Booker Bradshaw

Booker Talmadge Bradshaw (May 21, 1940 – April 1, 2003) was an American record producer, film and TV actor, Motown executive, and television writer.

Early life Born in Richmond, Virginia, Bradshaw worked for his father, Booker T. Bradshaw Sr., president of Virginia Mutual Life Insurance Company; a former member of the Richmond School Board and a trustee of Virginia Union and Virginia State. Bradshaw, disillusioned and working at his father's life insurance company, went on to study at Harvard to earn a degree in English. There he honed his acting skills, and met folk singer/musician Joan Baez. In 1961, while a junior at Harvard, he applied his singing talents on The Original Amateur Hour television show with Ted Mack as a singer of folk songs, becoming a three-time winner,

Career Bradshaw joined Motown Records in Detroit, Michigan, and became their international manager. He was in charge of The Supremes and The Temptations on their European tours. He ventured back to acting with John Ferald, school principal of The Royal Academy at the time, doing repertory work at Oakland University outside of Detroit.

Among his many television and movie roles, he was cast as Dr. M'Benga in two episodes of the original Star Trek series. He also acted in The Mod Squad, Bracken's World, and The F.B.I. TV series and the 1973 blaxploitation film Coffy. He was also an accomplished writer and wrote material for TV shows such as Planet of the Apes, Get Christie Love! and Columbo.

Personal life and death Bradshaw had at least one child, daughter Alaiyo Bradshaw.

Bradshaw died from a heart attack in Los Angeles, California, on April 1, 2003, a month before his 63rd birthday.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1969 Some Kind of a Nut Sam Uncredited1970 Skullduggery Smoot The Strawberry Statement Lucas 1973 Coffy Howard Brunswick

Television Year Title Role Notes1966 The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. Prince Nicholas Episode: "The Jewels of Topango Affair"1966, 1968Tarzan Dr. B'Dula, Dr Kenneth Kiley 2 episodes1968 Here's Lucy First Couple Man Episode: "Lucy, the Conclusion Jumper" Star Trek: The Original Series Dr. M'Benga 2 episodes The Mod Squad Doc Lightener Episode: "Bad Man on Campus"1969 Star Trek: The Original Series Dr. M'Benga S3:E17, "That Which Survives" Julia Matt Dixon Episode: "Home of the Braves" Bracken's World Floyd Emmons Episode: "It's the Power Structure, Baby" The F.B.I. Special Agent Harry Dane 2 episodes 1969, 1972Insight Stu, Wilson, Mr. Ghani 3 episodes 1970 The Name of the Game Assagai Nakebe Episode: "The Skim Game" 1972 The Mod Squad George Cannon Episode: "A Gift for Jenny" 1973 The Wide World of Mystery Baxter Norris Episode: "Murder and the Computer"1977 I Am the Greatest: The Adventures of Muhammad Ali Various roles Series regular, voice role Five Weeks in a Balloon TV movie, voice role 1981 Goldie Gold and Action Jack Sam Grit Series regular, voice role 1983 Alvin and the Chipmunks Various roles Series regular, voice role 1986 Lazer Tag Academy Draxon Drear Series regular, voice role 1987 Alice Through the Looking Glass The Centaur TV movie, voice role

Writing credits Year Title Notes1973 Tenafly Episode: "Joyride to Nowhere" Roll Out Episode: "Members of the Wedding" Wide World of Mystery Episode: "Murder and the Computer"1974 Firehouse Episodes: "The Hottest Place in Town" and "Randall's Pride" Planet of the Apes Episode: "The Horse Race" Get Christie Love! Episode: "Bullet from the Grave"1975 McMillan & Wife Episode: "Night Train to L.A." Columbo Episode: "Playback" Lucas Tanner Episodes: "What's Wrong with Bobbie?" and "Requiem for a Son"1976 McCoy Episode: "In Again, Out Again" Ellery Queen Episode: "The Adventure of the Eccentric Engineer" The Jeffersons Episode: "Lionel's Pad" Good Times Episodes: "Grandpa's Visit"1977 I Am the Greatest: The Adventures of Muhammad Ali The Rockford Files Episode: "Beamer's Last Case" The Richard Pryor Show 4 episodes 1978 Redd Foxx 1981-1983 Gimme a Break! Episodes: "A Man in Nell's Room", "Nell Goes Home", "Love, Kidney" 1982 Diff'rent Strokes Episodes: "Dreams" 1984 Mister T Episodes: "Mystery of the Black Box"