Robin Harris
<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>
| Robin Harris | |
|---|---|
| File:RobinDVD.png
Robin as seen on the cover of The Robin Harris Story - We Don't Die, We Multiply.
|
|
| Birth name | Robin Hughes Harris |
| Born | August 30, 1953 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist. Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Medium | Stand-up, film |
| Nationality | American |
| Years active | 1980–1990 |
| Genres | Satire, Observational comedy, Improvisational comedy |
| Spouse | Exetta Harris (? - March 18, 1990) (his death) |
Robin Hughes Harris (August 30, 1953 – March 18, 1990) was an American comedian and actor, known for his recurring comic sketch about Bébé's Kids.[1]
Contents
Childhood
Robin Harris was born in Chicago, Illinois. His father, Earl, was a welder, and his mother, Mattie, was a factory seamstress.[2] In 1961, the family moved to Los Angeles, where he attended Manual Arts High School. Harris then attended Ottawa University in Kansas. During this time, he began to hone his craft of comedy. He worked for Hughes Aircraft, a rental car company, and Security Pacific Bank to pay his bills. In 1980, he debuted at Los Angeles’ Comedy Store.
Career
During the mid 1980s, Harris worked as the master of ceremonies at the Comedy Act Theater. His “old school” brand of humor began to gain him a mainstream following. Harris made his acting debut playing a bartender in I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988). Harris also had a role in Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing (1989). As "Sweet Dick Willie," Harris served as part of the neighborhood "Greek chorus" that commented on the events of an increasingly tense day. Harris was Pop, the father of Kid in House Party (1990). He followed up later that year with a small role as a jazz club MC in Mo' Better Blues. He also had a role in Eddie Murphy's Harlem Nights (1989).
Bébé's Kids
In Harris' "Bébé's Kids" routines, Harris' girlfriend Jamika would insist that he take her son and friend Bébé's three children with them on a date, as she continually agreed to babysit them. The children would regularly make a fool out of and/or annoy Harris. "We Bébé's kids," they would proclaim, "we don't die...we multiply."
The Hudlin Brothers had intended to make a feature film based upon the "Bébé's Kids" sketches, but Harris died while the film was in pre-production. Bébé's Kids instead became an animated feature, the first ever to feature an all-black main cast. It was directed by Bruce W. Smith and featured the voices of Faizon Love (as Harris), Vanessa Bell Calloway, Marques Houston, Nell Carter, and Tone Lōc.[3][4]
Death
In the early hours of March 18, 1990, Harris died in his sleep of a heart attack in his Chicago hotel room after performing for a sold out crowd at the Regal Theater.[5] Harris was transported back to California and interred in Inglewood Park Cemetery, near Los Angeles. House Party 2 and Spike Lee's Mo' Better Blues (which was released five months after his death) were dedicated to his memory. Following his death, his House Party character Pop died as well, effectively writing him out of the franchise. However, the character's legacy continues on in the two sequels to House Party. Kid is still shown to be healing from Pop's death in House Party 2 through archive footage, a photo of Pop comes to life and tells Kid "Keep your mind on them books and off them 'gals!", which was actually taken from a scene in the original House Party. In House Party 3 when Pop's brother and Kid's uncle, Vester (played by Bernie Mac) looks at a photograph of him, he tells Kid how he misses his father and wishes he was still alive, and that he "owes him" $150.
At the time of Harris' death, his wife was pregnant with their son, Robin Harris, Jr .[5]
In 2006, a posthumous DVD, titled We Don't Die, We Multiply: The Robin Harris Story (2006), was released. The film features never-before seen performances by Harris and accolades from his contemporaries Martin Lawrence, Bernie Mac, Cedric the Entertainer, D.L. Hughley, Robert Townsend, and Joe Torry.[6] The film also features a rap performed and dedicated to Harris by his son, Robin Harris, Jr.[7]
Award nominations
| Year | Award | Result | Category | Film or series |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Independent Spirit Award | Nominated | Best Supporting Male | House Party |
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Robin Harris; Tragedy of a Funny Man; At His Funeral in Los Angeles, Tribute to a `Down-Home' Comedian | Article from The Washington Post | HighBeam Research
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
