Robin Hughes Harris (1953 - 1990)

Born 30 Aug 1953 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States

Died 18 Mar 1990 at age 36 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States

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Biography

Robin was born in 1953. He was an American comedian and actor. He was known for his recurring comic sketch about "Be-be's Kids." He was posthumously nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male for his performance in the film House Party.

His father was a welder, and his mother was a seamstress in Chicago, Illinois. The family moved to Los Angeles in 1961. He attended Manual Arts High School. He went on to college at Ottawa University in Kansas. During this time, he honed his craft as a comedian. He worked for Hughes Aircraft, a rental car company, and the Security Pacific Bank. In 1980 he debuted at a Los Angeles' Comedy Store.

During the 1980's he worked as the master of ceremonies at the Comedy Act Theater. His "old school" brand of humor gained him a mainstream following. Harris made his acting debut playing a bartender in, I'm Gonna Git You Sucka in 1988. He also had roles in 1989, in Do the Right Thing and Harlem Nights. Harris played the role of father of Kid in House Party in 1990. He followed that up with a small role as a jazz club MC in Mo' Better Blues.

In Harris' "Be-be's Kids" routines his girlfriend, Jamika would insist that he take her son and her friend, Be-be's three children with them on a date. She continually agreed to babysit them. The children would regularly make a fool out of or annoy Harris. "We Be-be's Kids" would proclaim, "we won't die...we multiply."

The Hudling Brothers had intended to make a feature film based upon "Be-be's Kids sketches but Harris died while the film was in pre-production. Be-be's Kids became an animated feature instead.

Harris died in his sleep due to a heart attack, while in his hotel room, in Chicago's Four Season Hotel. This happened right after performing for a sold out crowd at the Regal Theater, at the age of 36. His brother found him dead. His body was transported back to California.

At the time of his death, his wife was pregnant with their son, Robin Harris, Jr. He was born 6 months after the death of his father.^[1]

He passed away in 1990.

Sources

1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Harris

• https://findagrave.com/memorial/1390