Lawrence Hilton Jacobs

Lawrence Hilton Jacobs (born September 4, 1953), also credited as Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs and Lawrence Hilton-Jacques, is an American actor and singer. Best known for playing Freddie "Boom Boom" Washington in Welcome Back, Kotter (1975–1979), he has also appeared in a number of films and television shows, including Claudine, Cooley High (1975), Roots (1977), Bangers and Mash (1983), Alien Nation (1989–1990), The Jacksons: An American Dream (1992), and 31 (2016).

Life and career Jacobs was born in New York City, New York, the fifth of nine children of parents Hilton Jacobs (1920–2000) and Clothilda Jacobs (1922–2008). He began his acting career in the summer of 1969 and graduated from the High School of Art and Design in 1971. He attended Wilkes University for a short time before his acting career took off. Afterward, he studied acting with the Negro Ensemble Company and the Al Fann Theatrical Ensemble.

In 1975, he won the role of Freddie "Boom Boom" Washington on the ABC hit comedy series, Welcome Back, Kotter. Jacobs also starred in cult classic Cooley High in 1975 played as Richard "Cochise" Morris, and two years later had a role in the block-buster ABC mini-series Roots. Jacobs starred in a few commercials over the years, including an early 1970s commercial for The United Negro College Fund. Later in his career, he appeared in the 1989–1990 science fiction TV series Alien Nation as Sgt. Dobbs, an LAPD detective. He portrayed Panda Thomas (#1) in Rob Zombie's slasher film 31.

Jacobs portrayed Joseph Walter "Joe" Jackson, the father of the Jackson family, in the 1992 miniseries The Jacksons: An American Dream. He also appeared in a commercial for Salon Selectives.

Jacobs sang on Rick James' 1981 album, Street Songs.

As a homage to him, the housing project in Eddie Murphy's television program The PJs is named the Hilton-Jacobs Projects.

He has two daughters.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1974 Claudine Charles Death Wish Mugger in Park #2 The Gambler Street Basketball Boy 1975 Cooley High Richard "Cochise" Morris 1978 Youngblood Rommel The Comedy Company Russell Dodd Television film 1980 For the Love of It Al Television film 1985 The Annihilators Floyd 1988 Paramedics Blade Runner 1989 L.A. Heat Det. Jon Chance Angels of the City Det. Jon Chance Video L.A. Vice Det. Jon Chance East L.A. Warriors Chesare 1990 Kill Crazy Rubin Video Chance Det. Jon Chance 1991 Quietfire Jessie Palmer Video 1992 Tuesday Never Comes Druilet 1993 Indecent Behavior Lou Parsons 1997 Tidal Wave: No Escape Marlan Clark Television film 1999 Mr. Right Now! - Video 2001 Southlander Motherchild 2002 Hip, Edgy, Sexy, Cool - The Streetsweeper Jackie 2003 Killer Drag Queens on Dope Mr. Fly 2004 30 Miles Anthony 2005 Don't Give Me the Finger Ross Short 2007 Sublime Mandingo Video 2008 Otis Male Nurse 2009 Young American Gangstas Elmer Reese 2011 Nocturnal Agony Theodore 2013 Playin' for Love Coach Preston Reid 2014 Airplane vs. Volcano Jim Kirkland Video 2015 Mercy for Angels Chief Tamales and Gumbo Mr. Walker The Christmas Gift Wesley Hardin Johnson Sr. Television film 2016 31 Panda Thomas Dead Man Rising Warden Dallas 2017 A Chance in the World Mr. Robinson Sins of the Father Kenny Short 2018 Welcome to Where You've Always Been Homeless Man Short Compton's Finest Hostage Negotiator 2020 She's the One Playboy Shooting Heroin Edward The Perfect Mate Rev. Adams 2021 Escape from Death Block 13 Agent Langley

Television Year Title Role Notes 1975–79 Welcome Back, Kotter Freddie 'Boom-Boom' Washington Main cast 1976 Mr. T and Tina Freddie 'Boom-Boom' Washington Episode: "Pilot" Baretta Dave Rich Episode: "Can't Win for Losin'" 1977 Roots Noah Episode: "Part V" 1979 Paris Thomas Sims Episode: "Dear John" 1980 Barnaby Jones Wes Carter Episode: "The Price of Anger" 1981 Darkroom Young Man/Pimp Episode: "Needlepoint" Lewis & Clark Dave Rich Episode: "The Uptight End" 1984 On the boulevard Joe, an L.A. street musician Main character. Short film in memory of producer/director Horace Jenkins 1985 Rituals Lucky Washington Regular cast 1986 New Love, American Style - Episode: "Love and Video Dating/Love at the Bus Stop" Simon & Simon Gordon Tate Episode: "The Blue Chip Stomp" The Redd Foxx Show Warren Episode: "The Good Samaritan" Fame Lamar Episode: "The Inheritance" 1987 Hill Street Blues Crumley Episode: "The Cookie Crumbles" 1989–90 Alien Nation Sergeant Dobbs Main cast 1992 The Jacksons: An American Dream Joe Jackson TV mini-series 1994 Renegade Rocky Dussault 2 episodes 1995 Charlie Grace Detective Gossett Episode: "Take Me to the Pilot" Pointman Joe Neal Episode: "Take the Points" Martin Kevin Jones Episode: "Swing Thing" Diagnosis: Murder Sgt. Baker Episode: "All American Murder" 1996 The Parent 'Hood Greg Harvey Episode: "Torn Between Two Brothers" Roseanne Louis Episode: "Roseambo" Homeboys in Outer Space Staff Episode: "Super Bad Foxy Lady Killer or Ty and Morris Get the Shaft" 1997 Weird Science Mr. Black Episode: "Boys on the Hide" Mr. Rhodes Freddie 'Boom Boom' Washington Episode: "The Welcome Back Show" Tracey Takes On... James Episode: "Race Relations" Moesha Sgt. Baker 2 episodes 1998 The Wayans Bros. Richie Episode: "Help a Brother Out" L.A. Doctors Robert Edwards Episode: "A Prayer for the Lying" 2000 The Jamie Foxx Show Milton Episode: "Rollin' in the Dough" 2002 Static Shock Driver Voice, episode: "Sunspots" 2002–03 Gilmore Girls Principal Merton 2 episodes 2004 Girlfriends Leonard James Episode: "New York Bound" That's So Raven Mr. Carter Episode: "There Goes the Bride" 2009 Players at the Poker Palace Donny Recurring cast 2011 Chuck President of Zamibia Episode: "Chuck Versus the Tooth" 2011–13 Let's Stay Together Charles Sr. Recurring cast: Season 1, guest: Season 3 2014 Family Time Carl Episode: "The Will" 2018 Rel Mitchell Episode: "Re-Enter the Dragons" 2019– A House Divided Cameran Sanders, Sr. Main cast 2022–23 The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder Chuck Voice, 2 episodes

Music credits Lawrence Hilton Jacobs S/T (1978) All the Way...Love (1979) Let Me Do It (1981) (producer); performed by Halo; sought-after record among collectors.