John Witherspoon Movies
Funnyman John Witherspoon has parlayed a successful career as a standup comic into a series of memorable film roles. Born in Detroit, MI, Witherspoon began his show business career as a model in the early '70s before striking out on his own as a comedian. His first big break came in 1977 when he landed a regular spot on Richard Pryor's short-lived television variety series, and he began playing supporting roles on such shows as What's Happening!, Good Times, and WKRP in Cincinnati. In 1980, Witherspoon made his film debut playing a nightclub MC in Neil Diamond's 1980 remake of The Jazz Singer. Witherspoon's big-screen breakthrough, however, came in Robert Townsend's comedy Hollywood Shuffle, in which Witherspoon played Mr. Jones, the manager of the Winky Dinky Dog hot-dog stand. The surprise success of Hollywood Shuffle led to a string of film parts and recurring roles on two television series -- the short-lived Townsend Television in 1993 and 1995's The Wayans Bros., which ran for four years, with Witherspoon playing "Pop" Williams. In 1995, Witherspoon also played ill-tempered dogcatcher Mr. Jones in Ice Cube's urban comedy Friday. John Witherspoon still tours as a standup comic when he's not busy with film and television work. Witherspoon played a recurring part on the sitcom The Wayans Brothers, and appeared in small roles in a variety of films including I Got the Hook Up, The Ladies Man, and Fakin' Da Funk. In addition to appearing in multiple sequels to Friday, Witherspoon teamed up with old colleagues when he played a part for the Wayans brothers in Little Man. Witherspoon also brought his caustic sensibility to his voice work on the animated television adaptation of the controversial comic strip The Boondocks. ~ All Movie Guide
After an excruciatingly humiliating in-flight experience that culminated in a messy breakup and the untimely death of a dog, Nashawn Wade (Kevin Hart) sues the airline for all it's worth. This turns out to be a more than profitable move on his part; the lawsuit brings him a settlement in the hefty amount of 600 million dollars. Eager to prevent his experience from happening to another -- and perfectly willing to reap the financial benefits of the cash cow he believes his plan to be -- Nashawn decides to launch NWA, an all African American airline complete with sensuous stewardesses, an onboard dance club, and a bathroom attendant. Far be it from giving "flying the friendly skies" a new meaning, however, chaos ensues in the form of a white family with the unfortunate last name of Hunkee. The Hunkee patriarch (as played by Tom Arnold) and his antics prevent the flight from going as smoothly as intended. The feature debut of music video director Jessy Tererro, urban comedy regulars Snoop Dogg and Method Man co-star. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Hart, Tom Arnold, (more)
The trajectories of two opposing romantic relationships are fodder for this African-American screwball comedy from co-writer, star, and director Rusty Cundieff. Montel (Cundieff) and Clyde (Joe Torry) stars as friends who couldn't be less alike. An introverted photographer, Montel wants to meet the one right girl for him and settle down to build a family, while Clyde is a flamboyant womanizer just out for a good time. At a party, they meet Adina (Paula Jai Parker), a sexy golddigger seeking a wealthy husband with robotic determination, and her shy law clerk friend Brandy (Tisha Campbell). The couples pair off in predictable combinations, but while the brief encounter between Clyde and Adina quickly implodes when she discovers that Clyde's success is an act and his Porsche is borrowed, the relationship between Montel and Brandy blooms into a true romance. Eventually, they decide to marry, leaving Clyde and Adina to reunite in a selfish scheme to break their best friends up using whatever treacherous means they can employ. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tisha Campbell, Rusty Cundieff, (more)
Starring Martin Lawrence and including Mark Curry, Tone Loc, Inez Edwards, John Witherspoon and Rene Jones among many others, Talkin' Dirty After Dark is a behind-the-scenes look at a Los Angeles black comedy club. Lawrence's character, Terry, will seemingly do about whatever it takes to get a gig at Dukie's comedy club. The subplots involve the goings-on of employers and employees of the club in the span of one evening. This comedy contains profanity, nudity, and adult situations. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Martin Lawrence, John Witherspoon, (more)
Based on the syndicated comic strip of Aaron MacGruder one of only a few African American cartoonists and arguably the most successful this animated show appeared on the Cartoon Network's Adult Swim. MacGruder satirizes race relations and contemporary culture in a dry cynical way that pulls no punches and generates a great deal of controversy along the way. The show follows protagonist Huey a 10-year-old revolutionary-in-training and Riley his 8-year-old brother and future gangsta. The boys have been moved from their home on Chicago's South Side to the suburban "boondocks" to live with their grandfather where they get into trouble and comment freely upon the idiosyncracies--to put it mildly--of the white people in whose culture they are now immersed. In season one Huey and Riley debate R. Kelly Huey directs "The Adventures of Black Jesus" for the school Christmas play and Grandad opens up Woodcrest's first soul-food restaurant.
