Theodore Wilson

Theodore Rosevelt Wilson (December 10, 1943 – July 21, 1991) was an American stage, film, and television actor. He is best known for his recurring roles as Earl the Postman on the ABC sitcom That's My Mama, and Sweet Daddy Williams on the CBS sitcom Good Times and Phil Wheeler on the NBC sitcom Sanford Arms. Throughout his television and film career, Wilson was credited interchangeably with either Theodore (36) or Teddy (50) as his given name.

Career Born in Harlem, New York City, Wilson studied music at Florida A&M University before switching to drama. Upon returning to New York, he joined the Negro Ensemble Company and later worked with the Arena Stage Repertory. He made his acting debut in the blaxploitation film Cotton Comes to Harlem, in 1970. The following year, Wilson left New York City and moved to Los Angeles to further his acting career. He made his television debut in a two-episode role as Hawthorne Dooley on the television series The Waltons. In 1973, Wilson was cast as the character High Strung on the CBS sitcom Roll Out. The series was canceled after 12 episodes. The following year, Wilson was cast as Earl Chambers, a postman on the sitcom That's My Mama. That series ran for two seasons on ABC. Wilson also starred in national TV commercials for Aamco in the 1970s as a character named "Walter T." Wilson appeared as CWO2 Martin H. Williams, a chopper pilot and buddy of characters Trapper and Hawkeye in the Season 3 episode of M*A*S*H titled "The General Flipped at Dawn" (1974).

In September 1976, Wilson was offered and signed a contract with Tandem Productions, the production company owned by Bud Yorkin and Norman Lear, who produced some of the most popular television sitcoms of the 1970s. Wilson went on to guest star in several Yorkin/Lear-produced series including All in the Family, Sanford and Son, What's Happening!!, The Jeffersons, and 13 Queens Boulevard. Upon its premiere in September 1977, Sanford Arms was met with low ratings and was canceled after four episodes.

After the series was canceled, Wilson made various TV guest appearances in episodes of The White Shadow (he also wrote a 1980 episode), Enos, Gimme a Break!, The Golden Girls, and What's Happening Now. In 1986, he had a role as Jim-Jam on another short-lived series, The Redd Foxx Show. Wilson continued to work throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, appearing in Alien Nation, Dallas, Family Matters, Tales from the Crypt, Gabriel's Fire, Mama's Family, and Quantum Leap. He was also featured in several motion pictures including The Hunter (1980), Blake Edwards's A Fine Mess, That's Life! (both 1986), and Mel Brooks's Life Stinks (1991). Wilson made his last onscreen appearance in Blood In Blood Out, a 1993 crime drama released after his death.

Personal life Wilson had three children, Theodore Jr., Robert and Nicole.

Death On July 21, 1991, Wilson died of complications from a stroke at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, at the age of 47. He had undergone open-heart surgery several years prior to his death.

Filmography + Film Year Title Role Notes 1970 Cotton Comes to Harlem Barry 1972 Come Back, Charleston Blue Cemetery Guard 1973 Cleopatra Jones Pickle (Doodlebug's hood) 1974 Newman's Law Lindy 1974 Black Eye Jaycee 1976 The River Niger Chips 1976 Gang Wars Black Spade 1977 The Greatest Joe, the Gardener Credited as Theodore R. Wilson 1977 Run for the Roses Flash 1978 Loose Shoes Elijah Abdoul Jamaal Muhammed Coming Attractions, Quackers 1980 Carny Nails 1980 The Hunter Winston Blue 1984 Weekend Pass Nat 1986 Big Trouble Porter 1986 Stewardess School Probation Officer 1986 A Fine Mess Covington 1986 That's Life! Corey 1987 Maid to Order Woodrow 1990 Genuine Risk Billy 1990 Penny Ante: The Motion Picture Willie 1991 Life Stinks Fumes Life Sucks,posthumous release 1992 The Vagrant X-Rays Posthumous release 1993 Blood In Blood Out Wallace Bound by Honor,posthumous release (final film role)

+ Television Year Title Role Notes 1972–73 The Waltons Hawthorne Dooley 2 episodes 1973 The Partridge Family Sam Mulvoney Episode: "Hate Thy Neighbor" 1973 Roll Out High Strung Recurring role 1974 M*A*S*H Warrant Officer Martin "Marty" Williams Episode: "The General Flipped at Dawn" 1974–75 That's My Mama Earl Chambers Main cast 1975 Medical Story Hadley Television movie 1976 Baretta Flash Episode: "Pay or Die" 1976 Good Heavens Special Bingham Episode: "Jack the Ribber and Me" 1976–79 Good Times Sweet Daddy Williams / Stanley Byrd 7 episodes 1977 Phyllis Jimmy Carter Episode: "Boss or Buddy or Both or Neither" 1977 The Bionic Woman Warner Williams Episode: "Iron Ships and Dead Men" 1977 Sanford Arms Phil Wheeler Main cast 1977 Kojak Joe Penney Episode: "Once More from Birdland" 1977 Police Woman Harold Martin Episode: "Shadow of a Doubt" 1976–78 What's Happening!! Al Dunbar / Marty / Mr. Wilson 4 episodes 1979 The Dukes of Hazzard Morgan Episode: "Route 7-11" 1979 The White Shadow Doug Buchanan Episode: "A Christmas Present" 1981 The Oklahoma City Dolls Tom Petree Television movie 1982 The Ambush Murders Jay King Television movie 1983 Amanda's Philip Oliver Episode: "Last of the Red Hot Brothers" 1985 A Bunny's Tale Older Club Employee Television movie 1985 Malice in Wonderland Collins Television movie 1985 What's Happening Now!! Mr. Lee/Bum 2 episodes 1985 The Twilight Zone Henderson Segment: "Night of the Meek" 1985 Crazy Like a Fox Eddie 2 episodes1986The Golden GirlsAlbert, the Diner OwnerEpisode "Twas the Nightmare Before Christmas (20 Dec. 1986)" 1986 227 Cousin Ray Episode: "We the People" 1986 The Redd Foxx Show Jim-Jam Main cast, replaced a different actor after third episode 1986 Easy Street Jackie Episode: "Be-Bop Man" 1987 The New Mike Hammer Booker Episode: "Body Shot" 1987 Cagney & Lacey Judge Charnas Episode: "Easy Does It"1987Gimme a BreakRev George Dixon Episode: "Save The Church" 1987–88 You Can't Take It with You Durwood M. Pinner 3 episodes 1988 Annie McGuire Jordan Episode: "The Journey" 1988 The Golden Girls Ben Episode: "Brother, Can You Spare That Jacket?" 1989 Mama's Family Gus Episode: "More Power to You" 1989 Sweet Bird of Youth Fly Television movie 1989 Midnight Caller Quinton Oliver Episode: "Take Back the Streets" 1989 Alien Nation Dr. Roscoe Brennan 2 episodes 1989 The Munsters Today Louis Episode: "The Melting Pot" 1989–90 Dallas Clem 2 episodes 1990 Beauty and the Beast Raymond Ensign Episode: "Legacies" 1990 Family Matters Captain Casper Davenport Episode: "Sitting Pretty" 1990 The New Adam-12 Street Artist Episode: "The Landlord" 1990 Tales from the Crypt Clyde Episode: "Fitting Punishment" 1990 Quantum Leap Ernie Tyler / Jimmy Grady Episodes: "Rebel Without a Clue" / "Pool Hall Blues" 1991 Wings John Episode: "Plane Nine from Nantucket"