Tall, handsome, commanding black actor with a resonant voice who began his career in the 1960s as a musical comedy performer on the New York stage under the name Jack Crowder. Rasulala appeared in the off-Broadway musicals "Fly, Blackbird" with Robert Guillaume and "The Fantasticks" and won a Theater World Award for his Broadway debut as Cornelius Hackl in the Pearl Bailey production of "Hello, Dolly!" (1976). He made his film debut in "The Out-of-Towners" (1970) and throughout the 1970s and 80s was featured in the blaxploitation films "Blacula" (1972), "Bucktown" (1975) and the actioners "Cool Breeze" (1972), "Willie Dynamite" (1974), and "New Jack City" (1991). He appeared on the TV series "What's Happening!!" and gave his most notable performances in the TV movie, "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman" (1974) and as Kunta Kinte's father, Omoro, in the mini-series "Roots" (1977).
- Also Credited As:
Jack Crowder
- Born:
November 15, 1939 in Miami, Florida
- Died:
October 9, 1991.
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Job Titles:
Actor, Singer, Assistant director, Football player, Public relations executive
Family
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Daughter: Ainee Rasulala.
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Son: Kenny Rasulala.
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Son: Mark Rasulala.
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Son: Scott Rasulala.
Significant Others
Education
Milestones
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1961 Performed in original West Coast production of "Fly Blackbird"
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1962 Off-Broadway debut, "Fly Blackbird"
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1967 Broadway debut, "Hello, Dolly!"
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1970 Film debut in "The Out-of-Towners"
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1972 First film as Thalmus Rasulala, "Cool Breeze"
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1973 Was assistant director on "The Slams"
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1977 Played Omoro in the miniseries "Roots"
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Changed name from Jack Crowder to Thalmus Rasulala in the early 1970s
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Featured as Bill Thomas on the TV sitcom, "What's Happening!!"
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Had a recurring role on TV series, "General Hospital"
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Served as contract co-ordinator for the US Air Force
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Was All Conference end football player
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Worked as public relations executive for a Los Angeles firm