Robin Harris

This large-eyed African-American stand-up comedian's churlish brand of humor and quick put-downs briefly found a place in screen comedies during the late 1980s and early 90s. Harris made a promising feature debut playing a smart-ass bartender in Keenan Ivory Wayan's sendup of 1970s Blaxploitation movies, "I'm Gonna Get You Sucka" (1988). But it was his next feature, Spike Lee's sweltering "Do the Right Thing" (1989), where he first stood out. As Sweet Dick Willie, Harris served as part of the neighborhood "Greek chorus" that commented on the events of an increasingly tense day. The producing/directing team of Reginald and Warrington Hudlin found Harris a perfect platform when they cast him as Pop, the no-nonsense, quick-witted father of Kid in the agreeably raucous comedy "House Party" (1990). He followed up later that year with a small turn as a jazz club MC in Lee's "Mo' Better Blues." The film was dedicated to Harris who died after production wrapped.