Carl Bradshaw (actor)

Last updated

Carl Bradshaw
Born
Kingston, Jamaica
Occupation(s)Actor, producer
Years active1972–present

Carl Bradshaw OD is a Jamaican actor and film producer who has been described as "Jamaica's most renowned actor" and "arguably Jamaica's premier actor".

Contents

Career

Carl Bradshaw grew up in the Kingston ghetto of Standpipe, and was educated at Excelsior High School. [1] He was a keen actor and athlete as a teenager and his talent won him a scholarship at the University of Pennsylvania. [1] He received a master's degree in Physical Science. [2]

Bradshaw represented Jamaica in the 400m in 1968. [3] He also competed in the 400m hurdles. [3] He went on to take up the role of Head of Physical Education at Excelsior High School, where he was working when he was cast as Jose, one of the lead roles in Perry Henzell's 1973 film The Harder They Come , after initially getting involved as an extra. [1] [4] Bradshaw described how the role originated: "When I met Perry, there was no script. He asked me to make up a story for my character, so I gave him a line about some guy who'd owed me money for ages." [4]

Carl Bradshaw appears in Grand Theft Auto IV as the host of Tuff Gong Radio radio station.[ citation needed ]

He took the lead role of Ringo in the 1976 film Smile Orange , and also had roles on Countryman and Dancehall Queen , which he also co-produced while Director of Operations for Island Entertainment Jamaica. [1] [5] [6] He went on to act in most of the major Jamaican films, including Third World Cop , One Love , Henzell's second film No Place Like Home, and the 2009 film Wah Do Dem . [7] He played a Jamaican mystic in the 2011 supernatural thriller The Skin. [3] [8]

Bradshaw has won several awards for his acting, including the Doctor Bird Award and the Carifesta Film Festival Award of Excellence, and has been described as "Jamaica's most renowned actor" and "arguably Jamaica's premier actor". [1] [9] In October 2017 he was awarded the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican government. [10]

Films

As actor

Television

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beenie Man</span> Jamaican dancehall deejay

Moses Anthony Davis, professionally known as Beenie Man, is a Jamaican dancehall deejay.

Jamaican culture consists of the religion, norms, values, and lifestyle that define the people of Jamaica. The culture is mixed, with an ethnically diverse society, stemming from a history of inhabitants beginning with the original inhabitants of Jamaica. The Spaniards originally brought slavery to Jamaica. Then they were overthrown by the English. Jamaica later gained emancipation on 1 August 1838, and independence from the British on 6 August 1962. Black slaves became the dominant cultural force as they suffered and resisted the harsh conditions of forced labour. After the abolition of slavery, Chinese and Indian migrants were transported to the island as indentured workers, bringing with them ideas from their country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Marley</span> American musician (born 1972)

Stephen Robert Nesta Marley is a Jamaican-American musician. The son of Bob Marley, Marley is an eight-time Grammy Award winner, three times as a solo artist, twice as a producer of younger brother Damian Marley's Halfway Tree and Welcome to Jamrock albums, and a further three times as a member of his older brother Ziggy Marley's group Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint Mary Parish, Jamaica</span> Parish of Jamaica

Saint Mary is a parish located in the northeast section of Jamaica. With a population of 114,227 it is one of Jamaica's smallest parishes, located in the county of Middlesex. Its chief town and capital is Port Maria, located on the coast. It is also the birthplace of established dancehall reggae artists, such as Capleton, Lady Saw, Ninjaman, Ini Kamoze, Sizzla, and Tanya Stephens. Other notable residents of St. Mary parish include bestselling author Colin Simpson, who is the great-great grandson of noted slavery abolitionist James Phillippo, famed Jamaican writer and community activist Erna Brodber, and acclaimed music producer Chris Blackwell who is credited with "discovering" Bob Marley.

Perry Henzell was a Jamaican director. He directed the first Jamaican feature film, The Harder They Come (1972), co-written by Trevor D. Rhone and starring Jimmy Cliff.

Paul Campbell is a Jamaican actor. He is considered Jamaica's most popular actor and had leading roles in films such as Dancehall Queen, The Lunatic, Third World Cop, Shottas and Out the Gate. In addition to his roles in most modern Jamaican films, he has also acted on stage in Jamaica and on Broadway in New York City. He is also a painter whose works have been exhibited internationally.

<i>Dancehall Queen</i> 1997 film

Dancehall Queen is a 1997 indie Jamaican film written by Suzanne Fenn, Ed Wallace and Don Letts, starring Audrey Reid, who plays Marcia, a street vendor struggling to raise a bad-tempered daughter, Tanya. Directed by Don Letts and Rick Elgood.

