Mantan Moreland

Born just after the turn of the century in Louisiana, Mantan began running away from home at age 12 to join circuses and medicine shows, only to be brought back time and again. During these times he sharpened his comic skills and developed routines and acts that eventually became popular on the vaudeville stage, or what was then called the "chitlin' circuit." A solo performer by nature, he often teamed up with other famous comics (such as Ben Carter) to keep working, and became a deft performer of "indefinite talk" routines, where two quicksilver comics continually topped each other in mid-sentence, as if reading each other's mind (i.e., "Say, did you see...?" "Saw him just yesterday...didn't look so good"). Mantan's focus gradually shifted his trade toward film, where he initially appeared in servile bits (shoeshine men, porters, waiters). However, his talent for making people laugh couldn't be overlooked and he soon earned featured status in Harlem-styled western parodies and grade "A" comedy films playing the superstitious, ever-terrified manservant running from any kind of impending doom.

Casted

Spider Baby

Played Messenger

Average Rating

6.9

178 votes

Release Date

Dec 24, 1967

59 years ago
Tarzan's New York Adventure

Played Sam, the Nightclub Janitor (uncredited)

Average Rating

6.3

96 votes

Release Date

May 01, 1942

85 years ago
The Patsy

Played Barber Shop Porter

Average Rating

6.2

56 votes

Release Date

Jun 24, 1964

62 years ago
Watermelon Man

Played Joe the Counterman

Average Rating

6.3

55 votes

Release Date

May 27, 1970

56 years ago
King of the Zombies

Played Jefferson 'Jeff' Jackson

Average Rating

5.1

53 votes

Release Date

May 14, 1941

86 years ago
Cabin in the Sky

Played First Idea Man

Average Rating

6.5

46 votes

Release Date

Mar 24, 1943

84 years ago
A-Haunting We Will Go

Played Porter (uncredited)

Average Rating

6.0

37 votes

Release Date

Aug 07, 1942

84 years ago
Eyes in the Night

Played Alistair

Average Rating

5.9

32 votes

Release Date

Oct 16, 1942

84 years ago
It Started with Eve

Played Railway Porter (uncredited)

Average Rating

7.2

29 votes

Release Date

Sep 26, 1941

85 years ago
Charlie Chan in the Secret Service

Played Birmingham Brown

Average Rating

5.9

27 votes

Release Date

Feb 14, 1944

83 years ago
Revenge of the Zombies

Played Jefferson 'Jeff' Johnson

Average Rating

5.2

27 votes

Release Date

Sep 17, 1943

83 years ago
Hit the Ice

Played Porter with Snowshoes (uncredited)

Average Rating

5.9

27 votes

Release Date

Jun 02, 1943

84 years ago
Dressed to Kill

Played Rusty

Average Rating

6.3

24 votes

Release Date

Aug 08, 1941

85 years ago
The Scarlet Clue

Played Birmingham Brown, Chauffeur

Average Rating

5.9

22 votes

Release Date

May 11, 1945

82 years ago
Dark Alibi

Played Birmingham Brown

Average Rating

6.1

21 votes

Release Date

May 25, 1946

81 years ago
The Strange Case of Doctor Rx

Played Horatio B.Fitz Washington

Average Rating

5.1

19 votes

Release Date

Mar 27, 1942

85 years ago
The Shanghai Cobra

Played Birmingham Brown

Average Rating

5.8

18 votes

Release Date

Sep 29, 1945

81 years ago
The Trap

Played Birmingham Brown

Average Rating

6.7

18 votes

Release Date

Nov 30, 1946

80 years ago
The Jade Mask

Played Birmingham Brown

Average Rating

6.1

17 votes

Release Date

Jan 26, 1945

82 years ago
Black Magic

Played Birmingham Brown

Average Rating

7.0

16 votes

Release Date

Aug 19, 1944

82 years ago
Pin Up Girl

Played Train Station Porter (uncredited)

Average Rating

6.1

16 votes

Release Date

Apr 25, 1944

83 years ago
Charlie Chan in The Chinese Cat

Played Birmingham Brown, Taxi Driver

Average Rating

6.4

15 votes

Release Date

May 20, 1944

83 years ago
Sleepers West

Played Porter (uncredited)

Average Rating

6.3

15 votes

Release Date

Mar 14, 1941

86 years ago
The Chinese Ring

Played Birmingham Brown

Average Rating

4.9

15 votes

Release Date

Dec 06, 1947

79 years ago
The Golden Eye

Played Birmingham Brown

Average Rating

5.4

14 votes

Release Date

Aug 29, 1948

78 years ago
The Green Pastures

Played Angel Removing Hat (uncredited)

Average Rating

6.3

14 votes

Release Date

Aug 01, 1936

90 years ago
The Feathered Serpent

Played Birmingham Brown

Average Rating

5.8

12 votes

Release Date

Dec 19, 1948

78 years ago
The Spider

Played Harry

Average Rating

5.3

11 votes

Release Date

Dec 01, 1945

81 years ago
Shadows Over Chinatown

Played Birmingham Brown

Average Rating

5.8

11 votes

Release Date

Jun 27, 1946

80 years ago
The Comic

Played Passerby at Billy's Funeral (unbilled)

