Leonard Jackson

Leonard Jackson (February 7, 1928 – December 22, 2013) was an American stage, film, and television actor. He had roles in several PBS television series for children, including Shining Time Station and Sesame Street, and also acted in several films, including The Brother from Another Planet, Car Wash, and The Color Purple.

Early years and stage career Jackson, in his early years known as L. Errol Jaye, was born February 7, 1928, in Jacksonville, Florida. In March 1968, he played Mr. Carpentier, the title character, in The Electronic Nigger, part of a trio of one-act plays by Ed Bullins, during The American Place Theatre production of the play's premiere. He played a pastor in the Broadway premiere of The Great White Hope, which ran for over 500 performances at the Alvin Theatre during 1968–1970.

As Leonard Jackson, he returned to Broadway two years later, first in the premiere of Conor Cruise O'Brien's Murderous Angels and after its short run, to a Broadway revival of the Kurt Weill musical Lost in the Stars at the Imperial Theatre.

A dozen years later, Jackson returned to Broadway for the premiere of Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, which ran for 276 performances and was chosen "Best Play" by the New York Drama Critics Circle. In 1991, Jackson was part of the cast for the Broadway premiere of Mule Bone, an unfinished play written by Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston.

Children's series and guest roles On television, he had a recurring role on several PBS television series for children, including Sesame Street as Mr. Hanford, Shining Time Station, as First Class Engineer Henry "Harry" Cupper and Square One TV/Mathnet.

His made-for-television films include Separate but Equal (1991) and Rage of Angels, the 1983 adaptation of the Sidney Sheldon novel. Uptight (1968) .... Mr. Oakley (uncredited) Together for Days (1972) .... Phil Ganja & Hess (1973) .... Archie Five on the Black Hand Side (1973) .... John Henry Brooks Super Spook (1975) .... Super Spook Car Wash (1976) .... Earl The Baron (1977) .... Gus King of the Gypsies (1978) .... (uncredited) The Brother from Another Planet (1984) .... Smokey The Color Purple (1985) .... Pa Harris Eddie Murphy Raw (1987, Documentary) .... Uncle Gus Second Sight (1989) .... Doorman Basket Case 2 (1990) .... Police Commissioner A Rage in Harlem (1991) .... Mr. Clay Boomerang (1992) .... Lloyd the Chemist Palookaville (1995) .... Bus Driver Basquiat (1996) .... Jean Michel's Father Conspiracy Theory (1997) .... Old Man in Bookstore (final film role)