James Baskett


James Franklin Baskett was an American actor best known for his portrayal of Uncle Remus, singing the song "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" in the 1946 Disney feature film Song of the South.
In recognition of his portrayal of the famous black storyteller he was given an Honorary Academy Award, making him the first black male performer to receive an Oscar. Despite his leading role, Baskett was not considered for a competitive Academy Award for Best Actor or Best Supporting Actor.

Career

After abandoning his plans to study pharmacology for financial reasons, James Baskett supported himself as an actor, moving from his home town of Indianapolis, Indiana, to New York City, and joining the company of Bill Robinson, better known as Mr. Bojangles. As Jimmie Baskette, he appeared on Broadway with Louis Armstrong in the all-black musical revue Hot Chocolates in 1929, and was announced for Hummin' Sam in 1933, although it failed to open. Baskett also acted in several all-black films made in the New York area, including Harlem Is Heaven starring Bill Robinson.
He then went to Los Angeles, California, and had a supporting role in the film Straight to Heaven, starring Nina Mae McKinney. In 1941, he voiced Fats Crow in the animated Disney film Dumbo, and also had bit parts in several B movies, including that of Lazarus in Revenge of the Zombies, a porter in The Heavenly Body and native tribal leader Orbon in Jungle Queen.. From 1943 until his death in 1948 Baskett also lent his voice to fast talking lawyer Gabby Gibson on the Amos 'n' Andy radio show.
In 1946, he auditioned for a bit part voicing one of the animals in the new Disney feature film Song of the South, based on the Uncle Remus stories by Joel 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 of Brer Fox, one of the film's animated antagonists, 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.
Baskett did not attend the film's premiere in Atlanta, Georgia, because Atlanta was racially segregated by law. In fact, none of the black cast members attended because segregation would have relegated them to balcony seats, and they would not have been allowed to participate in any of the other premiere festivities.
Although Baskett was occasionally criticized for accepting such a "demeaning" role, his acting was almost universally praised, and columnist Hedda 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.

Honorary Academy Award

On March 20, 1948, Baskett received an Honorary Academy Award for his performance as Uncle Remus. Actress Ingrid Bergman and Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Jean Hersholt presented him with the gold statuette "for his able and heart-warming characterization of Uncle Remus, friend and story teller to the children of the world in Walt Disney's Song of the South."
He was the first African-American male actor to win an Academy Award. Additionally, Baskett was the last adult actor to receive an Honorary Oscar for a single performance.

Illness and death

Baskett had been in poor health around 1946 during the filming of Song of the South due to diabetes and suffered a heart attack. His health continued to decline, and he was often unable to attend the Amos 'n' Andy show he was on, missing almost half of the 1947-1948 season. On July 9, 1948, during the show's summer hiatus, Baskett died of heart failure resulting from diabetes at age 44. He was survived by his wife Margaret and his mother Elizabeth. He is buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.

Filmography

Family

Baskett was married three times: