Ernest Anderson (August 25, 1915 – March 5, 2011) was an American actor. He became known for his role as an African American paralegal and law student who is falsely accused of manslaughter by a white woman in the Warner Bros. film In This Our Life in 1942. For his performance, he received a National Board of Review Award for Best Actor in 1942.National Board of Review Awards 1942
Biography Anderson attended Dunbar High School in Washington, D.C. and later earned a bachelor's degree from Northwestern University School of Drama and Speech."Actor." Pittsburgh Courier, 8 November 1941, 21.
Anderson moved to Hollywood, taking a non-acting service position at Warner Brothers before being signed by them for his first screen role, In This Our Life (1942)."A Real Actor Now." Brooklyn Eagle, 13 January 1942, 5. Bette Davis had arranged Anderson's interview for the part of Parry Clay in that film."Entertainment--Virginia Wright, Drama Editor." Daily News (Los Angeles, CA), 8 May 1942, 31.
He began his World War II Army service by December 1942. That Christmas Eve, Bette Davis introduced Corporal Anderson to servicemen guests at the Hollywood Canteen.Skolsky, Sidney. "The Week in Review." Los Angeles Evening Citizen News, 26 December 1942, 7. He returned to Warner Bros. after his service.
Selected filmography In This Our Life (1942) - Parry Clay The Peanut Man (1947) The Well (1952) - Mr. Crawford 3 for Bedroom C - Train PorterRussell, Nell Dodson. "The Way I See It." Minneapolis Spokesman, 1 August 1952, 7. Band Wagon (1953) - Train Porter North by Northwest (1959) - Porter Whatever Happened to Baby Jane (1962) - Ice cream cone seller Tick, Tick, Tick (1970) - Homer Coma (1978) - First Doctor Last of the Good Guys (1978) - Uncle Stan The Return (1980) - Dr. Mortorff
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