Average Rating

5.9

11 votes

Release Date

Nov 19, 1969

57 years ago
Birth of the Blues

Played Black Trumpet Player (uncredited)

Average Rating

6.0

10 votes

Release Date

Nov 07, 1941

85 years ago
Andy Hardy's Double Life

Played Prentiss - The Benedict Butler (uncredited)

Average Rating

4.8

10 votes

Release Date

Dec 01, 1942

84 years ago
The Gang's All Here

Played Jefferson 'Jeff' Smith

Average Rating

5.0

8 votes

Release Date

Jun 11, 1941

86 years ago
Enter Laughing

Played Subway Rider

Average Rating

3.8

8 votes

Release Date

Feb 25, 1967

59 years ago
Girl in 313

Played Porter

Average Rating

5.4

8 votes

Release Date

May 31, 1940

87 years ago
The Young Nurses

Played Old Man

Average Rating

3.5

8 votes

Release Date

Mar 01, 1973

53 years ago
Lucky Ghost

Played Washington

Average Rating

5.4

7 votes

Release Date

Feb 10, 1942

85 years ago
Cosmo Jones, Crime Smasher

Played Eustace Smith

Average Rating

4.0

7 votes

Release Date

Jan 29, 1943

84 years ago
Next Time I Marry

Played Tilby

Average Rating

7.0

7 votes

Release Date

Dec 09, 1938

88 years ago
Two-Gun Man from Harlem

Played Bill Blake

Average Rating

4.0

7 votes

Release Date

May 01, 1938

89 years ago
Law of the Jungle

Played Jefferson "Jeff" Jones

Average Rating

5.1

7 votes

Release Date

Feb 06, 1942

85 years ago
City of Chance

Played Anxious Man

Average Rating

5.2

7 votes

Release Date

Jan 13, 1940

87 years ago
Slightly Dangerous

Played Waiter at Swade's (uncredited)

Average Rating

6.0

7 votes

Release Date

Apr 01, 1943

84 years ago
Docks of New Orleans

Played Birmingham Brown

Average Rating

5.9

6 votes

Release Date

Mar 21, 1948

79 years ago
Spirit of Youth

Played Creighton 'Crickie' Fitzgibbons

Average Rating

5.5

6 votes

Release Date

Apr 01, 1938

89 years ago
Tell No Tales

Played Sport Black at the Wake (uncredited)

Average Rating

4.6

6 votes

Release Date

Jun 12, 1939

88 years ago
The Shanghai Chest

Played Birmingham Brown

Average Rating

6.1

5 votes

Release Date

Jul 11, 1948

78 years ago
Up in the Air

Played Jeff Jefferson

Average Rating

5.0

5 votes

Release Date

Sep 09, 1940

86 years ago
She Wouldn't Say Yes

Played Porter (uncredited)

Average Rating

5.9

5 votes

Release Date

Nov 29, 1945

81 years ago
Mexican Spitfire Sees a Ghost

Played Lightnin'

Average Rating

4.4

5 votes

Release Date

Jun 26, 1942

85 years ago
On the Spot

Played Jefferson White

Average Rating

5.5

4 votes

Release Date

Jun 11, 1940

87 years ago
Irish Luck

Played Jefferson

Average Rating

5.8

4 votes

Release Date

Aug 22, 1939

87 years ago
Let's Go Collegiate

Played Jeff

Average Rating

5.0

4 votes

Release Date

Sep 12, 1941

85 years ago
Chasing Trouble

Played Thomas H. Jefferson

Average Rating

5.0

4 votes

Release Date

Jan 30, 1940

87 years ago
Viva Cisco Kid

Played Memphis - The Cook

Average Rating

5.5

4 votes

Release Date

Apr 12, 1940

87 years ago
Star Dust

Played Waiter on Train

Average Rating

4.8

4 votes

Release Date

Apr 06, 1940

87 years ago
Phantom Killer

Played Nicodemus

Average Rating

4.3

3 votes

Release Date

Oct 02, 1942

84 years ago
Swing Fever

Played Woody

Average Rating

5.0

3 votes

Release Date

Nov 01, 1943

83 years ago
Freckles Comes Home

Played Jeff the porter

Average Rating

5.0

3 votes

Release Date

Jan 02, 1942

85 years ago
Four Jacks and a Jill

Played Cicero - Wash Room Attendant (uncredited)

Average Rating

6.0

3 votes

Release Date

Jan 23, 1942

85 years ago
Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery

Played Roy

Average Rating

5.3

3 votes

Release Date

Mar 24, 1941

86 years ago
Millionaire Playboy

Played Bellhop

Average Rating

2.7

3 votes

Release Date

Mar 14, 1940

87 years ago
Drums of the Desert

Played Sergeant 'Blue' Williams

Average Rating

5.0

3 votes

Release Date

Oct 06, 1940

86 years ago
He Hired the Boss

Played Bootblack

Average Rating

3.7

3 votes

Release Date

Apr 02, 1943

84 years ago
Sky Dragon

Played Birmingham Brown

Average Rating

7.7

3 votes

Release Date

Apr 27, 1949

78 years ago
Swing Fever

Played Woody, Nick's Valet (uncredited)

