Cambridge, Godfrey, 1933-1976

<p>Godfrey MacArthur Cambridge (February 26, 1933 – November 29, 1976) was an American stand-up comic and actor. Cambridge was born in New York City on February 26, 1933, to Alexander and Sarah Cambridge, who were immigrants from British Guiana. His parents, dissatisfied with the New York Public School System, sent him to live with his grandparents in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada, during his primary school years. When he was 13, Cambridge moved back to New York and attended Flushing High School in Flushing, Queens. </p>
<p>In 1949, Cambridge studied medicine at Hofstra College, which he attended for three years before dropping out to pursue a career in acting. His first role was as a bartender in the off-Broadway play <title>Take a Giant Step</title>, and he made his Broadways debut in 1957 in <title>Nature’s Way</title>. In 1961 he received an Obie award for his role in <title>The Blacks</title> and in 1962 a Tony Award nomination for his role in <title>Purlie Victorious</title>. He also performed in a stock version of <title>A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum</title>. </p>
<p>Cambridge had film roles in: <title>The Last Angry Man</title> (1959), <title>The President’s Analyst</title> (167), <title>Watermelon Man</title> (1970), <title>Cotton Comes to Charleston</title> (1970) and its sequel <title>Come Back, Charleston Blue</title> (1972), <title>Bye Bye Braverman</title> (1968), and <title>Friday Foster</title> (1975). Other film appearances include roles in <title>The Busy Body</title> (1967), <title>The Biggest Bundle of Them All</title> (1968), <title>The Biscuit Eater</title> (1972), <title>Beware! The Blob</title> (1972), and <title>Whiffs</title> (1975). </p>
<p>Cambridge was also a touring standing comedian, during which he was known for his sarcasm and topical humor, particularly regarding racism and the contemporary politics of mid-century America. He made many appearances on network television shows, particularly talk shows but also narrative shows such as <title>Car 54 Where Are You?</title>, <title>The Dick Van Dyke Show</title>, <title>I Spy</title>, <title>The Monkees</title>, <title>The Phil Silvers Show</title>, and <title>Police Story</title>. He performed with Tom Bosely in the episode “Make Me Laugh” of <title>Night Gallery</title>, which was directed by Steven Spielberg, and was featured in comedic commercials for Jockey underwear.
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<p>Cambridge hosted, financed, and produced an anti-narcotics film <title>Dead is Dead</title> (1973), and spoke to many groups on the topic as well. He struggled with weight and health issues throughout his life and also used this as comedic and interview fodder. Cambridge was also politically active. He organized one of the first benefits for Martin Luther King, Jr. in New York City with Maya Angelou and Hugh Hurd in the late 1950s. </p>
<p>Cambridge was married twice, first to actress Barbara Ann Teer from 1962-1965. He semi-retired in the 1970s and married Audrey Meyers in 1972; the two remained wed until his death of a heart attack on November 29, 1976, while on the set of <title>Victory at Entebbe</title>, in which he was to play Idi Amin. </p>