"Black Valentino"

"Let's say you are driving down the street on a rainy night and you see a fine hunk of masculinity--he's got hair like Lorenzo Tucker, eyes like Billy Dee, and a smile like Nat 'King' Cole--do you stop the car?"

 That was a line spoken by Phylicia Rashad as Clair Huxtable in "Denise Drives"--an episode of The Cosby Show.

But who is Lorenzo Tucker? Some of you may ask...

Lorenzo Tucker was one of Black America's biggest movie stars--known to audiences as the "Black Valentino" because of his dashing good looks and irresistible charm.

Tucker was discovered by the great filmmaker, Oscar Micheaux and worked in many of his films. He also worked in theatre--his most controversial role was that of a pimp to (the always controversial herself) Mae West's prostitute.

Mr. Tucker would go on to be the most recognized and easily located actors of the "race movies" era. 

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Links

IMDb

Interview with Micheaux Actors

Reet, Petite, and Gone (Full Movie)

Ten Minutes to Live (Full Movie)