David Downing (actor)
Year Title Role
1971 Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me Heff
1972 Up the Sandbox John
1973 Gordon 's War Otis Russell
1978 Coming Attractions 'Dark Town ' Singer
1989 Listen to Me Officer of the Court
2006 Circus Camp Jamaica Joe
Filmography ( selected ) -- Film
David Downing was an American stage, film, and television actor. He was one of the original members of the Negro Ensemble Company in New York City. Downing, a native of Harlem, New York City, attended the High School of Performing Arts. As a child actor, he made his professional debut on Broadway in The Green Pastures. He served a tour of duty with the U.S. Armed Forces in Okinawa. As part of the Negro Ensemble Company in the 1960s and 70s, Downing appeared in productions including the Obie Award-winning musical The Great MacDaddy, and the successful play Ceremonies in Dark Old Men. Downing later appeared in the Pulitzer Prize-nominated play, Miss Evers' Boys. Downing has appeared in films, including Gordon's War, and numerous television shows, including The Jeffersons, Baretta, Backstairs at the White House, and Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Downing died in Los Angeles in November 2017 at the age of 74.