Baskett inHarlem Is Heaven (1932), in whichVariety described his portrayal of "Money" Johnson as "very impressive"[2]
Baskett studied pharmacology as a young man but gave it up to pursue an acting career. He first moved to New York City, New York, where he joined up withBill 'Mr. Bojangles' Robinson. Using the name Jimmie Baskette, he appeared withLouis Armstrong on Broadway in the 1929 black musical revueHot Chocolates and in several all-black New York films, includingHarlem is Heaven (1932).[2]
He later moved to Los Angeles, California, and had a supporting role in the filmStraight to Heaven (1939), starringNina Mae McKinney. In 1941 he voiced Fats Crow in the animated Disney filmDumbo, and he also had bit parts in severalB movies, including that of Lazarus inRevenge of the Zombies (1943), a porter inThe Heavenly Body (1944), and native tribal leader Orbon inJungle Queen (1945).[3][4] From 1944 until 1948, he was part of the cast of theAmos 'n' Andy Show live radio program as lawyer Gabby Gibson.
In 1945, he auditioned for abit part voicing one of the animals in the new Disney feature filmSong of the South (1946), based on the Uncle Remus stories byJoel Chandler Harris.Walt Disney was impressed with Baskett's talent and hired him on the spot for the lead role of Uncle Remus. Baskett was also given the voice role ofBrer Fox, one of the film's animatedantagonists, and also filled in as the main animated protagonist,Brer Rabbit, in one sequence. This was one of the first Hollywood portrayals of a black actor as a non-comic character in a leading role in a film meant for general audiences.[5]
Baskett was prohibited from attending the film's premiere inAtlanta, Georgia, because Atlanta wasracially segregated by law.[6][7]
Although Baskett was occasionally criticized for accepting such a "demeaning" role (most of his acting credits were that of African-American stereotypes), his acting was almost universally praised, and columnistHedda Hopper, along with Walt Disney, was one of the many journalists and personalities who declared that he should receive an Academy Award for his work.[8][9] Baskett defended the film and his character in it, saying, "I believe that certain groups are doing my race more harm in seeking to create dissension, than can ever possibly come out of theSong of the South."[9]
He was the first African-American male actor to earn anAcademy Award. Additionally, Baskett was the last adult actor to receive an Honorary Oscar for a single performance.[11]
Baskett had been in poor health during the filming ofSong of the South due to diabetes and he suffered a heart attack in December 1946 shortly after its release. His health continued to decline, and he was often unable to attend theAmos 'n' Andy radio show he was on, missing almost half of the 1947–1948 season. On July 9, 1948, during the show's summer hiatus,[12] James Baskett died at his home of heart failure resulting from diabetes at age 44.[13][14] He was survived by his wife Margaret and his mother Elizabeth. He is buried atCrown Hill Cemetery inIndianapolis.[15]
Dedication tombstone for James Baskett at Crown Hill CemeteryTombstone for James Baskett and John Baskett at Crown Hill Cemetery
^As Jim Korkis notes, "Song of the South came out in 1946 and there was no balance of media images... African American performers often portrayed comic roles where their characters were described as lazy, slow-witted, easily scared or flustered, subservient and worse. That image was what the American public was seeing and accepting as the norm for African Americans." Jim Korkis,"The Sad Song of the South",USA Today (accessed 24 August 2013)
^In a 15 October 1946 article in theAtlanta Constitution, columnist Harold Martin noted that to bring Baskett to Atlanta, where he would not have been allowed to participate in any of the festivities, "would cause him many embarrassments, for his feelings are the same as any man's." The modern claim that no Atlanta hotel would give Baskett accommodation is false: there were several black-owned hotels in Atlanta at the time, including the Savoy and the McKay.Atlanta's Black-Owned Hotels: A HistoryArchived January 10, 2009, at theWayback Machine.
^Auchmutey, Jim (November 12, 2006)."Finding Uncle Remus". accessatlanta.com. Archived fromthe original on February 14, 2012. RetrievedNovember 17, 2008.
^Bodenhamer, David J.; Barrows, Robert Graham; Vanderstel, David Gordon, eds. (1994).The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. Indiana University Press. p. 485.ISBN978-0-253-31222-8.
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