Eddie Anderson

Eddie Anderson Headshot

Actress • Comedian • Vaudevillian

Birth Date: September 18, 1905

Death Date: February 28, 1977

Birth Place: Oakland, California

This gravel-voiced African-American comic player from the vaudeville stage and nightclub revues is best remembered for playing Jack Benny's worried valet and straight man, Rochester, for 28 years on Benny's radio and later TV show (1950-65).

Although he entered films in the late 1920s, and appeared as Noah in "Green Pastures" (1936) and Uncle Peter in "Gone With the Wind" (1939), Anderson had his most notable film performance as the lead opposite Ethel Waters in Vincente Minnelli's all-black musical "Cabin in the Sky" (1943).

Credits

ROCHESTER: Artist

Music Performer
Show
2019

Friars Club Roast of Jack Benny

Actor
Show
1970

Jack Benny's New Look

Actor
guest
Show
1969

Love, American Style

Actor
Willie
Series
1969

Bachelor Father

Guest Star
Series
1957

The Red Skelton ShowStream

Actor
Variety Show
1951

The Jack Benny ProgramStream

Actor
Series
1950

What's My Line?Stream

Guest
Game Show
1950

You Can Change the World

Self
Movie
1950

The Show-Off

Actor
Eddie
Movie
1946

Brewster's MillionsStream

Actor
Jackson
Movie
1945

I Love a Bandleader

Actor
Newton H. Newton
Movie
1945

Broadway Rhythm

Actor
Eddie
Movie
1944

Cabin in the SkyStream

Actor
Joe Jackson
Movie
1943
81%

What's Buzzin' Cousin

Actor
Rochester
Movie
1943

The Meanest Man in the World

Actor
Shufro
Movie
1943

Tales of Manhattan

Actor
Rev. Lazarus
Movie
1942

Topper ReturnsStream

Actor
Eddie
Movie
1941
89%

Kiss the Boys Goodbye

Actor
George
Movie
1941

Buck Benny Rides Again

Actor
Rochester Van Jones
Movie
1940

Love Thy Neighbor

Actor
Rochester Van Jones
Movie
1940

Gospel Films Archive

Self
Show
1939

You Can't Cheat an Honest Man

Actor
Rochester
Movie
1939

Man About Town

Actor
Rochester
Movie
1939

Gone With the WindStream

Actor
Uncle Peter
Movie
1939
90%

HonoluluStream

Actor
Washington
Movie
1939

Going Places

Actor
George
Movie
1939

Thanks for the Memory

Actor
Janitor
Movie
1938

Exposed

Actor
William
Movie
1938

You Can't Take It With YouStream

Actor
Donald
Movie
1938
95%

Public Wedding

Actor
Man Carrying Coat
Movie
1937

Three Men on a Horse

Actor
Moses
Movie
1936

The Green Pastures

Actor
Noah
Movie
1936

What Price Hollywood?

Actor
James, Max's Butler (uncredited)
Movie
1932