Stu Gilliam

Stu Gilliam
Born	Stuart Bryon Gilliam July 27, 1943 Detroit, Michigan
Died	Ceské Budejovice, Czech Republic
Cause of death	Lung Cancer, COPD
Nationality	American
Occupation	Actor, comedian
Spouse(s)	Vivian White Baravalle

Stuart Bryon Gilliam (July 27, 1943 – October 10, 2013) was an African-American actor and stand-up and TV comedian.

He left home at the age of 14 to perform with a circus as ventriloquist in state fairs, then after a few years began to appear in clubs in Chicago. During his two-year service in the Korean War, he entertained troops as a ventriloquist. In the 1950s and ’60s he performed his act in clubs nationwide with black audiences, including the Apollo Theater in New York City. He sometimes performed for mixed-race shows, but in southern states was prevented from appearing onstage at the same time as white performers. Finally, the Playboy Club circuit placed him before largely white crowds, including in southern states.

He appeared on national television in the 1960's, including The Ed Sullivan Show, Playboy After Dark and The Dean Martin Show. He is best remembered for his stand-up work and TV and film appearances in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1968, Stu was paired with Don Adams and Robert Culp in Get Smart as Agent Samuels in "Die, Spy", a ping-pong spoof of "I Spy".

Gilliam was born in a middle-class area of Detroit, Michigan, and was the grandson of a church minister. He became a member of the Baha'i Faith in 1975, and died in Ceské Budejovice, Czech Republic.