George "Tiger" Haynes (December 13, 1914 – February 14, 1994), sometimes billed as Colonel Tiger Haynes, was an American actor of musical theatre, television and film and jazz musician.
He was born in Frederiksted, St. Croix, and moved to New York when he was a boy. An ex-boxer, Haynes played guitar with The Three Flames from 1945 to 1956, a group which had its own NBC radio show in the mid-1940sTiger Haynes on Allmovie and a television show on NBC television in 1949, and which incorporated Sammy Benskin in 1954.
He made his mainstream Broadway debut in Leonard Sillman's musical revue New Faces of 1956. He is best known for his portrayal of the Tin Man in the original Broadway cast of The Wiz (a role assumed by Nipsey Russell in the 1978 film adaptation). He also made several television appearances on programs such as The Cosby Show (1989), In the Heat of the Night (1989), and Law & Order (1994), as well as numerous minor film appearances in films such as All That Jazz (1979) and Ratboy (1986).
Musicals New Faces of 1956 Fade Out-Fade In The Wiz Louis (1981)Stage: "'Louis' (Armstrong, that is)" The New York Times. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
Films Year Title Role Notes1979 All That Jazz Porter 1980 Times Square Andy 1984 Moscow on the Hudson Lionel's Grandfather 1984 Nothing Lasts Forever Mr. Brown 1986 Ratboy Derelict Ralph 1986 The Mosquito Coast Mr. Semper 1987 Enemy Territory Barton 1988 Apprentice to Murder Rufus 1989 Dead Bang Edwin Gates 1990 Awakenings Janitor 1991 Jungle Fever
References
External links
Tiger Haynes on Allmovie Critics' Choices: "Broadcast TV" The New York Times Tiger Haynes and Joy Hatton collection, Institute of Jazz Studies, Rutgers Libraries