Actor
Johnny Lee
July 4, 1898 · Springfield, Missouri, USA
John Dotson Lee Jr. (July 4, 1898 – December 12, 1965) was an American singer, dancer, and actor known for voicing the role of Br'er Rabbit in Disney's Song of the South (1946) and as the clownish, cringing, tremulous-voiced shyster pseudo-lawyer Algonquin J. Calhoun in the CBS Amos 'n' Andy TV and radio comedy series in the early 1950s. His comedic portrayal of Calhoun was a highlight of a brilliant ensemble cast whose storylines remain eternally funny. Much of his career was spent in vaudeville, but he also performed in motion pictures, on recordings, and on television. He released a record (as "Johnnie Lee") in July 1949 called "You Can't Lose A Broken Heart" (Columbia Records # 30172), with backup vocals by The Ebonaires. Lee also starred in an all-black musical comedy called "Sugar Hill" in 1949 at Las Palmas Theatre in California.
He died of a heart attack on December 12, 1965 age 67.
Notable work
Often works with
Mantan Moreland
3 titles together
Come On, Cowboy!, She's Too Mean for Me, Return of Mandy's Husband
F.E. Miller
3 titles together
Come On, Cowboy!, She's Too Mean for Me, Return of Mandy's Husband
Nick Stewart
2 titles together
Song of the South, Amos 'n' Andy
Bess Flowers
2 titles together
The Narrow Margin, The First Traveling Saleslady
Fabian
2 titles together
North to Alaska, High Time
Stanley Adams
2 titles together
North to Alaska, The Rat Race
Full filmography · 13
North to Alaska
as Coachman
19606.5
High Time
as Servant at Judge Carter's Ball (uncredited)
1960
The Rat Race
as Janitor (uncredited)
1960
The Spirit of St. Louis
as Jess - Cook at Louie's Shack (uncredited)
19576.7
The First Traveling Saleslady
as Amos
1956
The Narrow Margin
as Waiter (uncredited)
19527.3
Come On, Cowboy!
cast
1949
She's Too Mean for Me
cast
1948
Return of Mandy's Husband
as Johnny
1947
Song of the South
as Br'er Rabbit (voice)
19466.5
Stormy Weather
as Lyles (uncredited)
19436.9
The Black King
as Count of Zanzibar
1932