Here is the latest article in the Scotsman:

http://news.scotsman.com/features.cfm?id=989892004 - http://news.scotsman.com/ '

astonamous,
No, He played a cowboy in a very early film but he got typecast as Birmingham the butler and driver of Charlie Chan.
He found his nitche as that charactor and and made the most of it.
He held out for more money and was fired by the company but when they released the film without him in it It did shit, so they rehired him at his price and if I'm not mistaken he was the highest paid star in that series
Birmingham Brown is how he'll be remembered by me.
Just like I remember Hawkeye Pierce,Joe Friday, Tony Sopranno, Radar O'Rielly.
I remember he did a "Midas Muffler" commercial in the eighty's and it won some sort of award.
It was funny as hell

bingolong,

Thanks, man. I was just a little ticked off at the guy. But Mrs Pryor and the rest of you helped me put it all in perspective.

mojones,
I want you to be honest with me...
Have you ever heard of
http://www.charliechan.net/mantan.html - Mantan Moreland'?
He was one of the funniest people alive while I was growing up.
He was the only reason people remember Sydney Tolar or Warner Olan.

mojones,
Hey man you kept it real with those posts man!

Jennifer,

When you put it that way, I guess you're right. The publicity will only be good for the award and comedy in general. Sorry about the self righteousness earlier...

Jennifer,
I can dig it

Jennifer,
That was my thought.....Just another spoon in the soup.

Visitor,
All 'ethnic' which means-anyone who isn't lily white!!!
It opens it up-apparently there it is very closed, and also it's a class thing which compounds the problem---so we consider it affirmative action in comedy and are frankly glad, it's making the noise it is---that was the point of establishing it-and maybe when the ligth is bright enuf and it's opened up wide enuf---it will just be named The Richard Pryor Award-we are taking it year by year...
this guy is getting a lot of press for himself and helping getting press for the award itself---it's not a bad thing-it's another opportunity to turn LEMONS INTO LEMONDADE...

mojones,

Not that he was for sure going to win, just that he has no chance if he doesn't participate. He has put himself in his own catagory, and that is his choice. To each their own.