- Starring:
- John Witherspoon, Regina King, (more)
Popular Adult Swim show on Cartoon Network! Based on Aaron McGruder's comic strip which was distributed in 350 newspapers nationwide. Granddad sneaks the boys into the movies to be cheap. Sarah's obsession with Usher after meeting him threatens her relationship with Tom. Riley and Granddad refuse to talk with cops about two local thieves, even after Granddad's car is stolen. Stinkmeaner's spirit possesses Tom and he tries to get revenge on Granddad. Riley joins the basketball team, and the boys fight over who will be boss while Granddad's on vacation.
- Starring:
- John Witherspoon, Regina King, (more)
Loosely based on the life and times of several R&B artists (The Dells, The Temptations, Frankie Lymon, Sam Cooke and others) The Five Heartbeats traces the rise and fall of a popular African-American 1950s singing aggregation. The story is told from the point of view of one of the "Heartbeats," played by Robert Townsend (who also co-produced, directed and co-wrote the script with Keenan Ivory Waynans). The film is an amalgam of anecdotes drawn from real-life experiences: the long struggle upward, the first rush of success, the dishonest record-company executives, the hard-nosed but nurturing managers, the sex, the drugs, the isolation and the precipitous downward slide. The film begins and ends in the 1990s, as the middle-aged "Duck" (Townsend) ruminates on the past and makes the best of the present. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Townsend, Michael Wright, (more)
- 1994
Will (Will Smith) falls in love with a girl named Lisa--not Lisa Wilkes, who will appear in later episodes in the person of Nia Long, but instead Lisa Adams, played by A Different World regular Cree Summer. Unfortunately, Lisa has a fearsome father named Augusteus (John Witherspoon), whose concern for her daughter's wellbeing borders on the psychotic. Intending to scare Will off, Augusteus takes him on a wild plane ride--culminating in a crash landing, leaving both men stranded in the wilderness! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Pop singer Neil Diamond stars in this ill-begotten second remake of Al Jolson's seminal 1927 musical The Jazz Singer. The moth-eaten story concerns a cantor's son who desires success as a pop singer, despite the wishes of his imperious father. The film takes place in the present day with Yussel Rabinowitz (Neil Diamond) playing a young (though middle-aged looking) cantor performing at the synagogue of his father (Laurence Olivier). Yussel is married and has settled down to a life of religious devotion to the teaching of his fath. But on the side, he writes songs for a black singing group, and when a member of the quartet takes ill, Yussel covers for him at one of their gigs by wearing blackface! The nightclub engagement is such a success that Yussel abandons his family -- and his father's synagogue -- and leaves his New York home for Los Angeles, hoping to break into the music business. Almost immediately he is spotted by spunky agent Molly Bell (Lucie Arnaz), who books him as an opening act for a touring comic. Yussel hits it big, but his father resents Yussel's forsaking their traditional Jewish ways. His father disowns him, rending his garments and bellowing, "I hef no son!" ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Neil Diamond, Laurence Olivier, (more)
Yet another recurring character from Saturday Night Live makes the jump to the big screen in this comedy. Leon Phelps (Tim Meadows) is the host of a radio call-in show in which he dispenses advice on the fine art of seduction, for which he seems to have quite a talent -- rather surprising, seeing that he's usually broke, nearly everything he says sounds crass and obvious, and he possesses a fashion sense that would have been gauche in the mid-1970s but seems just plain freakish today. After finally going too far during a broadcast, Leon is fired, but he receives a note from one of his former flames who wants him to come back to her -- and is willing to support him in high style. This sounds just fine with Leon, except she hasn't signed her name, and now Leon has to backtrack through his numerous conquests of the past and figure out who wants him to work his love magic. Meanwhile, a group of husbands who've been cuckolded by Leon, led by Barney (Lee Evans) and Lance (Will Ferrell), are hot on his trail, eager to get revenge. The Ladies' Man also stars Tiffani Thiessen and Karyn Parsons as two of the ladies in Leon's life and Billy Dee Williams as the ultra-smooth proprietor of Lester's Straight-Up Lounge. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Meadows, Karyn Parsons, (more)
