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Scoey Mitchell

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Scoey Mitchell
  • Mitchell as a boxer on an episode of TV's
  • That Girl, 1969
Born
Roscoe Mitchell Jr.

(1930-03-12)March 12, 1930
Newburgh, New York, U.S.
DiedMarch 19, 2022(2022-03-19) (aged 92)
Torrance, California, U.S.
Other namesScoey Mitchell
Occupations
  • Actor
  • director
  • producer
  • writer
Years active1967–1990
Spouse
Claire T. Thomas
​
(m. 1973)​
RelativesBilly Mitchell (brother)

Roscoe Mitchell Jr. or Scoey Mitchell[1][2] (March 12, 1930 – March 19, 2022), usually credited as Scoey Mitchell, was an American actor, producer, writer and television director known for frequent appearances on 1970s game shows, including Match Game and Tattletales. He starred in the short-lived series Barefoot in the Park (based on the Neil Simon play) and had a recurring role on Rhoda.[3]

He created two short-lived NBC television series, Me and Mrs. C and 13 East. He appeared as Richard Pryor's father in the film Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling.

Early life and career

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Mitchell was born on March 12, 1930, in Newburgh, New York, as Roscoe Mitchlll Jr. (the surname had three "L"s, and no "E").[4] His father was a Baptist minister and community activist. His brother was jazz pianist Billy Mitchell. He started his career on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in 1967.[5] He appeared in What's It All About, World? as himself in 1969.[6][7]

He guest-starred in television series including The Mothers-in-Law, Here Come the Brides, That Girl, The Odd Couple, The Six Million Dollar Man, and Baretta.

Mitchell starred in several television films, including Voyage of the Yes,[8] Cops,[9] and Cindy.[10] He also turned to directing television with the film Me & Mrs. C. in 1984[11] and episodes of 13 East in 1989–90. Mitchell wrote for television, including The Scoey Mitchell Show in 1972,[12][11] Just a Little More Love in 1983,[13] and Handsome Harry's.[14] In addition, he ventured into production of television and television films, including Grambling's White Tiger in 1981,[15] Gus Brown and Midnight Brewster in 1985,[16] and Miracle at Beekman's Place in 1988.[17]

Mitchell also was on a number of television shows as himself, including Match Game from 1974 to 1979, Super Password in 1988, The Joey Bishop Show 1968–69, Hollywood Squares in 1968, and Tattletales from 1974 to 1978 and from 1982 to 1984. He guest starred on an episode of Taxi titled "Memories of Cab 804, Part 1" (1978) during the first season and his name was misspelled in the end credits as "Scoey Mitchell" (a letter 'l' replaced the letter 'e').

In September 1970, ABC cast Mitchell in Barefoot in the Park based on Neil Simon's Broadway play of the same name. The series cast members were predominantly black, making it the first American television sitcom since Amos 'n' Andy to have a predominantly black cast (Vito Scotti was the sole major white character). Barefoot in the Park had been a successful 1967 film starring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda.[18] It was thought by ABC that placing Barefoot in the Park behind Bewitched would do well, but because that show was already in a slump, Barefoot in the Park never developed high numbers for the network. During its first few episodes, Barefoot in the Park developed behind-the-scenes strife that sealed its fate: Mitchell was fired due to "differences of opinion" with the series' producers. Rather than replace Mitchell with another actor—and already disenchanted with the low ratings—ABC decided to cancel Barefoot in the Park in December 1970.

In 1986, Mitchell was in Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling, a semi-autobiographical film about Richard Pryor.[19] In 2017, after a hiatus of almost thirty years, he returned to acting, in a one-off role in A Kindred Soul.[citation needed]

Death

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Mitchell died of kidney failure on March 19, 2022, in a hospice-care facility in Torrance, California.[20] He was survived by his wife, Claire.

