Charles Weldon

Charles Weldon (June 1, 1940 – December 7, 2018) was an actor, director, educator, singer, and song writer. He was the artistic director of the Negro Ensemble Company for thirteen years. He was the co-founder of the Alumni of this company and directed many of their productions. During his career he worked with Denzel Washington, James Earl Jones, Cicely Tyson, Alfre Woodard, Muhammad Ali, and Oscar Brown, Jr.[1][2][3]

For the Canadian lawyer and politician, see Charles Wesley Weldon.
Charles Weldon
Born(1940-06-01)June 1, 1940
Wetumka, Oklahoma, U.S.
DiedDecember 7, 2018(2018-12-07) (aged 78)
OccupationActor, Artistic Director
Spouse(s)Barbara Soletto (1st wife); Debbi Morgan (2nd wife) (m 1980–1984)

Early years

Weldon's mother was Beatrice Jennings; his father was Roosevelt Weldon. 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 the age of seventeen, when he joined a local doo-wop group. He graduated from Bakersfield High School in 1959. He was the brother of actress Ann Weldon, singer Maxine Weldon, and Mae Frances Weldon.[2]

As the lead singer of The Paradons, he co-wrote the hit record "Diamonds and Pearls" in 1960. The group appeared on the Dick Clark's American Bandstand television show and also toured with James Brown, and Fats Domino. After the group The Paradons disbanded, Weldon joined the soul group Blues for Sale.[4][5]

Career

Weldon began his acting career in 1969, with a role in the Oscar Brown Jr's musical Buck White starring as Muhammad Ali. He joined the Negro Ensemble Company in 1970 and later became its artistic director in 2005.[6]

In 1973, he was a part of the Broadway cast of The River Niger, with Cicely Tyson and James Earl Jones. The River Niger was written by Joseph A. Walker (playwright) and won a Tony Award for best play.[7]

Weldon appeared in the original San Francisco production of Hair and directed and acted in many regional theaters. For the Denver Theater Center, he appeared in twelve productions. His last project was the short film Paris Blues in Harlem, which he co-produced and starred in with Nadhege Ptah and Michele Baldwin, who casted him in the project.

Onscreen
  • Stir Crazy
  • Serpico
  • Malcolm X
  • The Wishing Tree

Negro Ensemble Company Productions
  • In 2016 - A Day of Absence by Douglas Turner Ward[8]
  • In 1982 - The Charles Fuller's Pulitzer Prize winner play A Soldier's Play.
  • In 1975 - The Brownsville Raid
  • In 1973 - The Great Mac Daddy by Paul Carter Harrison
  • In 1973 - The River Niger the Tony-winning Broadway production by Joseph A. Walker.
  • In 1970 - Ododo by Joseph Walker [8]

Negro Ensemble Company as Director
  • 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[9]

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

References
  1. "Charles Weldon, Artistic Director of Negro Ensemble Company, Dies at 78". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 2019-01-10. Retrieved 2019-01-10.
  2. Genzlinger, Neil (20 December 2018). "Charles Weldon, Who Led the Negro Ensemble Company, Dies at 78". The New York Times. New York, New York City. Archived from the original on 21 December 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  3. Clement, Olivia (14 December 2018). "Actor, Director, and Artistic Leader Charles Weldon Dies at Age 78". Playbill. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  4. "Charles Weldon - The HistoryMakers". www.thehistorymakers.org. Archived from the original on 2019-01-10. Retrieved 2019-01-10.
  5. "Remembering NEC Artistic Director Charles Weldon, dead at 78". amsterdamnews.com. Archived from the original on 2019-01-16. Retrieved 2019-01-10.
  6. "Actor Charles Weldon, Director Of Negro Ensemble Company, Dead At 78". ArtsJournal. 18 December 2018. Archived from the original on 10 January 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  7. "Interview: Living Legend Charles Weldon, A.D. of The Negro Ensemble Company". StageBuddy.com. 29 October 2013. Archived from the original on 10 January 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  8. "All That Chat - CHARLES WELDON, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF NEGRO ENSEMBLE COMPANY, DIES AT 78". www.talkinbroadway.com. Archived from the original on 2019-01-10. Retrieved 2019-01-10.
  9. Hill, Anthony D. (2018). Historical Dictionary of African American Theater (second ed.). Roman & Littlefield. p. 548. ISBN 978-1-5381-1728-6.
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