D'Urville Martin (February 11, 1939 â€" May 28, 1984) was an American
actor and director in both film and television. He appeared in
numerous 1970s movies in the blaxploitation genre. He also appeared in
two unaired pilots of what would become All in the Family as Lionel
Jefferson, the role which was eventually played by Mike Evans. Born in
New York City, Martin began his career in the mid-1960s and soon
appeared in prominent films such as Black Like Me and Guess Who's
Coming to Dinner. Martin also directed films in his career, including
Dolemite, starring Rudy Ray Moore.D'Urville Martin was born in New
York City in 1939. He had a daughter, Debra, with his first wife,
Frances L. Johnson. After their divorce he married Lillian Ferguson in
1966 and had two more children. Martin died of a heart attack in Los
Angeles in 1984 at the age of 45.Martin's first film role was as a
speaking-line extra in Black Like Me (1964). He then had small roles
in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967) (as "Frankie", whose car is
accidentally struck by Tracy) and Rosemary's Baby (1968) (as Diego,
the elevator operator).Later movies of D'Urville Martin are of the
blaxploitation genre, starting with The Legend of Nigger Charley in
1972 and continuing throughout the decade until he appeared in The
Bear in 1983. In The Legend of Nigger Charley, Martin played Toby, a
fellow fugitive of the title character. He reprised his role in the
film's two sequels, The Soul of Nigger Charley (1973) and Boss Nigger
(1975).
actor and director in both film and television. He appeared in
numerous 1970s movies in the blaxploitation genre. He also appeared in
two unaired pilots of what would become All in the Family as Lionel
Jefferson, the role which was eventually played by Mike Evans. Born in
New York City, Martin began his career in the mid-1960s and soon
appeared in prominent films such as Black Like Me and Guess Who's
Coming to Dinner. Martin also directed films in his career, including
Dolemite, starring Rudy Ray Moore.D'Urville Martin was born in New
York City in 1939. He had a daughter, Debra, with his first wife,
Frances L. Johnson. After their divorce he married Lillian Ferguson in
1966 and had two more children. Martin died of a heart attack in Los
Angeles in 1984 at the age of 45.Martin's first film role was as a
speaking-line extra in Black Like Me (1964). He then had small roles
in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967) (as "Frankie", whose car is
accidentally struck by Tracy) and Rosemary's Baby (1968) (as Diego,
the elevator operator).Later movies of D'Urville Martin are of the
blaxploitation genre, starting with The Legend of Nigger Charley in
1972 and continuing throughout the decade until he appeared in The
Bear in 1983. In The Legend of Nigger Charley, Martin played Toby, a
fellow fugitive of the title character. He reprised his role in the
film's two sequels, The Soul of Nigger Charley (1973) and Boss Nigger
(1975).
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