, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5mcU74rHGM, James Stewart on what it was like to work with John Ford (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5mcU74rHGM). Cutting Her Down to Size? Im glad you made it.. A decorated football player at UCLA before joining teammate Kenny Washington in breaking the NFL's color barrier in 1946, Strode eventually drew the attention of . Greg Oliver has been writing about pro wrestling since 1985, and is the author of wrestling books: The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Storytellers (with Steven Johnson), The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: Heroes & Icons (with Steven Johnson and Mike Mooneyham); The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Heels (with Steven Johnson); The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Tag Teams (also with Johnson); The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Canadians; SLAM! I was lucky enough this time to have John Ford as my director. He lives in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, with his wife and son. Strode also played the powerful gladiator who does battle with Kirk Douglas in Spartacus (1960)."