Average Rating

5.0

3 votes

Release Date

Nov 01, 1943

83 years ago
Frontier Scout

Played Norris Family Butler

Average Rating

4.5

2 votes

Release Date

Sep 16, 1938

88 years ago
Riverboat Rhythm

Played Mantan

Average Rating

5.0

2 votes

Release Date

Feb 16, 1946

81 years ago
The Man Who Wouldn't Talk

Played Robbins

Average Rating

4.0

2 votes

Release Date

Jan 11, 1940

87 years ago
Maryland

Average Rating

6.2

2 votes

Release Date

Jul 19, 1940

86 years ago
You're a Lucky Fellow, Mr. Smith

Played Porter

Average Rating

3.5

2 votes

Release Date

Oct 22, 1943

83 years ago
Sign of the Wolf

Played Ben

Average Rating

6.0

1 votes

Release Date

Mar 25, 1941

86 years ago
You're Out of Luck

Played Jeff Jefferson

Average Rating

6.0

1 votes

Release Date

Jan 20, 1941

86 years ago
Mr. Washington Goes to Town

Played Schenectady Washington

Average Rating

3.0

1 votes

Release Date

May 09, 1942

85 years ago
Chip Off the Old Block

Played Porter

Average Rating

4.0

1 votes

Release Date

Feb 01, 1944

83 years ago
Harlem on the Prairie

Played Mistletoe

Average Rating

5.0

1 votes

Release Date

Dec 09, 1937

89 years ago
Girl Trouble

Played Flint's Chauffeur

Average Rating

6.5

1 votes

Release Date

Oct 09, 1942

84 years ago
Treat 'Em Rough

Played 'Snake-Eyes'

Average Rating

6.0

1 votes

Release Date

Jan 30, 1942

85 years ago
We've Never Been Licked

Played Willie

Average Rating

0.0

1 votes

Release Date

Jul 29, 1943

83 years ago
That's the Spirit

Played Night Watchman

Average Rating

2.0

1 votes

Release Date

Apr 15, 1933

94 years ago
See Here, Private Hargrove

Played Train Porter (uncredited)

Average Rating

6.0

1 votes

Release Date

Mar 18, 1944

83 years ago
Footlight Serenade

Played Amos

Average Rating

0.0

0 votes

Release Date

Aug 01, 1942

84 years ago
Melody Parade

Played Skidmore

Average Rating

0.0

0 votes

Release Date

Aug 27, 1943

83 years ago
Mantan Messes Up

Average Rating

0.0

0 votes

Release Date

Jan 01, 1946

81 years ago
Sarong Girl

Played Maxwell

Average Rating

0.0

0 votes

Release Date

Jun 11, 1943

84 years ago
Captain Tugboat Annie

Played Pinto

Average Rating

0.0

0 votes

Release Date

Nov 17, 1945

81 years ago
Rockin' the Blues

Played Self

Average Rating

0.0

0 votes

Release Date

Oct 11, 1956

70 years ago
Return of Mandy's Husband

Played Mantan

Average Rating

0.0

0 votes

Release Date

May 22, 1947

80 years ago
Professor Creeps

Played Washington

Average Rating

0.0

0 votes

Release Date

Feb 28, 1942

85 years ago
Up Jumped the Devil

Played Washington

Average Rating

0.0

0 votes

Release Date

Jan 01, 1941

86 years ago
Riders of the Frontier

Played Chappie, the Cook

Average Rating

0.0

0 votes

Release Date

Aug 15, 1939

87 years ago
Moon Over Las Vegas

Played Porter

Average Rating

0.0

0 votes

Release Date

Apr 01, 1944

83 years ago
Come On, Cowboy!

Played Mantan

Average Rating

0.0

0 votes

Release Date

Jan 01, 1949

78 years ago
Laughing at Danger

Played Jefferson

Average Rating

0.0

0 votes

Release Date

Aug 12, 1940

86 years ago
Four Shall Die

Played Beefus - Touissant's Chauffeur

Average Rating

0.0

0 votes

Release Date

Oct 15, 1940

86 years ago
Mantan Runs for Mayor

Average Rating

0.0

0 votes

Release Date

Aug 23, 1946

80 years ago
The Dreamer

Average Rating

0.0

0 votes

Release Date

Apr 04, 1948

79 years ago
Ebony Parade

Played Mantan

Average Rating

0.0

0 votes
She's Too Mean for Me

Average Rating

0.0

0 votes

Release Date

Aug 23, 1948

78 years ago
What a Guy

Average Rating

0.0

0 votes

Release Date

Jan 01, 1948

79 years ago

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