James Wall

James Lee Wall (1863 – June 12, 1927) was an American actor and singer, best known as a comedian and minstrel.

Biography Wall was born in Toronto, Canada West, to English parents. Raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, he first performed in blackface in a school fundraiser. At age 17, he had his first paid performance in Minneapolis. Soon after, he left to begin his career in acting and singing. Wall formed a partnership with Dan Quinlan named the Quinlan and Wall Imperial Minstrels, which performed in all of the Southern states. Considered one of the best minstrels in the United States, Wall wrote his own songs and composed his own music. Wall was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Saint Louis.