Otis E. Young (July 4, 1932 – October 12, 2001) was an American actor and writer. He co-starred in a television Western, The Outcasts (1968–1969), with Don Murray. Young was the second African-American actor to co-star in a television Western, the first being Raymond St Jacques on the final season of Rawhide in 1965. Young played another memorable role as Jack Nicholson's shore patrol partner Richard "Mule" Mulhall in the 1973 comedy-drama film The Last Detail, and his later film credits included the low budget horror films The Capture of Bigfoot (1979) and Blood Beach (1981).
Early life and education Young was born in Providence, Rhode Island, one of 14 children. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps at the age of 17 and served in the Korean War.Actor Otis Young Will Be Featured Speaker Here Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved November 7, 2023. He then enrolled in acting classes at New York University School of Education where one of his classmates was the young Louis Gossett Jr.
Career He trained at the Neighborhood Playhouse and worked off-Broadway as an actor and writer in the early 1960s. He appeared on Broadway in James Baldwin's Blues for Mister Charlie, with such notables as Diana Sands, and Al Freeman, Jr. His first movie appearance was in Murder in Mississippi (1965). On television, Young portrayed Jemal David, a former slave, in the ABC western The Outcasts (1968-1969). and the season 5 episode "Identity Crisis" in Columbo.
He studied theology at LIFE Bible College in Los Angeles and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in 1983.Dennis McLellan, Otis Young, 69; First Black to Co-Star in a TV Western Series, latimes.com, October 20, 2001. After, he was ordained pastor, eventually serving as senior pastor of Elim Foursquare Gospel Church in Rochester, New York from 1986 to 1988. He taught acting classes at School Without Walls, a college-like alternative public high school in Rochester, from 1987 through 1991. In 1989 he joined the faculty at Monroe Community College in Rochester; he remained there as a Professor of Communication and head of the Drama Department until his retirement in 1999.
Death Young suffered a stroke in Los Angeles and died on October 12, 2001, aged 69, at the Veterans Hospital. A memorial ceremony was held at Pepperdine University Chapel.
He was survived by his wife, Barbara, and two sons, two daughters and mother, Gwendolyn.Profile at the African American Registry via archive.org. Accessed May 15, 2024.
Filmography
Film YearTitleRoleNotes1957The Green PasturesYoung ManTelevision film1965Murder in MississippiPaul Jackson1967Valley of MysteryDr. John QuincyTelevision filmCounterpointUSO Bus DriverUncredited1968Don't Just Stand There!Bill ElkinsMe and My Brother1972Call Me by My Rightful NamePaul1973The ClonesSawyerThe Last DetailRichard "Mule" Mulhall1976Twin DetectivesCartwrightTelevision filmSurvivalOtis1979The Capture of BigfootJason1980The Hollywood KnightsWalterBlood BeachPiantadosi2001After ImageEgg Factory Foreman
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1963East Side/West SideSpanish TeacherEpisode: "I Before E Except After C"1966DaktariMtagaEpisode: "Leopard of Madla George"Run for Your LifeLonsyEpisode: "Tears from a Glass Eye"1967Daniel BooneAdamEpisode: "The Wolf Man"1968The F.B.I.Mike WatsonEpisode: "Crisis Ground"1968–1969The OutcastsJemal DavidMain role; 26 episodes1972McCloudEpisode: "The Barefoot Stewardess Caper"; uncredited1975Get Christie Love!JackEpisode: "Too Many Games in Town"ColumboLawrence MelvilleEpisode: "Identity Crisis"1976CannonCasimir GrantEpisode: "The Reformer"Ellery QueenJoseph Adams SimpsonEpisode: "The Adventure of the Sunday Punch"1980–1981Palmerstown, U.S.A.Hoss Washington3 episodes1981Walking TallNoah CarverEpisode: "The Protectors of the People"1983The MississippiKurlandEpisode: "Joey"1984Partners in CrimeWillieEpisode: "The Set-Up"1985Hill Street BluesLouis JessupEpisode: "Passage to Libya"
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