Jester Hairston
Birthday
1901/07/09
Day of death
2000/01/18 (98 years old)
Gender
Male
Place of Birth
Belews Creek, North Carolina, USA
Also know as
Gester Hairston, Jasper J. Hairston, Jester J. Hairston
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jester Joseph Hairston (July 9, 1901 – January 18, 2000) was an American composer, songwriter, arranger, choral conductor, and actor. He was regarded as a leading expert on Negro spirituals and choral music. His notable compositions include "Amen," a gospel-tinged theme from the film Lilies of the Field and a 1963 hit for The Impressions, and the Christmas song "Mary's Boy Child". He sang with the Hall Johnson Choir in Harlem for a time but was nearly fire...Read more
Acting
(1960) The Alamo
as Jethro
(1942) Across the Pacific
as Passerby (uncredited)
(1977) Green Eyes
as Dirk Dubeck
(1976) The Last Tycoon
as Waiter in Stahr's Office (uncredited)
(1955) Tarzan's Hidden Jungle
as Witch Doctor
(1953) So This Is Love
as Preacher
(1954) Gypsy Colt
as Carl
(1952) We're Not Married!
as Lead Christmas Caroler (uncredited)
(1972) Lady Sings the Blues
as The Butler
(1961) Summer and Smoke
as Thomas (uncredited)
(1954) Tanganyika
as ---
(1962) To Kill a Mockingbird
as Spence Robinson (uncredited)
(1960) Raymie
as Ransom
(1936) The Green Pastures
as Member of Hall Johnson Choir (uncredited)
(1967) In the Heat of the Night
as Endicott's Butler
(1941) Sundown
as Native Boy (uncredited)
(1951) Yes Sir, Mr. Bones
as ---
(1976) The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings
as Furry Taylor
(1968) Finian's Rainbow
as Passion Pilgrim Gospeller (uncredited)
(1942) In This Our Life
as Black Man in Jail (uncredited)
(1988) I'm Gonna Git You Sucka
as Pop
(1992) John Wayne's 'The Alamo'
as Jethro
(1955) Pete Kelly's Blues
as Mourner (uncredited)
(1989) Family Matters
as ---
(1955) Gunsmoke
as Wellington
(1986) Amen
as Rolly Forbes
(1974) Harry O
as ---
(1974) That's My Mama
as Wildcat
(1951) Amos 'n' Andy
as ---
(1960) Thriller
as Papa Benjamin
(1955) The 20th Century Fox Hour
as ---
(1954) Studio 57
as ---
(1971) Nichols
as Melville
(1959) Rawhide
as Zachariah