Cast Profiles: Eddie "Rochester" Anderson
(Born:1905-09-18 Died:1977-02-28)
Eddie was born September 18, 1905 the son of vaudeville parents. His father was a minstrel performer and his mother a circus tight rope walker. Eddie began acting when he was eight and toured with his brother Cornelius and another man in a song and dance act caled Three Black Aces.

Eddie appeared in his first film, "Green Pastures" in 1936 and was singing and dancing in a night club when was invited to audition for the role of a train porter on the March 28, 1937 show.

Though it was only intended to be a one-show deal, the gravelly voiced Anderson (his vocal cords were dammaged while as a kid he sold newspapers) struck such a chord with audiences that he was offered a permanent spot on the cast, and the character of Rochester Van Jones, valet to Jack Benny star of Stage, Screen and Radio would be developed.

The humor and energy between Jack Benny and Eddie Anderson led to the development of a 20-year collaboration that delighted radio, television, and film audiences.

The relationship between Anderson and Benny, for all of its sarcasm, wit and camaraderie, was typical of the "Uncle Tomism" of the era, yet blacks not only appreciated the comedy, but were pleased that the character was played by a black actor instead of a white actor attempting to imitate black expression as was the case on the "Amos And Andy" program. And while early on "Rochester" was a stereotypical portrayal of black men, over the course of the show, Anderson and the writers were able to add depth to "Rochester" making the character more than a stooge but a valued foil to work against Jack.

In the movies, Anderson teamed up with Benny in the classic films "Man About Town" (1939), "Buck Benny Rides Again" (1940) and "Love Thy Neighbor" (1940), Anderson also acted in numerous films without Benny, including "Jezebel" (1938), "Gone With The Wind" (1939), "Birth of the Blues" (1941), and the 'race' films "Stormy Weather" (1943) and "Cabin in the Sky" (1943) films now recognized as classics. In the 1950s and 1960s, Anderson appeared regularly on television, with Benny at times and in many other small roles.

During the last seasons of the "Jack Benny Show", Anderson was suffering from the effects of a stroke, so appeared only in short bits.

Of the regular radio program cast, Anderson is undoubtedly the most enigmatic, with the possible exception of Don Wilson. There are stories about him being late for rehearsals, running to meet trains at the next station loaded down with boxes of spare ribs, and that he owned race horses and that he loved cars and boats as well.

In fact, Eddie's horse 'Burnt Cork' ran in the 1943 Kentucky Derby, and while the horse did place last, it was fodder for the radio show. and Early in February 1946, Roch was out on a fishing trip off Cattilina when the boat encounter some trouble. After a couple of days the Coast Guard finally found the boat and he made the broadcast. Due to the national exposure of the incident, the writers re-wrote the February 17th show to incorporate Eddie's recent exploit.

The character of Rochester was so popular, that in 1950, there was an attempt to spin off a show starring Eddie. Part 1 Part 2.

He had a heart attack while rehearsing for "The Shower of Stars" where Jack finally turns 40, and there's pictures in Life magazine of him being carried away on a stretcher. His stroke in the 60s damaged his delivery somewhat, but he was still able to put in appearances on at least one of Jack's specials. At the time of Jack's death, he was truly devastated and it's difficult to watch the videos or audios of his brief statements during that time.

While who Eddie was in private life remains fairly elusive, a few details are known: In June 1939, Anderson married Mamie Wiggins Nelson, but after 15 years of marriage, Mamie died August 5, 1954, after a 2-year battle with cancer. Mamie was 42. At the time of her death, her son Billy (whom Eddie had adopted) was playing professional football for the Chicago Bears. Eddie Anderson remarried in 1955, to beauty Evangela 'Eva', the couple had two daughters Stephanie and Evangela Jr. ("Eva"), and son Edmund Jr. They were divorced at the time of his death.

In 1989, Eddie Jr. and The Eddie Rochester Anderson Foundation opened "The Rochester House" to assist troubled people with their transition back into society.
Eddie "Rochester" Anderson earned a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Radio, at 6513 Hollywood Blvd, in Hollywood, and in 2001 Anderson was posthumously inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame.