
Ernest Anderson was born in Lynn MA and earned his high school diploma in Washington D.C. at Dunbar High School, formerly named The Preparatory High School for Colored Youth. Founded in 1891, it was America's first public high school for black students. He earned his bachelor's degree at Northwestern University's School of Drama and Speech. He moved to Hollywood and was working in the service department when Bette Davis arranged for him to interview for the role of Perry Clay in the film "In This Our Life" (1942). Mr. Anderson persuaded the director, John Huston, to change the racist dialog of his character typical of Hollywood in that era, to one of dignified intelligence and emotion. After serving his country in WWII, he returned to Warner Brothers where he continued to humanize the roles of America's black performers. He remained active in film until the late 1960's. He died in DeLand, Florida, on March 5, 2011.

Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
TV • 1956

Run for Your Life
TV • 1965

North by Northwest
MOVIE • 1959

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
MOVIE • 1962

Riff-Raff
MOVIE • 1947

Princess O'Rourke
MOVIE • 1943

Without Reservations
MOVIE • 1946

In This Our Life
MOVIE • 1942

Backfire
MOVIE • 1950

… tick… tick… tick…
MOVIE • 1970

The Legend of Lylah Clare
MOVIE • 1968

Buccaneer's Girl
MOVIE • 1950

East Side, West Side
MOVIE • 1949

No Way Out
MOVIE • 1950

Lady on a Train
MOVIE • 1945

The Iron Mistress
MOVIE • 1952

The Mississippi Gambler
MOVIE • 1953

The Well
MOVIE • 1951