Robert Townsend's superhero action comedy underwent much tinkering during post-production, employing four editors to whip the film into shape. Townsend wrote, directed, and produced this urban fable and also stars as Jefferson Reed, a meek substitute teacher in an inner-city neighborhood dominated by a gang of leather-jacketed, peroxided blonde goons who call themselves the Golden Lords. The residents of the neighborhood feel they can do nothing about the gang. But then a meteor hits Jefferson, who finds that he can fly, has super-strength, and can retain all the information in a book in thirty seconds. As a result, Jefferson, who normally is afraid of heights and runs from danger, becomes a reluctant superhero. The word about the "Meteor Man" gets back to the Golden Lords, who intend to rid the neighborhood of this milquetoast crime-fighter. The Meteor Man contains a cornucopia of cameos appearances, including Bill Cosby, Luther Vandross, Sinbad, Big Daddy Kane and Nancy Wilson. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Townsend, Marla Gibbs, (more)
- 1995
Premiering January 11, 1995, the WB sitcom The Wayans Bros. actually stars only two members of that large and apparently ever-expanding family of African-American entertainers. Fresh from their In Living Color success, siblings Shawn Wayans and Marlon Wayans (who also co-created this series) star as Shawn and Marlon Williams, polar-opposite brothers sharing the same New York brownstone. Shawn was the "serious" brother, who during the first season held down a solid job with an overnight delivery service and was diligently saving up enough money to marry Lisa Saunders (Lela Rochon), daughter of a prominent doctor. In contrast, Marlon lived to have fun, only occasionally showing up for his job as kitchen help at Pops' Place, a restaurant owned by the brothers' dad, John "Pops" Williams (John Witherspoon), a former boxer and R&B singer. Also working at Pops' during season one were counter girl Lupe (Joanna Sanchez) and cook Benny (Benny Quan). Losing his job and his girlfriend at the outset of season two, Shawn set up a newsstand in the lobby of the Niedermayer Building, which also housed his dad's restaurant. The building's main security guard had been diminutive Lou Malino (Jill Tasker) during the first season; she was replaced by Anna Maria Horsford as the corpulent Dee Baxter. Also added to the cast in season two was Paula Jai Parker as Monique Lattimore, a wealthy young lady who took a job in a nearby card shop when she lost her fortune -- and who during her single season on the series provided a verbal combatant for Shawn and an "unattainable dream" for the moonstruck Marlon. In season three, Ja'net DuBois joined the cast as the Williams boys' feisty Grandmother Ellington, who briefly moved in with the brothers. Weaving in and out the proceedings were a pair of shady street characters, White Mike (Mitch Mullany) and T.C. (Phill Lewis). In season four, Marlon launched an acting career and Shawn lost his newsstand to a fire. Come the next season, the brothers' "roles" had reversed: Marlon was now the responsible breadwinner, holding down steady employment as a regular on the TV sitcom "Everybody Loves Everybody," while Shawn was the wheeler-dealer, serving as Shawn's agent -- and skimming 50 percent off the top of each paycheck! The Wayans Bros. proved to be one of the fledgling WB's most popular early offerings, and went on to even greater success in off-net reruns after its September 9, 1999, cancellation. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans, (more)
