Rod Perry (actor) explained

Rod Perry
Birth Name:Roderick Maurice Perry
Birth Date:30 July 1934
Death Date:[1]
Occupation:Actor
Years Active:1964–2005

Roderick Maurice Perry (July 30, 1934 – December 17, 2020[2]) was an American actor best known for his role as Sgt. David "Deacon" Kay in the 1970s TV series S.W.A.T. Perry also played leading roles in two blaxploitation movies in the mid-1970s: The Black Godfather (1974) and The Black Gestapo (1975). Other TV appearances include Barney Miller, Good Times, Babylon 5, and the 1974 TV movies The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman and Trapped Beneath the Sea.In the 2000s, Perry had a cameo role in the 2003 film version of S.W.A.T., playing the father of the character he portrayed three decades earlier in the TV series, played on this occasion by LL Cool J.

Background

He is the father of singer DeQn Sue who released her Zeitgeist album in 2014.[3]

Career

Perry's earliest film work was in the Lamberto V. Avellana directed Indian / Philippine film, The Evil Within, released in 1970. He played the part of Rod Stevens who teamed up with special agent Dev Varma (played by Dev Anand) to bust up an opium syndicate.[4] Following that he played the part of cowboy Joe Pittman in the made for television film, The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman. His character Joe Pittman marries Miss Jane Pittman (Played by Cicely Tyson). After he is killed from being dragged by a horse.[5] After that he had the lead role in Street Wars aka The Black Godfather, which also starred Don Chastain and Jimmy Witherspoon.[6] [7]

Perry was cast as Sgt. David "Deacon" Kay in the TV series S.W.A.T which came out in 1975, and ran until 1976. The role of "Deacon" was to take care of the field communication.[8] Perry played the lead role of Gen. Ahmed in the 1975 exploitation flick, The Black Gestapo.[9]

In 2005, he appeared in Halloween House Party which also starred Joe Torry, Rachel Owens and Buddy Lewis.[10]

Filmography

Film
TitleRoleDirectorYearNotes #
The Evil WithinRod Stevens 1970
The Autobiography of Miss Jane PittmanJoe Pittman John Korty 1974Made for television
The Black Godfather aka Street WarsJ.J.1974
Trapped Beneath the SeaJimmy1974Made for television
The Black GestapoGeneral Ahmed 1975
S.W.A.T.Deke's Dad 2003
Halloween House Party 2005
Television shows
TitleEpisode #RoleDirectorYearNotes #
On Broadway TonightHimself1964aired 9 September 1964
The Merv Griffin Show Episode #2.55 Himself1965aired 23 July 1965
The Merv Griffin Show Episode #3.54 Himself1965aired 18 November 1965
The Merv Griffin Show Episode #3.61Himself1965aired 29 November 1965
Barney MillerThe Life and Times of Barney MillerSgt. Wilson Theodore J. Flicker 1974 aired 22 August 1974
Barney MillerExperienceSgt. WilsonDanny Arnold 1975aired 30 January 1975
S.W.A.T.37 episodes from
1975-1976
Sergeant David 'Deacon' Kay various1975 - 1976aired 24 February 1975
to
3 April 1976
Project U.F.O.Sighting 4003: The Fremont IncidentRobert Lee Armstrong Sigmund Neufeld1978 aired 12 March 1978
Good TimesA Matter of MothersJeffreyGerren Keith 1979aired 18 July 1979
Babylon 5SurvivorsGeneral NetterJim Johnston 1994aired 4 May 1994

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Roderick Maurice Perry. 10 January 2021.
  2. Web site: Rod Perry, Actor on 'S.W.A.T.' and 'The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman,' Dies at 86. The Hollywood Reporter. 11 January 2021.
  3. AL.com, Jul 24, 2014 - DeQn Sue track-by-track: Huntsville/Los Angeles singer and her Grammy-nominated Athens producer tell stories behind bold 'Zeitgeist' LP
  4. Scroll.in, Tuesday, February 20th 2018 - FILM HISTORY, From Dev Anand’s back catalogue, the Indo-Filipino movie about an evil princess and opium smuggling
  5. [TV Guide]
  6. Blaxploitation cinema: the essential reference guide, Josiah Howard - Page 98 THE BLACK GODFATHER
  7. Blaxploitation Films, By Mikel J Koven - The Black Godfather (1974)
  8. Crime Television, By Douglas Snauffer - Page 98 - 100
  9. [Rotten Tomatoes]
  10. Cinemagia.ro - Halloween House Party (2005)