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| + | [[Image:Gordon3.jpg|thumb|300px|Roscoe Orman]] |
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| − | '''Roscoe Orman''' (b. 1944) plays [[Gordon]] on ''[[Sesame Street]]''. |
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| + | '''Roscoe Hunter Orman''' (b. June 11, 1944) has played [[Gordon]] on ''[[Sesame Street]]'' since 1974, becoming the third actor to play the role. He has also supplied the voice of [[Hard Head Henry Harris]] and other characters, including the hand in "[[Elmo's World: Hands]]" (for which he also provided his physical hand), as well as the [[PBS]] funding voice-overs. From [[Season 35]] to [[Season 38]], he appeared as the fictional superhero [[Trash Gordon]]. |
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| − | Roscoe joined the show in 1973, taking over as the third actor to play Gordon on the show. |
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| + | Born in [[Manhattan]], [[New York City]], and living in the Bronx for much of his childhood, Orman made his acting debut at the age of 18. Subsequent work included stints with the [[William Shakespeare|New York Shakespeare Festival]] and the New Federal Theater. Orman's film debut came in the blaxploitation film ''Willie Dynamite'', playing the title role, a heroic pimp. Orman shaved his head for the part, and his now bald pate would become a trademark over the next several years. |
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| − | ''Official bio (from sesameworkshop.org):'' |
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| + | Shortly after completion of the film, Orman was informed by ''Sesame Street'' director Stan Lathan of auditions for the role of Gordon. Orman was one of three finalists, alongside David Downing and Robert Guillaume. Orman recalled that during his audition scene with [[Oscar the Grouch]], he kept looking at [[Caroll Spinney]] instead of the puppet. However, Orman had good chemistry with the preschool kids, improvising the concepts of up and down.<ref>Lance, Steven. ''Written Out of Television: A TV Lover's Guide to Cast Changes, 1945-1994''. Maryland: Madison Books, 1996.</ref> In a 2011 interview, he credited his segment with [[John Williams III|John John]] for giving him his career.<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kui_Ke-rXo&feature=player_embedded</ref> |
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| − | Roscoe Orman (Gordon) is an accomplished actor whose credits extend to television, stage, and screen. He studied at New York's Circle-In-The-Square Theatre School and The Manhattan School of Music and made his acting debut with the Next Stage Theatre Company in 1962. He toured for two years with the Free Southern Theater and was an original member of the New Lafayette Theatre Company where he perfomed in many plays including ''Whose Got His Own'', ''The Duplex'' and ''The Fabulous Miss Marie''. Orman has worked extensively on the New York stage with the Negro Ensemble Company, New York Shakespeare Festival, Manhattan Theatre Club, New Federal Theatre, and American Place Theatre, where in 1993 he enjoyed critical success in the title role ''The Confessions of Stepin Fetchit''. He appeared as Gabriel in the 1988 Broadway production of ''Fences''. Orman's film credits include the title role in ''Willie Dynamite'', ''F/X'', ''Striking Distance'', ''New Jersey Drive'', ''Drive-By'', and ''Full Court Press'', and on television he has been seen on such shows as ''Sanford and Son'', ''Kojak'', ''All My Children'', ''Law And Order'', ''Sex In The City'', and ''Cosby''. He has also narrated such TV documentaries as ''Langston Hughes:The Dreamkeeper'' for PBS, ''Children's Health and Heritage Of The Black West'' on Discovery Channel, and ''U.S. Presidents'' on the History Channel. The 2004 season marks Orman's 31st as Gordon, a science teacher who is married to [[Susan]] and the father of [[Miles]]. |
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| + | In 1976, during a hiatus from ''Sesame Street'', Orman played the villainous pimp Tyrone on the [[Soap operas|soap opera]] ''All My Children''. When the guest spot became a recurring role, Orman was forced to choose, and abandoned the role. Later non-''Sesame Street'' roles were more positive, including a police lieutenant in an episode of ''Kojak'', Captain Wallenger in the 1986 film ''F/X'', and another captain in the pilot episode of the [[Disney|Touchstone Television]] series ''Hard Time on Planet Earth''. |
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| + | Orman has also portrayed the controversial early black comedian [[Wikipedia:Stepin Fetchit|Stepin Fetchit]] in a biographical one-man stage play, created by fellow "Gordon" actor [[Matt Robinson]]. His most recent attempts at moonlighting from ''Sesame Street'' have included guest spots on ''[[Bill Cosby|Cosby]]'', ''[[Law & Order]]'', and ''[[Sex and the City]]''. Orman has also done extensive voice-over work, including narration for the History Channel and commercials for Chevrolet and Kraft Cheese. |
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| + | [[File:RoscoeOrmanSongsToGrowOn1995.jpg|thumb|300px|Children's album released in 1995.]] |
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| + | In [[1995]], Orman released an album of children's music under the title ''"Roscoe Orman Sings Songs to Grow On"''. |
