Lawrence Hilton Jacobs Explained

Lawrence Hilton Jacobs
Birth Date:September 4, 1953
Birth Place:New York City, New York, U.S.
Known For:Freddie "Boom Boom" Washington in Welcome Back, Kotter
Occupation:Actor, singer
Years Active:1974 - present

Lawrence Hilton Jacobs, also credited as Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs (born September 4, 1953), is an American actor and singer. Best known for playing Freddie "Boom Boom" Washington in Welcome Back Kotter (1975 - 1979), he has also appeared in a number of films and television shows, including Claudine (1974), Cooley High (1975), Roots (1977), Bangers and Mash (1983), Alien Nation (1989 - 1990), (1992), and 31 (2016).

Life and career

Jacobs was born in New York City, New York, the fifth of nine children of parents Hilton Jacobs (died 2000) and Clothilda Jacobs (died 2008).[1] He began his acting career in the summer of 1969 and graduated from the High School of Art and Design in 1971. He attended Wilkes University for a short time before his acting career took off. Afterward, he studied acting with the Negro Ensemble Company and the Al Fann Theatrical Ensemble. In 1975, he won the role of Freddie "Boom Boom" Washington on the ABC hit comedy series, Welcome Back, Kotter. Jacobs also starred in cult classic Cooley High in 1975, and two years later had a role in the block-buster ABC mini-series Roots. Jacobs starred in a few commercials over the years, including an early 1970s commercial for The United Negro College Fund. Later in his career, he appeared in the 1989-1990 science fiction TV series Alien Nation as Sgt. Dobbs, an LAPD detective.[2] He portrayed Panda Thomas (#1) in Rob Zombie's slasher film 31.[3] Jacobs portrayed Joseph Walter "Joe" Jackson, the father of the Jackson family, in the 1992 miniseries . He also appeared in a commercial for Salon Selectives. Jacobs sang on Rick James' 1981 album, Street Songs. As a homage to him, the housing project in Eddie Murphy's television program The PJs is named the Hilton-Jacobs Projects. He has two daughters.[4]

Filmography

Film/Movie

YearTitleRoleNotes
1974ClaudineCharles
Death WishMugger in Park #2
The Gambler Street Basketball Boy
1975Cooley HighRichard "Cochise" Morris
1978YoungbloodRommel
The Comedy Company Russell DoddTelevision film
1980For the Love of It AlTelevision film
1985The AnnihilatorsFloyd
1988ParamedicsBlade Runner
1989L.A. HeatDet. Jon Chance
Angels of the City Det. Jon Chance Video
L.A. Vice Det. Jon Chance
East L.A. WarriorsChesare
1990 Kill Crazy RubinVideo
Chance Det. Jon Chance
1991 Quietfire Jessie Palmer Video
1992Tuesday Never ComesDruilet
1993Indecent Behavior Lou Parsons
1997 Marlan ClarkTelevision film
1999Mr. Right Now! -Video
2001SouthlanderMotherchild
2002Hip, Edgy, Sexy, Cool -
The StreetsweeperJackie
2003Killer Drag Queens on DopeMr. Fly
200430 MilesAnthony
2005Don't Give Me the FingerRossShort
2007SublimeMandingoVideo
2008OtisMale Nurse
2009Young American GangstasElmer Reese
2011Nocturnal Agony Theodore
2013Playin' for Love Coach Preston Reid
2014Airplane vs. Volcano Jim KirklandVideo
2015Mercy for AngelsChief
Tamales and GumboMr. Walker
The Christmas GiftWesley Hardin Johnson Sr.Television film
201631 Panda Thomas
Dead Man RisingWarden Dallas
2017A Chance in the World Mr. Robinson
Sins of the FatherKennyShort
2018Welcome to Where You've Always Been Homeless ManShort
Compton's FinestHostage Negotiator
2020She's the OnePlayboy
Shooting HeroinEdward
The Perfect MateRev. Adams
2021Escape from Death Block 13 Agent Langley

