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P. Jay Sidney
P. Jay Sidney (born Jay P. Sidney; April 8, 1915 – September 30, 1996) was an American actor. He was a prominent activist who fought for equal representation of African Americans in American entertainment.
Sidney Parhm Jr. was born in Norfolk, Virginia, to a poor family. His mother died when he was young, and his father moved the family to New York City. His father died when Sidney was 15, and he was placed in foster care. An excellent student, he graduated high school while still 15 years old, then attended City College for two years. He did not complete his college course, leaving in order to pursue a career in theater.
Sidney quickly obtained small parts in New York City theatrical productions. By 1934 he was included in Lena Horne's first stage play. During the 1940s he appeared in Carmen Jones and Othello. He was seen in a photograph taken for a campaign event with US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
During the 1940s, Sidney built a radio career, beginning with his series Experimental Theatre of the Air.
Sidney, by dint of his activism and persistence, landed early roles in television. This newly-emerging medium could have opened new career opportunities for black actors, but such was not the case. A newspaper article from the mid-1950s, headlined "TV'S NEW POLICY FOR NEGROES", depicts Sidney as the lone exception to the dearth of black dramatic actors. The writer noted: "the video floodgates were expected to be thrown open to experienced Negro actors. It never happened".[citation needed]
From 1951 on, Sidney made a living on TV, getting a few notable roles, such as Cato in 1952's The Plot to Kidnap General Washington. He had a two-year run on The Phil Silvers Show (his presence was protested by Southern TV station managers, but their protests were not acted on). He starred in the NBC daytime soap opera The Doctors as Paul Stark in 1968. He appeared on more than 170 shows, while also continuing to provide voice-overs and advertisements. However, he realized that his work was mostly insubstantial appearance. He told an interviewer, "I had a whole goddamned career of 'Yassuh, can I git ya another drink, sir?' But I did what was available. I did not mix feelings with the fact that I needed money to live".[citation needed]
In addition to his role as Private Palmer on The Phil Silvers Show (1957–59), Sidney's four-decade career includes The Joe Louis Story (1953), Brother John (1971), A Gathering of Old Men (1987), A Face in the Crowd (1957), and Trading Places (1983).
Sidney married Carol Foster in 1954. She was a well-educated (graduate of Howard University) daughter of a dentist. She had moved to New York to be a French translator, but dreamed of being an actress. They had a tumultuous marriage, and finally separated (they did not officially divorce until 1977, however) without having children. Carol Foster Sidney later did become a New York actress, with a 10-year career there.
P. Jay Sidney
P. Jay Sidney (born Jay P. Sidney; April 8, 1915 – September 30, 1996) was an American actor. He was a prominent activist who fought for equal representation of African Americans in American entertainment.
Sidney Parhm Jr. was born in Norfolk, Virginia, to a poor family. His mother died when he was young, and his father moved the family to New York City. His father died when Sidney was 15, and he was placed in foster care. An excellent student, he graduated high school while still 15 years old, then attended City College for two years. He did not complete his college course, leaving in order to pursue a career in theater.
Sidney quickly obtained small parts in New York City theatrical productions. By 1934 he was included in Lena Horne's first stage play. During the 1940s he appeared in Carmen Jones and Othello. He was seen in a photograph taken for a campaign event with US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
During the 1940s, Sidney built a radio career, beginning with his series Experimental Theatre of the Air.
Sidney, by dint of his activism and persistence, landed early roles in television. This newly-emerging medium could have opened new career opportunities for black actors, but such was not the case. A newspaper article from the mid-1950s, headlined "TV'S NEW POLICY FOR NEGROES", depicts Sidney as the lone exception to the dearth of black dramatic actors. The writer noted: "the video floodgates were expected to be thrown open to experienced Negro actors. It never happened".[citation needed]
From 1951 on, Sidney made a living on TV, getting a few notable roles, such as Cato in 1952's The Plot to Kidnap General Washington. He had a two-year run on The Phil Silvers Show (his presence was protested by Southern TV station managers, but their protests were not acted on). He starred in the NBC daytime soap opera The Doctors as Paul Stark in 1968. He appeared on more than 170 shows, while also continuing to provide voice-overs and advertisements. However, he realized that his work was mostly insubstantial appearance. He told an interviewer, "I had a whole goddamned career of 'Yassuh, can I git ya another drink, sir?' But I did what was available. I did not mix feelings with the fact that I needed money to live".[citation needed]
In addition to his role as Private Palmer on The Phil Silvers Show (1957–59), Sidney's four-decade career includes The Joe Louis Story (1953), Brother John (1971), A Gathering of Old Men (1987), A Face in the Crowd (1957), and Trading Places (1983).
Sidney married Carol Foster in 1954. She was a well-educated (graduate of Howard University) daughter of a dentist. She had moved to New York to be a French translator, but dreamed of being an actress. They had a tumultuous marriage, and finally separated (they did not officially divorce until 1977, however) without having children. Carol Foster Sidney later did become a New York actress, with a 10-year career there.