Morris Buchanan was an American actor who is best known for his roles in Coffy, Panther Girl of the Kongo, and St. Ives. He was born on February 26, 1923, in Riverside, California, and passed away on August 14, 2014, in the same city.
Personal and Family Life
Morris Buchanan was married twice. His first marriage was to Bessie K. Brown from 1957 until their divorce in 1972. He then married Noella Austin on February 5, 1983, and they remained together until his death. Morris had one child, a daughter named Morrie Buchanan Allen, who tragically went missing in 1979 and was allegedly murdered by her husband and several accomplices. In addition to his acting career, he served as a pastor in various African Methodist Episcopal churches.
Career Transition
After retiring from acting, Morris Buchanan became an African Methodist Episcopal pastor. He served as a pastor at the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Fontana, California, from 1989 to 2004. He was also the founding pastor of Culver City AMEC and worked in several other AMEC churches, continuing his ministry as a Spiritual Advisor in various locations.
Death and Legacy
Morris Buchanan passed away on August 14, 2014, in Riverside, California. His legacy includes his contributions to both the entertainment industry and his work as a pastor. Buchanan’s impact as a director and producer in theatre, particularly with the Richard Allen Theater Guild at FAME in Pasadena, highlights his commitment to the arts and community.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Bomba and the Jungle Girl | 1952-12-07 | Chief Kokoli |
| Night Slaves | 1970-09-29 | Mr. Hale |
| Private Duty Nurses | 1971-09-01 | Kirby |
| Panther Girl of the Kongo | 1955-01-03 | Tembo |
| Coffy | 1973-06-13 | Sugarman |
| The Iron Mistress | 1952-11-19 | Sam |
| Death Scream | 1975-09-26 | Sanitation Man |
| Jokes My Folks Never Told Me | 1978-01-01 | FU in Gorilla / Others |
| Black Girl | 1972-11-09 | |
| The Petrified Forest | 1955-05-30 | Pyles |
| St. Ives | 1976-02-24 | Police Sergeant |
| Uptown Saturday Night | 1974-07-26 | Waldorf Patron (uncredited) |
| Too Late Blues | 1961-11-01 | Party Guest (uncredited) |
| The Claw Monsters | 1966-01-01 | Tembu (archive footage) |
| Gas Pump Girls | 1979-12-01 | Big Sam |
| A Matter of Sex | 1984-01-01 | Judge Garfield |
| Money to Burn | 1973-10-27 | Frank |
| Good Times | 1967-04-11 | Proprietor |
| Columbo | 1971-09-15 | Detective #2 |
| Columbo | 1971-09-15 | Lab Man |
| Monty Nash | 1971-09-17 | Rev. Filmore |