Filmography

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Acting

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1986 Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling Father Semi-autobiographical;[21] directed by Richard Pryor.[19]

Television

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Year Title Role Episode(s) Notes
1965 Get Smart Credited as Scoey Mitchell
1967 The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour Himself "Episode #2.12" (S2:Ep 12) Credited as Scoey Mitchell
1968 "Episode #2.17" (S2:Ep 17) Credited as Scoey Mitchell
"Episode #2.24" (S2:Ep 24) Credited as Scoey Mitchell
1969 What's It All About, World? Himself Contract role
The Mothers-in-Law Solomon Elkins "Guess Who's Coming Forever" (S2:Ep 20) Credited as Scoey Mitchell[22]
Here Come the Brides Sheriff Bond "Far Cry from Yesterday" (S2:Ep 1)
The Carol Burnett Show Himself "Episode #3.4" (S3:Ep 4)
That Girl Tony Harris "Shake Hands and Come Out Acting" (S4:Ep 9) Credited as Scoey Mitchell[22]
1970 Barefoot in the Park Paul Bratter Contract role;

credited as Scoey Mitchell[23]

1972 The Odd Couple Consul from Nigeria "The Princess" (S3:Ep 3) Uncredited[22]
1973 Voyage of the Yes Pretty Television film Directed by Lee H. Katzin.[8]
Cops Sergeant Monroe Dupree Television film
1974 The Six Million Dollar Man Major Chooka "Little Orphan Airplane" (S1:Ep 5) Credited as Scoey Mitchell
1974–76 Rhoda Justin Culp Recurring Credited as Scoey Mitchell[24]
1975 Joe Forrester Guest Pilot: "Stake Out"
Police Story Investigator Mal Groves "The Execution" (S2:Ep 18)
"The Cut Man Caper" (S3:Ep 5)
1976 Doc The Father "And Baby Makes Eight" (S1:Ep 16)
1977 Baretta Mike "Playin' Police" (S3:Ep 24) Credited as Scoey Mitchell[22]
1978 Cindy Cindy's father Television film Directed by William Graham.[10]
Baretta Aterna "The Bundle" (S4:Ep 24)
Taxi Robber "Memories of Cab 804: Part 1" (S1:Ep 11) Credited as Scoey Mitchell[22]
1979 Lou Grant Minister "Skids" (S2:Ep 23) Credited as Scoey Mitchell[22]
Just Friends Guest "Room at the Top" (S1:Ep 8)
A New Kind of Family Carl Ashton "Thank You for a Lovely Evening" (S1:Ep 7)
Password Plus Guest Air date April 2, 1979, with Lee Meriwether Credited as Scoey Mitchell[25]
1985 Gus Brown and Midnight Brewster Maurice Television film Directed by James Fargo.[16]
Handsome Harry's Harry Marquette Television film
1986 Me & Mrs. C. Reverend Kilgore "Ladies' Choice: Part 1" (S1:Ep 2)
"Ladies' Choice: Part 2" (S1:Ep 3)
Miracle at Beekman's Place Dr Cyrus Beekman Television film Directed by Bernard L. Kowalski and written by Mitchell.[17]

Directing

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Television

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Year Title Production Type Episodes Notes
1984 Me & Mrs. C. M

Television film

Co-directed with Drew R. Handley [11]
1987 Me & Mrs. C. TV series

"The Jailbird" (S2:Ep 2)
"Happy Birthday to You" (S2:Ep 3)
"A Bump in the Night" (S2:Ep 12)
"Smarty Pants" (S2:Ep 13)

1989–90 13 East TV series

Pilot: "Where's the Ticket?" (S1:Ep 1)
"I've Got a Loan to Pick with You" (S1:Ep 2)
"A Day in the Life" (S1:Ep 3)
"The Switch" (S1:Ep 4)
"Tabloid Time" (S1:Ep 5)
"Poppa's Coming" (S1:Ep 6)
"Bullseye" (S2:Ep 10)

