User:Adjoajo/charles

Charles Weldon was born on June 1, 1940 in Wetumka, Oklahoma. He was an actor, director, singer, and song writer. He was the artistic director of the Negro Ensemble Company for thirteen years. He directed many of the Negro Ensemble company's productions. He is the co-founded of the Alumni of the Negro Ensemble Company.

Early years
Weldon's mother was Beatrice Jennings. The family moved from Wetumka, Oklahoma to Bakersfield, California when he was seven years old. As a young boy he worked in the cotton fields of Bakersfield until he was seventeen years old. At the age of seventeen he joined a local doo-wop group. He was the lead singer for The Paradons. In 1960 he co-wrote the hit record "Diamonds and Pearls." The group appeared on the Dick Clark's American Bandstand television show. They also toured with with James Brown, and Fats Domino. After the group the Paradons disbanded Weldon joined the soul group Blues for Sale.

Career
Weldon started his acting career in the 1960s. He joined the Negro Ensemble Company 1970. He later became the artistic director in 2005. In 1969, Weldon had a role in the Oscar Brown Jr's musical “Buck White.” Muhammad Ali stared in the musical.

In 1973, he was a part of the Broadway cast of "The River Niger," along with Cicely Tyson and James Earl Jones. The River Niger was written by Joseph A Walker. The play won a Tony Award for best play.

Weldon appeared in the original San Francisco production of Hair.

Weldon has directed and acted in regional theaters. For the Denver Theater Center he appeared in twelve productions.

Onscreen

 * Stir Crazy
 * Serpico
 * Malcolm X
 * The Wishing Tree

Negro Ensemble Company Productions

 * In 1982 - The Charles Fuller's Pulitzer Prize winner play A Soldier's Play.
 * In 1975 - The Brownsville Raid
 * In 1973 - The Great MacDaddy by Paul Carter Harrison
 * In 1973 - The River Niger the Tony-winning Broadway production by Joseph A. Walker.
 * In 2016 - A Day of Absence by Douglas Turner Ward

Negro Ensemble Company
 As a director for the Negro Ensemble Theater
 * "Colored People Time", by Leslie Lee
 * "The Waiting Room" by Samm-Art Williams
 * "Savanna Black and Blue" by Raymond Jones
 * "Ceremonies in Dark Old Men" by Lonnie Elder
 * "Hercules Didn't Wade in the Water" by Michael A. Jones
 * Negro Ensemble Theater Companies 50th Anniversary revival of "A Soldier's Play" by Charles Fuller

The Negro Ensemble Company Awards

 * 1982 -a Pulitzer Prize for "A Soldier's Play"
 * Two Tony Awards
 * Eleven Obies

Castillo Theater

 * 2013 - Directed "Stealing Home" about Jackie Robinson
 * 2011 - Directed "The Picture Box"

As an Actor
 Film & Television
 * 2018 - Paris Blues in Harlem (Short)
 * 2018 - Diane
 * 2005 - Law & Order: Trial by Jury (TV Series)
 * 2005 - 41 Shots
 * 2001 - Hoop Soldiers (Video)
 * 2000 - Clockin' Green (Video)
 * 1999 - The Wishing Tree
 * 1990-1999 - Law & Order (TV Series)
 * 1999 - Sideshow
 * 1990 - Out of the Half-Light
 * 1994 - New York Undercover (TV Series)
 * 1994 - The Friendly Neighborhood Dealer (1994) ... James Hampton
 * 1994 - Pilot
 * 1994 - Drop Squad
 * 1992 - Malcolm X
 * 1989 - The Women of Brewster Place (TV Series)
 * 1988 - Case Closed (TV Movie)
 * 1987 - Simon & Simon (TV Series)
 * 1987 - I Thought the War Was Over (1987)
 * 1986 - L.A. Law (TV Series)
 * 1986 - Gibbon Take (1986)
 * 1985 - St. Elsewhere (TV Series)
 * 1985 - Andrew Turner- Watch the Skies
 * 1985 - The Atlanta Child Murders (TV Mini-Series)
 * 1984 - Gimme a Break! (TV Series)
 * 1984 - New Orleans: Part 2 (1984)
 * 1984 - New Orleans: Part 1
 * 1983 - Another Woman's Child (TV Movie)
 * 1982 - Fast-Walking * 1981 - 1982 Hill Street Blues (TV Series)
 * 1982 - American Playhouse (TV Series)
 * 1982 - For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf
 * 1981 - Rites of Spring
 * 1980 - Stir Crazy
 * 1979 - Roots: The Next Generations (TV Mini-Series)
 * 1979 - The Rockford Files (TV Series)
 * 1979 - The Battle-Ax and the Exploding Cigar (1979) ... Watkins
 * 1978 - A Woman Called Moses (TV Series)
 * 1976 - Sanford and Son (TV Series)
 * 1976 - The Stakeout
 * 1976 - Kiss Me, Kill Me (TV Movie)
 * 1976 - The River Niger
 * 1976 - Dynasty (TV Movie)
 * 1976 - Kojak (TV Series)
 * 1976 - Bad Dude (1976)
 * 1975 - The Streets of San Francisco (TV Series)
 * 1975 - Trail of Terror
 * 1975 - Police Story (TV Series)
 * 1975 - A Community of Victims (1975)
 * 1975 - The Witness
 * 1975 - The Execution
 * 1972 - Trick Baby
 * 1967 - Who's Minding the Mint?

Awards

 * "Henry" award for Excellence in Regional Theater); Best Supporting Actor in "Gem of the Ocean" by August Wilson
 * Audelco Award for Best Supporting Actor in "Seven Guitars" by August Wilson