The first season of The Wayans Bros. finds siblings Shawn and Marlon Williams (Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans) sharing the same NYC brownstone, with serious Shawn bringing in most of the money while merry-making Marlon is either goofing off or promoting some wild get-rich-quick scheme. Shawn hopes to earn enough money at his delivery job to wed Lisa Saunders (Lela Rochon), daughter of a high-profile doctor. Marlon meanwhile holds a temporary job as kitchen help at Pops' Place, the restaurant owned by the brothers' dad, John "Pops" Williams (John Witherspoon). The restaurant is housed in the huge Neidermayer Building, where pint-sized Lou Malino (Jill Tasker) is security guard. Marlon's co-workers are short-order cook Benny (Benny Quan) and counter girl Lupe (Joanna Sanchez). This season's episodes find Shawn getting sucked into Marlon's various "can't miss" business ventures, such as promoting a grooming product called Goop-Hair-It-Is (which unfortunately sets fire to the scalp!), a cab service catering to black people called Afro Pick-You-Up, and a children's-entertainment service which nearly gets Marlon and Shawn killed by a fearsome "Barney" knockoff named Brazilla. In other adventures, Marlon tries to become a male model, Pops gets locked out of the house when he stands up to his formidable wife, the brothers end up in the slammer for nonpayment of several parking tickets, and future series regular Paula Jai Parker shows up in a different role than Monique Lattimore -- specifically, the girlfriend of a particularly fiendish gangster. Among the iconic African-American guest stars appearing in The Wayans Bros.' inaugural season are Garrett Morris, Sherman Hemsley, Richard Roundtree, and Gary Coleman. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans, (more)
- 1995
Season two of The Wayans Bros. is shy several regulars from season one, notably Lela Rochon as Lisa, Benny Quan as Benny, and Joanna Sanchez as Lupe. However, series stars Shawn Wayans and Marlon Wayans are still very much in attendance as polar-opposite siblings Shawn and Marlon Williams, as is John Witherspoon as the brothers' restauranteur dad, John "Pops" Williams. New to the series are Paula Jai Parker as Monique Lattimore, a formerly rich girl reduced to working in a card shop, and Anna Maria Horsford as Dee Baxter, the hefty replacement for tiny Lou Malino (Jill Tasker), security guard in the building housing Pops' diner. Having lost both his delivery job and his girlfriend Lisa, Shawn goes into business for himself, purchasing the newspaper stand in the lobby of the same building in which his dad's diner takes up space. This gives Shawn ample opportunity to verbally spar with the saucy Monique, while moonstruck Marlon (still occasionally employed by his dad) tries to figure out ways to make Monique pay him some attention. Meanwhile, two disreputable hangers-on, White Mike (Mitch Mullany) and T.C. (Phill Lewis), make the first of several recurring appearances. Among this year's highlights is an episode in which Marlon and Shawn suspect one another of being the father of the baby left on their doorstep, a run-in with a restless ghost which culminates in a zany exorcism, and the season closer, wherein Marlon takes Shawn to court over a silly but painful misunderstanding. Guest stars this season include future Jamie Foxx Show regular Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon as Shawn's temporary girlfriend in a wild spoof of the movie Fatal Attraction; Adrienne Barbeau and Pat Harrington Jr. as the brothers' landlords; and the stars' real-life sibling Kim Wayans as their gawky country cousin Sheila. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans, (more)
- 1996
Season three of The Wayans Bros. is distinguished by the presence of Ja'net DuBois in the recurring role of Grandma Ellington, who presumptively moves in with her nonplussed grandsons Shawn and Marlon Williams (Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans). Alas, the toothsome Paula Jai Parker has left the series, leaving Shawn and Marlon without a "regular" leading lady their own age. In the season's crop of episodes, Shawn goes "yuppie" and spurns his old homies, forcing Marlon to bring him back to earth -- and in a reversal of the same basic situation, Marlon lands a job in a malt-liquor commercial, only to be accused by friends and family of perpetuating negative racial stereotypes. Elsewhere, the brothers' restauranteur dad, Pops (John Witherspoon), rejoins his old singing group; and "Life Without Marlon" is the series' obligatory It's a Wonderful Life spoof, with Shawn briefly assuming the Clarence character. Guest stars on season three of The Wayans Bros. include Pam Grier, cast as an older woman who captures Shawn's heart; and as themselves, actor Adam West, pro ballplayer Kenny Lofton, and musician Keith Sweat, the latter appearing in order to set up the season-ending "cliffhanger." