Le Tari
Encyclopedia
Le Tari was an American actor who appeared in movies and on television.
Distinctive for his imposing physical stature, broad mustache and lantern jaw, Tari landed a starring role in the 1976 blaxploitation
film Brotherhood of Death
. In the late 1970s, he would make guest appearances on such television programs as The Jeffersons
, Starsky and Hutch
and Happy Days
, as well as appear in such feature films as Fast Break
and The Onion Field
.
Tari's widest exposure would come in the early 1980s, with a recurring role on the television sitcom Diff'rent Strokes
. On that show, Tari played Ted Ramsey, the adoptive father of Arnold Jackson
's best friend, Dudley (Shavar Ross
). After Diff'rent Strokes, Tari went on to further television guest appearances, and near the end of his life, he returned to film work, appearing in the 1987 films Hollywood Shuffle
and Amazon Women on the Moon
.
Tari died of a heart attack
in 1987, at the age of 40. He was interred at the Inglewood Park Cemetery
in Inglewood, California
.
Distinctive for his imposing physical stature, broad mustache and lantern jaw, Tari landed a starring role in the 1976 blaxploitation
Blaxploitation
Blaxploitation or blacksploitation is a film genre which emerged in the United States circa 1970. It is considered an ethnic sub-genre of the general category of exploitation films. Blaxploitation films were originally made specifically for an urban black audience, although the genre's audience...
film Brotherhood of Death
Brotherhood of Death
Brotherhood of Death is a low-budget 1976 action film in the blaxploitation genre, directed by Bill Berry, and starring Roy Jefferson, Le Tari, and Haskell Anderson...
. In the late 1970s, he would make guest appearances on such television programs as The Jeffersons
The Jeffersons
The Jeffersons is an American sitcom that was broadcast on CBS from January 18, 1975, through June 25, 1985, lasting 11 seasons and a total of 253 episodes. The show was produced by the T.A.T. Communications Company from 1975–1982 and by Embassy Television from 1982-1985...
, Starsky and Hutch
Starsky and Hutch
Starsky and Hutch is a 1970s American cop thriller television series that consisted of a 90-minute pilot movie and 92 episodes of 60 minutes each; created by William Blinn, produced by Spelling-Goldberg Productions, and broadcast between April 30, 1975 and May 15, 1979 on the ABC...
and Happy Days
Happy Days
Happy Days is an American television sitcom that originally aired from January 15, 1974, to September 24, 1984, on ABC. Created by Garry Marshall, the series presents an idealized vision of life in mid-1950s to mid-1960s America....
, as well as appear in such feature films as Fast Break
Fast Break (film)
Fast Break is a 1979 American comedy film. Fast Break stars Gabe Kaplan as David Greene, Harold Sylvester as D.C. and Bernard King as Hustler. It was directed by Jack Smight and produced by Stephen Friedman...
and The Onion Field
The Onion Field (film)
The Onion Field is a 1979 American drama film directed by Harold Becker. The screenplay by Joseph Wambaugh is based on his 1973 true crime novel of the same title...
.
Tari's widest exposure would come in the early 1980s, with a recurring role on the television sitcom Diff'rent Strokes
Diff'rent Strokes
Diff'rent Strokes is an American television sitcom that aired on NBC from November 3, 1978 to May 4, 1985, and on ABC from September 27, 1985 to March 7, 1986...
. On that show, Tari played Ted Ramsey, the adoptive father of Arnold Jackson
Arnold Jackson (character)
Arnold Jackson is a breakout character on the television series Diff'rent Strokes. He was portrayed by Gary Coleman.-Character Theme:Arnold John Jackson is the younger brother of Willis Jackson , and was born in Harlem, New York City on October 19, 1971...
's best friend, Dudley (Shavar Ross
Shavar Ross
Shavar Malik Ross is an American actor, film director, screenwriter, film producer, editor, photographer, author, and entrepreneur. He is known for his recurring television roles as Dudley Ramsey on the NBC sitcom Diff'rent Strokes, and as Weasel on the ABC sitcom Family Matters.-Biography:Ross...
). After Diff'rent Strokes, Tari went on to further television guest appearances, and near the end of his life, he returned to film work, appearing in the 1987 films Hollywood Shuffle
Hollywood Shuffle
Hollywood Shuffle is a 1987 comedy film that satirizes the racial stereotypes of African Americans in film and television. The film tracks the attempts of Bobby Taylor to become a successful actor and the mental and external roadblocks he encounters, represented through a series of interspersed...
and Amazon Women on the Moon
Amazon Women on the Moon
Amazon Women on the Moon is a 1987 American satirical comedy film that parodies the experience of watching low-budget movies on late-night television...
.
Tari died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
in 1987, at the age of 40. He was interred at the Inglewood Park Cemetery
Inglewood Park Cemetery
Inglewood Park Cemetery was founded in 1905 in Inglewood, California. A number of notable people, including entertainment and sports personalities, have been interred or entombed here.-List of notable and celebrity interments at Inglewood Park:...
in Inglewood, California
Inglewood, California
Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, southwest of downtown Los Angeles. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. Its population stood at 109,673 as of the 2010 Census...
.
External links
- Le Tari at Find a GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...