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'''Franklyn Ajaye''' (born May 13, 1949) is an American [[stand-up comedian]], actor, and writer. |
'''Franklyn Ajaye''' (born May 13, 1949) is an American [[stand-up comedian]], actor, and writer. He released a series of comedy albums starting in 1973 and has acted in film and television shows from the 1970s through the present, including as a primary character in the 1976 ensemble comedy ''[[Car Wash (film)|Car Wash]]'' and a supporting role in [[Sam Peckinpah]]'s ''[[Convoy (1978 film)|Convoy]]'' (1978). |
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==Life and career== |
==Life and career== |
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Franklyn Ajaye Jr. was born in [[Brooklyn]], [[New York (state)|New York]], but raised in [[Los Angeles]] by a [[Sierra Leone]]an father (Franklin Ajaye Sr.) and an American mother (Quetta Curtis). This makes Ajaye, as he likes to joke, a "true African-American". He has a brother. He has released five comedy albums to date: ''Franklyn Ajaye, Comedian'' (1973), ''I'm a Comedian, Seriously'' (1974), ''Don't Smoke Dope, Fry Your Hair'' (1977), ''Plaid Pants and Psychopaths'' (1986), and ''Vagabond Jazz & the Abstract Truth'' (2004). The last two were recorded in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia.{{cn|date=December 2023}} |
Franklyn Ajaye Jr. was born in [[Brooklyn]], [[New York (state)|New York]], but raised in [[Los Angeles]] by a [[Sierra Leone]]an father (Franklin Ajaye Sr.) and an American mother (Quetta Curtis). This makes Ajaye, as he likes to joke, a "true African-American". He has a brother. Ajaye attended [[Susan Miller Dorsey High School|Dorsey High School]] in [[Crenshaw, Los Angeles|Crenshaw]].<ref name="LA Times 1991.07.14">{{cite news |last=Braxton |first=Greg |date=July 14, 1991 |title=To Him, Rap's No Laughing Matter |work=Los Angeles Times |quote=Comedian Franklyn Ajaye feels the heat after accusing hard-core music groups and others of glorifying ghetto life}}</ref> |
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He has released five comedy albums to date: ''Franklyn Ajaye, Comedian'' (1973), ''I'm a Comedian, Seriously'' (1974), ''Don't Smoke Dope, Fry Your Hair'' (1977), ''Plaid Pants and Psychopaths'' (1986), and ''Vagabond Jazz & the Abstract Truth'' (2004). The last two were recorded in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia.{{cn|date=December 2023}} |
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He made his network debut on ''[[The Flip Wilson Show]]'' in 1973 and made his first appearance on ''[[The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson]]'' a year later. Ajaye emigrated to [[Melbourne, Australia]], in 1997 but returns to the United States periodically to do work on television. His last American television appearance was on [[Paul Provenza]]'s ''The Greenroom'' on Showtime in 2011. He is known in Australia for his appearances on ''[[The Panel (Australian TV series)|The Panel]]'' and ''[[Thank God You're Here]]'' and for his popular one-man shows "Nothing But The Truth", "Talkin' Vagabond Jazz", and "Vagabond Jazz & The Abstract Truth" at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. |
He made his network debut on ''[[The Flip Wilson Show]]'' in 1973 and made his first appearance on ''[[The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson]]'' a year later. Ajaye emigrated to [[Melbourne, Australia]], in 1997 but returns to the United States periodically to do work on television. His last American television appearance was on [[Paul Provenza]]'s ''The Greenroom'' on Showtime in 2011. He is known in Australia for his appearances on ''[[The Panel (Australian TV series)|The Panel]]'' and ''[[Thank God You're Here]]'' and for his popular one-man shows "Nothing But The Truth", "Talkin' Vagabond Jazz", and "Vagabond Jazz & The Abstract Truth" at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. |
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He has worked as an actor, appearing in films such as ''[[Sweet Revenge (1976 film)|Sweet Revenge]]'' (1976), ''[[Car Wash (film)|Car Wash]]'' (1976), ''[[Convoy (1978 film)|Convoy]]'' (1978), ''[[Stir Crazy (film)|Stir Crazy]]'' (1980), the 1980 version of ''[[The Jazz Singer (1980 film)|The Jazz Singer]]'', ''[[Hysterical (1983 film)|Hysterical]]'' (1982), ''[[Get Crazy]]'' (1983), ''[[Fraternity Vacation]]'' (1985), ''[[Hollywood Shuffle]]'' (1987), ''[[The Wrong Guys]]'' (1988), ''[[The 'Burbs]]'' (1989), and ''[[American Yakuza]]'' (1993). He also appeared on an episode of ''[[Barney Miller]]'' as police-car thief Wendell Frasier in 1976. He has been seen more recently in the TV show ''[[Deadwood (TV series)|Deadwood]]'' as [[Samuel Fields]] and reprised that role in 2019's ''[[Deadwood: The Movie]]''. In 2011, Ajaye had a small but memorable role in the box office hit ''[[Bridesmaids (2011 film)|Bridesmaids]]'', playing the father of Lillian (played by [[Maya Rudolph]]), and in 2013 he played management guru Marvin Hudsfield in the Australian ABC sitcom [[Utopia (Australian TV series)|''Utopia'']]. He has been nominated twice for [[Emmy Award]]s for Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program for ''[[In Living Color]]'' (1990) and ''[[Politically Incorrect]]'' (1997).