Writing

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Television

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Year Title Production Type Directed by Notes
1972 The Scoey Mitchell Show Television film Marc Breslow[11]
1983 Just a Little More Love Television film Burt Brinckerhoff[13]
1984 Me & Mrs. C. Television film Co-directed with Drew R. Handley[11]
1985 Gus Brown and Midnight Brewster Television film James Fargo[16] Story by Mitchell and Martin Rips; teleplay by Mitchell.[16]
Handsome Harry's Television film Bill Foster[14] Co-written and story by Mitchell with Calvin Kelly and James Tisdale (credited as Jim Tisdale).[14]
1986 Me & Mrs. C. Television series Episodes:
  • Pilot: "Moving in and Moving Out" (S1:Ep 1)
  • "Ladies' Choice: Part 2" (S1:Ep 3)
  • "The Checks Are in the Mail" (S1:Ep 4)
  • "The Lottery" (S1:Ep 5)
  • "Let's Have a Party" (S1:Ep 6)
1988 A Whole Lotta Fun Television film Co-written with Cassandra Clark, James Hampton, Tracy Morgan, Deborah Pearl (credited as Debbie Pearl), Steve Robertson, and John Vornholt.[26]
Miracle at Beekman's Place Television film Bernard L. Kowalski[17]

Production

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Television

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Year Title Production Type Credited as Notes
1981 Grambling's White Tiger Television film Associate producer [15] Directed by Georg Stanford Brown[15]
1983 Just a Little More Love Television film Executive producer[13]
1984 Me & Mrs. C. Television film Producer[11]
1985 Gus Brown and Midnight Brewster Television film Producer[16]
Handsome Harry's Television film Executive producer [14]
1986 Me & Mrs. C. Television series Producer
1988 A Whole Lotta Fun Television film Executive producer [26]
Miracle at Beekman's Place Television film Producer[17]
1989 13 East Television series Producer

References

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  1. ^ "Still Scoey After All These Years". Wayne Powers. March 12, 2017. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  2. ^ "All results for Scoey Mitchell". Ancestry.com. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  3. ^ Barnes, Mike (March 24, 2022). "Scoey Mitchell, Star of TV's 'Barefoot in the Park,' Dies at 92". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  4. ^ Convy, Bert (host) (August 1974). "Tattletales". Tattletales. CBS.
  5. ^ "Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour Episode Schedule". Smothers Brothers. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  6. ^ "What's It All About, World?". Getty Images. March 20, 1969. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  7. ^ "What's It All About, World?". Getty Images. March 20, 1969. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  8. ^ a b "Voyage of the Yes". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  9. ^ a b "Cops". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  10. ^ a b "Cindy". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  11. ^ a b c d e f "Me & Mrs. C." Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  12. ^ Terrace, Vincent (June 6, 2013). Television Specials: 5,336 Entertainment Programs, 1936-2012 (2nd ed.). McFarland. p. 325. ISBN 978-0-7864-7444-8. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  13. ^ a b c "Just a Little More Love". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  14. ^ a b c d e "Handsome Harry's". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  15. ^ a b c "Grambling's White Tiger". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  16. ^ a b c d e "Gus Brown and Midnight Brewster". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  17. ^ a b c d "Miracle at Beekman's Place". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  18. ^ "Barefoot in the Park". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  19. ^ a b "Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  20. ^ Comedian/actor "Scoey Mitchell Dies". Pasadena Weekly. March 23, 2023.
  21. ^ Siskel, Gene (May 4, 1986). "Richard Pryor Comes Clean in Harrowing Recap of Life". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  22. ^ a b c d e f "Scoey Mitchell". IMDb. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  23. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: BAREFOOT IN THE PARK opening credits ABC sitcom. YouTube.
  24. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5FpxoVbsl4 Rhoda, Episode 47, February 16, 1976 Timepoint: 24:47.
  25. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMwoua_6Qi8 Password Plus, April 4, 1979, Timepoint 0:14.
  26. ^ a b "A Whole Lotta Fun". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
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