Ernest Anderson

Ernest Anderson was born in Lynn MA and earned his high school diploma in Washington DC at Dunbar High School formerly named The Preparatory High School for Colored Youth Founded in 1891 it was Americas first public high school for black students He earned his bachelors degree at Northwestern Universitys School of Drama and Speech He moved to Hollywood and was working in the service department when Bette Davis arranged for him to interview for the role of Perry Clay in the film In This Our Life 1942 Mr Anderson persuaded the director John Huston to change the racist dialog of his character typical of Hollywood in that era to one of dignified intelligence and emotion After serving his country in WWII he returned to Warner Brothers where he continued to humanize the roles of Americas black performers He remained active in film until the late 1960s He died in DeLand Florida on March 5 2011