Harold Sylvester

For the Vermont Supreme Court Justice, see Harold C. Sylvester.
Harold Sylvester
Born (1949-02-10) February 10, 1949 (age 75)
New Orleans, Louisiana

Harold Sylvester (born February 10, 1949) is an American film and television actor.

Early life and education

Sylvester was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is a graduate of New Orleans' St. Augustine High School and Tulane University. Turning down Harvard, he attended Tulane on a basketball scholarship and graduated in 1972 with a degree in theater and psychology.[1] He was the first African American to receive an athletic scholarship from Tulane.[1]

Career

Sylvester is best known for his role on the TV series Married... with Children as Griff, the co-worker and friend of Al Bundy at the shoe store. Harold's other TV roles include the miniseries Wheels (1978), Barnaby Jones (season 8, episode 4, "A Desperate Pursuit"), the short-lived 1981 series Walking Tall, Today's F.B.I., Mary (1985), Shaky Ground, and A Different World as Dwayne Wayne's father, Woodson "Woodchuck" Wayne. The most recent TV show in which he starred was The Army Show. Sylvester had a recurring role on the TV series City of Angels. He has made guest appearances on shows, ranging from The Eddie Capra Mysteries to Hill Street Blues to Murder, She Wrote to NYPD Blue.

His first Hollywood role was as Nathan, a lead character in Part 2, Sounder, the sequel to Sounder. His better known film roles are in supporting roles in An Officer and a Gentleman (1982), Uncommon Valor (1983), Innerspace (1987), and Corrina, Corrina (1994). He was a contract player for Universal Studios.[1]

Sylvester wrote the screenplay for the 1998 TV movie Passing Glory. This screenplay was based on some of his experiences playing basketball in high school,[1] including a groundbreaking game of St. Augustine High School's all-black team against Jesuit High School's all-white team.[2]

The Amistad Research Center of New Orleans, Louisiana, maintains a collection of Harold Sylvester's papers that document his correspondence, film and television scripts, and materials reflecting his involvement with the Free Southern Theater and his Blue Bayou Productions Company.[3]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1972 Night of the Strangler Jim Bunch
1976 Alex & the Gypsy First Goon
1976 Part 2, Sounder Nathan
1978 A Hero Ain't Nothin' but a Sandwich Doctor
1978 The Eddie Capra Mysteries Bobby Jerome Episode: "Breakout to Murder"
1979 Fast Break D.C.
1980 Inside Moves Alvin Martin
1982 An Officer and a Gentleman Perryman
1983 Uncommon Valor Johnson
1985 Vision Quest Tanneran
1985 Space Rage Max Bryson
1987 Innerspace Pete Blanchard
1989 Hit List Brian Armstrong
1992 In the Deep Woods George Dunaway TV movie
1994 Corrina, Corrina Frank
1997 The Sixth Man James Tyler
1999 Trippin' Willie Reed
2002 What Wouldn't Jesus Do? God TV Short
2003 Missing Brendan Stan Wade
2006 Nolaw Sampson
2011 Night Club Grim Interviewer
2014 A Place for Heroes Gary

References

  1. ^ a b c d Eness, Jason; DeMocker, Michael (1 April 2000). "Path To Glory". Tulanian. Tulane University. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  2. ^ Whirty, Jason (26 November 2014). "From NOLA desegregation to Hollywood". New Wave. Tulane University. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  3. ^ Flora, Brenda. "50 Years/50 Collections: Harold Sylvester papers". Amistad Research Center. Retrieved 26 December 2016.

4. Demetria Fulton previewed Sylvester in Barnaby Jones; episode titled, “A Desperate Pursuit” (10/11/1979).