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| + | The picture book ''Ricky and Mobo'', written and illustrated by Orman, is about his childhood love of a toy horse. Orman is the "chief storyteller" for Audible Kids audio book downloads, he commented "I do the voices. I do [[Beauty and the Beast|Beauty AND the Beast]]."<ref>Rich Heldenfels, "[http://www.ohio.com/news/42064952.html 'Sesame Street' visits the mall]", ''Beacon Journal'', March 28, 2009.</ref> |
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| + | His real-life son, [[Miles Orman]], portrayed the character [[Miles]] on ''Sesame Street'' from 1985 until 1992. |
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| + | ==Interviews== |
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| + | The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation interviewed Orman on July 20, 2004 for [[the Archive of American Television]]. The two-hour interview was posted on YouTube in 2008. |
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| + | <gallery> |
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| + | File:Roscoe Orman - Archive Interview Part 1 of 4|part 1 |
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| + | File:Roscoe Orman - Archive Interview Part 2 of 4|part 2 |
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| + | File:Roscoe Orman - Archive Interview Part 3 of 4|part 3 |
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| + | File:Roscoe Orman - Archive Interview Part 4 of 4|part 4 |
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| + | </gallery> |
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| + | |||
| + | ==Sources== |
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| + | <references /> |
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| + | * [http://www.roscoeorman.com/ Official site] |
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| + | * [http://video.voicebank.net/vb2pub/1597/cabinet/publicaudio/Commercial%20-%20Men/Orman%2C%20Roscoe.mp3 Roscoe Orman's Voice Over Demo] |
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[[Category:Sesame Street Cast|Orman, Roscoe]] |
[[Category:Sesame Street Cast|Orman, Roscoe]] |
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[[Category:Muppet Movies Actors|Orman, Roscoe]] |
[[Category:Muppet Movies Actors|Orman, Roscoe]] |
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| + | [[Category:Muppet Voice Actors|Orman, Roscoe]] |
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Revision as of 01:29, 2 February 2016
Roscoe Orman
Roscoe Hunter Orman (b. June 11, 1944) has played Gordon on Sesame Street since 1974, becoming the third actor to play the role. He has also supplied the voice of Hard Head Henry Harris and other characters, including the hand in "Elmo's World: Hands" (for which he also provided his physical hand), as well as the PBS funding voice-overs. From Season 35 to Season 38, he appeared as the fictional superhero Trash Gordon.
Born in Manhattan, New York City, and living in the Bronx for much of his childhood, Orman made his acting debut at the age of 18. Subsequent work included stints with the New York Shakespeare Festival and the New Federal Theater. Orman's film debut came in the blaxploitation film Willie Dynamite, playing the title role, a heroic pimp. Orman shaved his head for the part, and his now bald pate would become a trademark over the next several years.
Shortly after completion of the film, Orman was informed by Sesame Street director Stan Lathan of auditions for the role of Gordon. Orman was one of three finalists, alongside David Downing and Robert Guillaume. Orman recalled that during his audition scene with Oscar the Grouch, he kept looking at Caroll Spinney instead of the puppet. However, Orman had good chemistry with the preschool kids, improvising the concepts of up and down.[1] In a 2011 interview, he credited his segment with John John for giving him his career.[2]
In 1976, during a hiatus from Sesame Street, Orman played the villainous pimp Tyrone on the soap opera All My Children. When the guest spot became a recurring role, Orman was forced to choose, and abandoned the role. Later non-Sesame Street roles were more positive, including a police lieutenant in an episode of Kojak, Captain Wallenger in the 1986 film F/X, and another captain in the pilot episode of the Touchstone Television series Hard Time on Planet Earth.
Orman has also portrayed the controversial early black comedian Stepin Fetchit in a biographical one-man stage play, created by fellow "Gordon" actor Matt Robinson. His most recent attempts at moonlighting from Sesame Street have included guest spots on Cosby, Law & Order, and Sex and the City. Orman has also done extensive voice-over work, including narration for the History Channel and commercials for Chevrolet and Kraft Cheese.
Children's album released in 1995.
In 1995, Orman released an album of children's music under the title "Roscoe Orman Sings Songs to Grow On".
The picture book Ricky and Mobo, written and illustrated by Orman, is about his childhood love of a toy horse. Orman is the "chief storyteller" for Audible Kids audio book downloads, he commented "I do the voices. I do Beauty AND the Beast."[3]
His real-life son, Miles Orman, portrayed the character Miles on Sesame Street from 1985 until 1992.
Interviews
The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation interviewed Orman on July 20, 2004 for the Archive of American Television. The two-hour interview was posted on YouTube in 2008.
Sources
- ↑ Lance, Steven. Written Out of Television: A TV Lover's Guide to Cast Changes, 1945-1994. Maryland: Madison Books, 1996.
- ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kui_Ke-rXo&feature=player_embedded
- ↑ Rich Heldenfels, "'Sesame Street' visits the mall", Beacon Journal, March 28, 2009.