Julius W. Harris Biography
Julius W. Harris, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 17, 1923, was a versatile actor who made a lasting impact in the entertainment industry with his captivating performances. With a career that spanned four decades, Harris’ talent was revered and remembered for generations to come.
Before his rise to fame, Harris led an interesting life as a nurse, bouncer in New York City jazz clubs and a medic in the United States Army during World War II. It wasn’t until he was dared to audition for a role that he discovered his talent for acting. He was cast as the father in the 1964 film Nothing But a Man, which brought attention to black life in the South and starred Ivan Dixon and Abbey Lincoln.
Harris’ talent was undeniable and he quickly became known for his menacing roles, such as Dr Kananga’s claw-handed henchman Tee Hee Johnson in the James Bond film Live and Let Die. Among his other 70 roles, Julius Harris starred as the ruthless Scatter in Super Fly, and also played the pivotal roles of Bubbletop Woodson in Let’s Do It Again, Captain Bollin in Shaft’s Big Score, Inspector Daniels in The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, Joseph in Islands in the Stream. Harris also portrayed Ugandan President Idi Amin in the TV movie Victory at Entebbe.
Throughout his career, Julius Harris made guest appearances in numerous popular American television shows such as The Incredible Hulk, Cagney and Lacey, The Golden Girls, Murder She Wrote, and his final on-screen appearance was in the hit show ER in 1997.
Julius Harris’ impact on the entertainment industry was significant, and on October 17, 2004, the legendary actor passed away from heart failure at the age of 81. He was cremated and interred in Philadelphia, his birthplace. Harris left behind a legacy through his memorable performances and was survived by his children Kimberly and Gideon.
