
Person
Joe Seneca
Acting · 1919–1996 · Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Joe Seneca (January 14, 1919 – August 15, 1996) was an American film and television actor who had a lengthy Hollywood career, portraying bit parts in many major films and television sitcoms spanning from the 1970s to the 1990s. Seneca was born Joel McGhee in Cleveland, Ohio. Prior to his Hollywood career, Seneca belonged to the R&B singing group "The Three Riffs", performing at upscale supper clubs in New York City. He was also a songwriter and had big hits with "Talk to Me" which was sung by Little Willie John and "Break It to Me Gently", which was a smash twice, once by Brenda Lee in 1962, and once by Juice Newton in 1982. His song "It's Gonna Work Out Fine" was recorded by Ike & Tina Turner, Manfred Mann and The Spencer Davis Group. Arguably his most well-known roles are that of bluesman Willie Brown in Crossroads and Dr. Meddows in The Blob, the evil head of a government team sent to contain the title creature. Seneca also made multiple appearances on The Cosby Show as Hillman President Dr. Zachariah J. Hanes. He also played Alvin Newcastle [1]on an episode of The Golden Girls entitled "Old Friends." Joe appeared in Spike Lee's "School Daze" as the Mission College President McPherson in 1988. Joe appeared on Matlock: The Blues Singer Episode May 9, 1989. Joe also appeared in Michael Jackson's "The Way You Make Me Feel" Music Video In the late 80's. He died from asthma at the age of 77. Description above from the Wikipedia article Joe Seneca, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Known for

Law & Order
Lionel Jackson

Matlock
Eddie Haynes

The Cosby Show
Dr. Zachariah J. Hanes

The Golden Girls
Alvin Newcastle

The Equalizer
Fossil

seaQuest DSV
Professor Bingham

Amazing Stories
Ben Dumfy

American Playhouse
Noah

Friday the 13th: The Series
Hedley

Doogie Howser, M.D.
Blind Otis Lemon
Filmography
- 1997The Longest MemoryWhitechapel
- 1996A Time to KillReverend Isaiah Street
- 1994ChristyJoseph Scott
- 1994The Vernon Johns StoryDeacon Wilkes
- 1993The Saint of Fort WashingtonSpits
- 1993seaQuest DSVProfessor Bingham
- 1992Malcolm XToomer
- 1991Solomon Northup's OdysseyNoah
- 1991Mississippi MasalaWilliben Williams
- 1990Law & OrderLionel Jackson
- 1990Mo' Better BluesBig Stop's Friend
- 1989Doogie Howser, M.D.Blind Otis Lemon
- 1989Tarzan in ManhattanJoseph
- 1988The BlobDr. Meddows
- 1988China Beach
- 1988School DazePresident Harold McPherson
- 1987Friday the 13th: The SeriesHedley
- 1987Big ShotsFerryman
- 1987A Gathering of Old MenClatoo
- 1987Moments without Proper NamesSelf
- 1986Throb
- 1986Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder StoryReverend
- 1986CrossroadsWillie Brown
- 1986MatlockEddie Haynes
- 1985Amazing StoriesBen Dumfy
- 1985Spenser: For Hire
- 1985The EqualizerFossil
- 1985The Golden GirlsAlvin Newcastle
- 1985227
- 1985SilveradoEzra
- 1985Heart of the Garden
- 1984The Cosby ShowDr. Zachariah J. Hanes
- 1984The House of Dies DrearPluto
- 1984Terrible Joe MoranPittsburgh Billy
- 1984The Evil That Men DoSantiago
- 1982The VerdictDr. Thompson
- 1982American PlayhouseNoah
- 1981The Gentleman Bandit
- 1979Kramer vs. KramerPartygoer
- 1979The Fish That Saved PittsburghMr. Sweets
- 1979The Tenth MonthDoorman
- 1977WilmaEd Rudolph
- 1974The Taking of Pelham One Two ThreePolice Sergeant
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