15 Facts About Alvin Childress

Alvin Childress was an American actor, who is best known for playing the cabdriver Amos Jones in the 1950s television comedy series Amos 'n' Andy.

Alvin Childress was educated at Rust College, from which he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology.

When he initially entered college, Childress intended to become a doctor, enrolling in typical pre-med courses.

Alvin Childress had no thoughts of becoming involved in acting, but became involved in theater outside of classes.

Alvin Childress moved to New York City and became an actor with Harlem's Lafayette Players, a troupe of stock players associated with the Lafayette Theatre.

Alvin Childress operated his own radio and record store in New York City.

When he learned about casting for the Amos 'n' Andy television series, Alvin Childress decided to audition for a role.

Alvin Childress was hired a year before the show went on the air.

Alvin Childress originally tried out for the role of The Kingfish, but Charles Correll and Freeman Gosden cast him as Amos.

Alvin Childress said there were many famous men, with and without actual acting experience, who wanted to play the role.

When he tried for work as an actor, Alvin Childress found none as he was typecast as Amos Jones.

Alvin Childress appeared in roles on the television series Perry Mason, Sanford and Son, Good Times and The Jeffersons and in the films Thunderbolt and Lightfoot and The Day of the Locust.

From 1961 to 1973, Alvin Childress worked as an unemployment interviewer for the Los Angeles Department of Personnel and in the Civil Service Commission of Los Angeles County.

Alvin Childress died at age 78 on April 19,1986, in Inglewood, California.

Alvin Childress was buried at National Memorial Harmony Park in Landover, Maryland.