Rudy Challenger
Encyclopedia
Rudolph "Rudy" Challenger (born October 2, 1928) is a retired African-American supporting actor who had a roles in various projects over the course of his thirty-four year career in films and television in Hollywood. He has appeared on such shows as Sanford And Son, Kojak, Lou Grant, and the Fall Guy. He also appeared in the 1970s blaxploitation flicks Detroit 9000
(1973) and the highly successful box office hit film Sheba Baby opposite actress Pam Grier
(1975).
born and raised Challenger first got his acting start on the stage in the early 1960s, performing in the Off-Broadway plays The rise and Fall Of The City Of Mahogany,Along Came A Spider, and the Jacques Levy directed Scuba Duba, where he appeared alongside the likes of future television and film stars such as Judd Hirsch
(of ABC-TV show Taxi), Conrad Bain
(from NBC-TV's Diff'rent Strokes
), and late actor Jerry Orbach
(Of NBC-TV's Law And Order). The
play, which ran for 692 performances, from October 10, 1967, to June 8, 1969, earned a 1968 Theatre World Award for actress Brenda Smiley, who also appeared in the acclaimed play with Challenger. He also appeared in the Broadway productions Tambourines In Grey (1963), Do I Hear A Waltz? (1965), Tiget, Tiger, Burning Bright (1963), and four-time Tony Award
winning, Robert Lewis
directed On A Clear Day You Can See Forever (1965) which ran for 280 pefromances, from October 17, 1965 to June 11, 1966. Challenger was married to veteran British actress Lisa Davis Waltz
from December 31, 1973 to September 14, 1978, after almost two and a half years of separation. Challenger has not acted in any stage or screen roles since 1993. He currently resides in Southern California
with his present wife, Charlotte.
Detroit 9000
Detroit 9000 is a 1973 American cult film directed by Arthur Marks from a screenplay by Orville Hampton. Originally marketed as a blaxploitation film, it had a resurgence on video 25 years later.-Plot:...
(1973) and the highly successful box office hit film Sheba Baby opposite actress Pam Grier
Pam Grier
Pamela Suzette "Pam" Grier is an American actress. She became famous in the early 1970s, after starring in a string of moderately successful women in prison and blaxploitation films such as 1974's Foxy Brown. Her career was revitalized in 1997 after her appearance in Quentin Tarantino's film...
(1975).
Career Biography
The New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
born and raised Challenger first got his acting start on the stage in the early 1960s, performing in the Off-Broadway plays The rise and Fall Of The City Of Mahogany,Along Came A Spider, and the Jacques Levy directed Scuba Duba, where he appeared alongside the likes of future television and film stars such as Judd Hirsch
Judd Hirsch
Judd Hirsch is an American actor most known for playing Alex Rieger on the television comedy series Taxi, John Lacey on the NBC series Dear John, and Alan Eppes on the CBS series Numb3rs.-Early life and education:...
(of ABC-TV show Taxi), Conrad Bain
Conrad Bain
Conrad Stafford Bain is a Canadian-American actor. His television credits include a leading role as Phillip Drummond in the sitcom Diff'rent Strokes and as Dr. Arthur Harmon on Maude.-Personal life:...
(from NBC-TV's 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...
), and late actor Jerry Orbach
Jerry Orbach
Jerome Bernard "Jerry" Orbach was an American actor and singer. He was well known for his starring role as Detective Lennie Briscoe in the Law & Order television series and as the voice of Lumière in Disney's Beauty and the Beast. As well, Orbach was a noted musical theatre star...
(Of NBC-TV's Law And Order). The
play, which ran for 692 performances, from October 10, 1967, to June 8, 1969, earned a 1968 Theatre World Award for actress Brenda Smiley, who also appeared in the acclaimed play with Challenger. He also appeared in the Broadway productions Tambourines In Grey (1963), Do I Hear A Waltz? (1965), Tiget, Tiger, Burning Bright (1963), and four-time Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
winning, Robert Lewis
Robert Lewis
Robert Lewis was an American actor, director, teacher, author and founder of the influential Actors Studio in New York in 1947....
directed On A Clear Day You Can See Forever (1965) which ran for 280 pefromances, from October 17, 1965 to June 11, 1966. Challenger was married to veteran British actress Lisa Davis Waltz
Lisa Davis Waltz
Lisa Davis Waltz-White, often credited as Lisa Davis is a British- born American former child and adult actress who appeared in her first role at the age of 13 in the 1949 film The Man from Yesterday...
from December 31, 1973 to September 14, 1978, after almost two and a half years of separation. Challenger has not acted in any stage or screen roles since 1993. He currently resides in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
with his present wife, Charlotte.