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans, (more)
- 1997
The Wayans Bros. launches its fourth season with most of its familiar regulars back on the job: Shawn Wayans as hardworking newspaper-stand owner Shawn Williams, Marlon Wayans as Shawn's footloose brother, Marlon, John Witherspoon as the boys' restauranteur father, John "Pops" Williams, and Anna Maria Horsford as security guard Dee Baxter. The season begins as Marlon returns from a three-month tour with musician Keith Sweat, more determined than ever to find success in show business. Meanwhile, level-headed Shawn must work overtime to keep Marlon's head from either swelling to astronomical proportions or leaving his body entirely! Season highlights include a classic "fantasy" episode in which the regulars assume the leading roles in the old sitcom Good Times, with Shawn Wayans as J.J. ("Dy-no-MIIIITE!") Among the year's guest stars are Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Gloria Gaynor, En Vogue, Busta Rhymes, and even Jerry Springer. Season four ends as Shawn's newsstand is destroyed by an electrical fire, thereby setting up a curious role reversal, with Shawn unemployed and Marlon bringing in a weekly paycheck. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans, (more)
- 1998
Season four of The Wayans Bros. ended with aspiring actor Marlon Williams (Marlon Wayans) landing a regular role on the network sitcom "Everybody Loves Everybody," and Shawn Williams (Shawn Wayans) finding himself without a means of support when his newsstand burns to the ground. Thus, season five finds the brothers' "roles" hilariously reversed: Marlon is now the responsible breadwinner, and Shawn is the wheeler-dealer -- serving as Marlon's agent, and taking a 50 percent cut of his brother's earnings! Most of the season's episodes are built around the brothers' misadventures in show business. In one episode, Marlon is aghast to learn that his TV role may require him to kiss another guy; in another, Shawn attempts to rescue Marlon from the influence of a drug-abusing fellow actor; and in still another, Marlon becomes so popular that he is kidnapped by a female fan -- and when Shawn tries to save him, he gets snatched himself! Elsewhere, the brothers' restauranteur dad, Pops (John Witherspoon), runs for city council, and the stars' real-life sister Kim Wayans makes a return appearance as Marlon and Shawn's country cousin Sheila. Other guest stars appearing in the fifth and final season of The Wayans Bros. include Missy Elliott and Paula Abdul. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans, (more)
Comedian Eddie Murphy tried something different with this 1995 film that he produced and co-wrote, enlisting veteran horror director Wes Craven to give the story some chills. The uneven comedy-horror tale features Murphy as a vampire named Maximillian who arrives in Brooklyn on a ship full of people who have been brutally murdered. One of the corpses on board closely resembles that of Rita (Angela Bassett), one of the detectives assigned to the case. Maximillian targets Rita, hoping to get a dance with her that will bring her under his control. He enlists the help of a worker named Julius (Kadeem Hardison), biting his neck and turning him into a slowly decaying ghoul. Also seeking to romance Rita, though in a less sinister way, is her longtime detective partner Justice (Allen Payne). Maximillian uses his supernatural powers to interfere with the budding romance. Murphy also plays a preacher and an Italian gangster in this bizarre film. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eddie Murphy, Angela Bassett, (more)