<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0014977/awards "Awards for Franklyn Ajaye"], imdb.com; accessed February 15, 2015.</ref>{{unreliable source?|date=February 2021}} He worked on the hit family comedy series created and executive-produced by Robert Townsend, ''[[The Parent 'Hood]]'' (January 1995 - July 1999); some of his credits on the show include acting as "executive consultant" with Barry "Berry" Douglas in season 1 episode 9 ("Trial by Jerri") and episode 11 ("Nice Guys Finish Last") and as a co-producer with Douglas for season 2 episode 2 ("A Kiss is Just a Kiss"). |
He has worked as an actor, appearing in films such as ''[[Sweet Revenge (1976 film)|Sweet Revenge]]'' (1976), ''[[Car Wash (film)|Car Wash]]'' (1976), ''[[Convoy (1978 film)|Convoy]]'' (1978), ''[[Stir Crazy (film)|Stir Crazy]]'' (1980), the 1980 version of ''[[The Jazz Singer (1980 film)|The Jazz Singer]]'', ''[[Hysterical (1983 film)|Hysterical]]'' (1982), ''[[Get Crazy]]'' (1983), ''[[Fraternity Vacation]]'' (1985), ''[[Hollywood Shuffle]]'' (1987), ''[[The Wrong Guys]]'' (1988), ''[[The 'Burbs]]'' (1989), and ''[[American Yakuza]]'' (1993). He also appeared on an episode of ''[[Barney Miller]]'' as police-car thief Wendell Frasier in 1976. He has been seen more recently in the TV show ''[[Deadwood (TV series)|Deadwood]]'' as [[Samuel Fields]] and reprised that role in 2019's ''[[Deadwood: The Movie]]''. In 2011, Ajaye had a small but memorable role in the box office hit ''[[Bridesmaids (2011 film)|Bridesmaids]]'', playing the father of Lillian (played by [[Maya Rudolph]]), and in 2013 he played management guru Marvin Hudsfield in the Australian ABC sitcom [[Utopia (Australian TV series)|''Utopia'']]. He has been nominated twice for [[Emmy Award]]s for Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program for ''[[In Living Color]]'' (1990) and ''[[Politically Incorrect]]'' (1997).<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0014977/awards "Awards for Franklyn Ajaye"], imdb.com; accessed February 15, 2015.</ref>{{unreliable source?|date=February 2021}} He worked on the hit family comedy series created and executive-produced by Robert Townsend, ''[[The Parent 'Hood]]'' (January 1995 - July 1999); some of his credits on the show include acting as "executive consultant" with Barry "Berry" Douglas in season 1 episode 9 ("Trial by Jerri") and episode 11 ("Nice Guys Finish Last") and as a co-producer with Douglas for season 2 episode 2 ("A Kiss is Just a Kiss"). |
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Ajaye is the author of ''Comic Insights: The Art of Standup Comedy'' ({{ISBN|978-1-879505-54-4}}), which contains interviews with Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Bill Maher, Ellen DeGeneres, and other famous stand up comedians offering valuable advice for aspiring comedians. |
Ajaye is the author of ''Comic Insights: The Art of Standup Comedy'' ({{ISBN|978-1-879505-54-4}}), which contains interviews with Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Bill Maher, Ellen DeGeneres, and other famous stand up comedians offering valuable advice for aspiring comedians. |
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==Influence== |
==Influence== |
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[[Category:1949 births]] |
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[[Category:Living people]] |
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[[Category:Male actors from Brooklyn]] |
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[[Category:African-American male actors]] |
[[Category:20th-century African-American male actors]] |
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[[Category:American expatriates in Australia]] |
[[Category:American expatriates in Australia]] |
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[[Category:American male film actors]] |
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[[Category:20th-century African-American writers]] |
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[[Category:21st-century African-American writers]] |
[[Category:21st-century African-American writers]] |
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[[Category:Susan Miller Dorsey High School alumni]] |
Franklyn Ajaye
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Ajaye in 1975
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Born | (1949-05-13) May 13, 1949 (age 75)
New York City, New York, U.S.
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Occupation(s) | Actor, comedian |
Years active | 1973–present |
Franklyn Ajaye (born May 13, 1949) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and writer. He released a series of comedy albums starting in 1973 and has acted in film and television shows from the 1970s through the present, including as a primary character in the 1976 ensemble comedy Car Wash and a supporting role in Sam Peckinpah's Convoy (1978).
