Dudley Dickerson (November 27, 1906 – September 23, 1968) was a beloved African-American character actor who became a comedy legend through his unforgettable and hilarious appearances in numerous Three Stooges shorts.
Dickerson was a master of the “scared reaction,” with his trademark bulging eyes and terrified shrieks of “He’p!” becoming a highlight of every film he was in. He is most famously remembered for his role as the bewildered and terrified chef in the classic Stooges short A Plumbing We Will Go (1940), where he utters the immortal line, “This house has sho’ gone crazy!”
While often typecast, he brought an inexhaustible and endearing energy to every role. He appeared in nearly 160 films, including a memorable turn as a train conductor in Hold That Lion! (1947) and in several comedies with Hugh Herbert. He also played various uncredited roles on the Amos ‘n’ Andy television series, cementing his legacy as a true comedic original.