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1975–79Welcome Back, KotterFreddie 'Boom-Boom' WashingtonMain Cast
1976Mr. T and TinaFreddie 'Boom-Boom' WashingtonEpisode: "Pilot"
BarettaDave RichEpisode: "Can't Win for Losin'"
1977RootsNoahEpisode: "Part V"
1979ParisThomas SimsEpisode: "Dear John"
1980Barnaby JonesWes CarterEpisode: "The Price of Anger"
1981DarkroomYoung Man / PimpEpisode: "Needlepoint"
Lewis & ClarkDave RichEpisode: "The Uptight End"
1984On the boulevardJoe, an L.A. street musicianMain character. Short film in memory of producer/director Horace Jenkins
1985RitualsLucky WashingtonRegular Cast
1986New Love, American Style-Episode: "Love and Video Dating/Love at the Bus Stop"
Simon & SimonGordon TateEpisode: "The Blue Chip Stomp"
The Redd Foxx ShowWarrenEpisode: "The Good Samaritan"
FameLamarEpisode: "The Inheritance"
1987Hill Street BluesCrumleyEpisode: "The Cookie Crumbles"
1989–90Alien Nation Sergeant DobbsMain Cast
1992Joe JacksonTV Mini Series
1994RenegadeRocky Dussault2 episodes
1995Charlie GraceDetective GossettEpisode: "Take Me to the Pilot"
PointmanJoe NealEpisode: "Take the Points"
MartinKevin JonesEpisode: "Swing Thing"
Sgt. BakerEpisode: "All American Murder"
1996The Parent 'HoodGreg HarveyEpisode: "Torn Between Two Brothers"
RoseanneLouisEpisode: "Roseambo"
Homeboys in Outer SpaceStaffEpisode: "Super Bad Foxy Lady Killer or Ty and Morris Get the Shaft"
1997Weird ScienceMr. BlackEpisode: "Boys on the Hide"
Mr. RhodesFreddie 'Boom Boom' WashingtonEpisode: "The Welcome Back Show"
Tracey Takes On...JamesEpisode: "Race Relations"
MoeshaSgt. Baker2 episodes
1998The Wayans Bros.RichieEpisode: "Help a Brother Out"
L.A. DoctorsRobert EdwardsEpisode: "A Prayer for the Lying"
2000The Jamie Foxx ShowMiltonEpisode: "Rollin' in the Dough"
2002Static ShockDriverVoice, episode: "Sunspots"
2002–03Gilmore GirlsPrincipal Merton2 episodes
2004GirlfriendsLeonard JamesEpisode: "New York Bound"
That's So RavenMr. CarterEpisode: "There Goes the Bride"
2009Players at the Poker PalaceDonnyRecurring cast
2011ChuckPresident of ZamibiaEpisode: "Chuck Versus the Tooth"
2011–13Let's Stay TogetherCharles Sr.Recurring cast: Season 1, guest: Season 3
2014Family TimeCarlEpisode: "The Will"
2018RelMitchellEpisode: "Re-Enter the Dragons"
2019–A House DividedCameran Sanders, Sr.Main cast
2022–23ChuckVoice, 2 episodes

Music credits

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lawrence Hilton Jacobs Page. Soulwalking.co.uk. January 28, 2020.
  2. Web site: Latest on Rob Zombie's 31; Casting News and Behind-the-Scenes Video. Dreadcentral.com. March 2, 2015. January 28, 2020.
  3. Web site: Boom Boom Washington Joins Cast of Rob Zombie's '31'. Patrick. Cooper. March 2, 2015. Bloody-disgusting.com. January 28, 2020.
  4. Web site: Stock Photo - Welcome Back Kotter Actor Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs hikes in Runyon Canyon with two of his Daughters Featuring: Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs Where: Los Angeles, California, United. Alamy.com. January 28, 2020.