Franklyn Ajaye Jr. was born in Brooklyn, New York, but raised in Los Angeles by a Sierra Leonean father (Franklin Ajaye Sr.) and an American mother (Quetta Curtis). This makes Ajaye, as he likes to joke, a "true African-American". He has a brother. Ajaye attended Dorsey High SchoolinCrenshaw.[1]
He has released five comedy albums to date: Franklyn Ajaye, Comedian (1973), I'm a Comedian, Seriously (1974), Don't Smoke Dope, Fry Your Hair (1977), Plaid Pants and Psychopaths (1986), and Vagabond Jazz & the Abstract Truth (2004). The last two were recorded in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia.[citation needed]
He made his network debut on The Flip Wilson Show in 1973 and made his first appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson a year later. Ajaye emigrated to Melbourne, Australia, in 1997 but returns to the United States periodically to do work on television. His last American television appearance was on Paul Provenza's The Greenroom on Showtime in 2011. He is known in Australia for his appearances on The Panel and Thank God You're Here and for his popular one-man shows "Nothing But The Truth", "Talkin' Vagabond Jazz", and "Vagabond Jazz & The Abstract Truth" at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
He has worked as an actor, appearing in films such as Sweet Revenge (1976), Car Wash (1976), Convoy (1978), Stir Crazy (1980), the 1980 version of The Jazz Singer, Hysterical (1982), Get Crazy (1983), Fraternity Vacation (1985), Hollywood Shuffle (1987), The Wrong Guys (1988), The 'Burbs (1989), and American Yakuza (1993). He also appeared on an episode of Barney Miller as police-car thief Wendell Frasier in 1976. He has been seen more recently in the TV show DeadwoodasSamuel Fields and reprised that role in 2019's Deadwood: The Movie. In 2011, Ajaye had a small but memorable role in the box office hit Bridesmaids, playing the father of Lillian (played by Maya Rudolph), and in 2013 he played management guru Marvin Hudsfield in the Australian ABC sitcom Utopia. He has been nominated twice for Emmy Awards for Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program for In Living Color (1990) and Politically Incorrect (1997).[2][unreliable source?] He worked on the hit family comedy series created and executive-produced by Robert Townsend, The Parent 'Hood (January 1995 - July 1999); some of his credits on the show include acting as "executive consultant" with Barry "Berry" Douglas in season 1 episode 9 ("Trial by Jerri") and episode 11 ("Nice Guys Finish Last") and as a co-producer with Douglas for season 2 episode 2 ("A Kiss is Just a Kiss").
Ajaye is the author of Comic Insights: The Art of Standup Comedy (ISBN 978-1-879505-54-4), which contains interviews with Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Bill Maher, Ellen DeGeneres, and other famous stand up comedians offering valuable advice for aspiring comedians.
On his stand-up television show Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle the British comedian used Ajaye's LP I'm a Comedian, Seriously as the basis of a routine.[3][4]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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1976 | Sweet Revenge | Edmund | |
1976 | Car Wash | The Fly | |
1978 | Convoy | Spider Mike | |
1980 | Stir Crazy | Young Man in Hospital | |
1980 | The Jazz Singer | Bubba | |
1980 | Hysterical | Leroy | |
1983 | Get Crazy | Cool | |
1985 | Fraternity Vacation | Harry | |
1987 | Hollywood Shuffle | Body Guard #1 | |
1988 | The Wrong Guys | Franklyn | |
1989 | The 'Burbs | Detective | |
1993 | American Yakuza | Sam | |
2001 | Brown Shoe Polish | Viennese Cake Shop Owner | Short film |
2002 | Queen of the Damned | French Dealer | |
2011 | Bridesmaids | Lillian's Dad | |
2015 | Too Hip for the Room | Joe Papy |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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1975 | Barney Miller | Wendell Frazier | Episode: "You Dirty Rat" |
1977 | Saturday Night Live | Himself | Host: Ray Charles |
1978 | The Bionic Woman | Benny | Episode: "All for One" |
1978 | Chico and the Man | Tony Rogers | Episode: "Della and Son" |
1980 | The Cheap Detective | Elvis | TV movie |
1983 | The New Odd Couple | Henry | Episode: "The Night Stalker" |
1984 | Hot Flashes | Walter Conkrite | 5 episodes |
1987 | Glory Years | Wilson | TV movie |
1989 | 227 | Painter | Episode: "Tenants, Anyone?" |
1992 | The New WKRP in Cincinnati | Reggie | Episode: "Spies Like Us" |
1992 | Disney's Goof Troop | (voice) | Episode: "Cabana Fever"; credited as Frankin Ajaye |
1997 | Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child | Sporty the Cat (voice) | Episode: "Pinocchio" |
1997 | Frontline | Franklyn Ajaye | Episode: "The Code" |
2003 | Pirate Islands | Five Spice | 26 episodes |
2005–2006 | Deadwood | Samuel Fields | 11 episodes |
2014 | Utopia | Marvin Hudfield | Episode: "Then We Can Build It" |
2019 | Deadwood: The Movie | Samuel Fields | TV movie |
Comedian Franklyn Ajaye feels the heat after accusing hard-core music groups and others of glorifying ghetto life
{{cite web}}
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