Carolyn Pfeiffer is an American film producer.

Countryman is a 1982 action/adventure film directed by Dickie Jobson. It tells the story of a Jamaican fisherman whose solitude is shattered when he rescues two Americans from the wreckage of a plane crash. The fisherman, called Countryman, is hurled into a political plot by the dangerous Colonel Sinclair. Countryman uses his knowledge of the terrain and his innate combat skills to survive and protect his new friends from being caught by Sinclair. This film explores Jamaican culture; at the end of the film, it is described as a tribute to the musical legend Bob Marley whose music is often played throughout the film.

Roy Anthony Johnson, better known simply as Anthony Johnson, is a Jamaican reggae musician who was a member of the group Mystic I and is known for the 1980s hit song "Gunshot".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhyging</span>

Vincent "Ivanhoe" Martin, known as "Rhyging", was a Jamaican criminal who became a legendary outlaw and folk hero, often regarded as the "original rude boy". He became notorious in 1948 after escaping from prison, going on the run and committing a string of robberies, murders and attempted murders before he was gunned down by police. In subsequent decades his life became mythologised in Jamaican popular culture, culminating in the 1972 cult film The Harder They Come, in which he is portrayed by Jimmy Cliff.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Harder They Come (song)</span> 1972 single by Jimmy Cliff

"The Harder They Come" is a reggae song by the Jamaican singer Jimmy Cliff. It was first recorded for the soundtrack of the 1972 movie of the same name, in which it is supposed to have been written by the film's main character, Ivanhoe Martin.

<i>Wah Do Dem</i> 2009 American film

Wah Do Dem is an American independent film directed by Ben Chace and Sam Fleischner in 2009 and released in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Popcaan</span> Jamaican singer

Andrae Hugh Sutherland, known professionally as Popcaan, is a Jamaican dancehall singer.

<i>Third World Cop</i> 1999 film

Third World Cop is a 1999 Jamaican action crime film directed by Chris Browne and starring Paul Campbell. It was produced by Chris Blackwell of Island Jamaica Films. It became the highest-grossing Jamaican film.

Desmond John Ballentine, better known as Ninjaman, and sometimes as Don Gorgon is a Jamaican dancehall deejay, known for his controversial and pro-gun lyrics and his stuttering and melodramatic style. In 2017, he received a life sentence for murder.

<i>The Harder They Come</i> 1972 Jamaican crime film

The Harder They Come is a 1972 Jamaican crime film directed by Perry Henzell and co-written by Trevor D. Rhone, and starring Jimmy Cliff. The film is most famous for its reggae soundtrack that is said to have "brought reggae to the world".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cinema of Jamaica</span> Film produced by the Caribbean nation

Despite Jamaica never having a very strong film industry, the island has produced notable films from the 1970s onwards. The most critically acclaimed film is The Harder They Come (1972), by Perry Henzell, which received international acclaim. The Jamaican government and various private citizens have tried to promote the creation of new films by the creation of certain agencies such as the Jamaican Film Commission, and film festivals such as the Reggae Film Festival. The Harder They Come sparked trends that were apparent in following films such as Dancehall Queen and One Love, both directed by Don Letts and Rick Elgood.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Eyes on Carl Bradshaw". Jamaica Star. 23 February 2007. Archived from the original on 4 December 2008. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  2. I.S.L.A., 1976, p. 177
  3. 1 2 3 Johnson, Richard (2012) "Actor represented Jamaica in track and field", Jamaica Observer , 27 July 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2013
  4. 1 2 Simpson, Dave (2012) "How we made: songwriter and actor Jimmy Cliff and actor Carl Bradshaw on The Harder They Come", The Guardian , 20 August 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2013
  5. Meschino, Patricia (1997) "Dancehall Queen: The Song, The Soundtrack, The Movie", Billboard , 19 July 1997, p. 65. Retrieved 18 August 2013
  6. Thomas, Polly (2010) The Rough Guide to Jamaica, Rough Guides, ISBN   978-1848365131, p. 83
  7. "Henzell amazed at success of 'Harder They Come' Archived December 16, 2007, at the Wayback Machine ", Jamaica Gleaner , 20 September 2006. Retrieved 18 August 2013
  8. "Carl Bradshaw to appear at tomorrow's premiere of The Skin", Antigua Observer, 1 June 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2013
  9. Black Music & Jazz Review, Volume 5, IPC, 1982, p. 29
  10. Johnson, Richard (2017) "With Distinction: Arts, entertainment fraternity members honoured at King's House Archived 3 March 2021 at the Wayback Machine ", Jamaica Observer , 17 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017