Lewis Eddy Myers (September 26, 1935 – February 19, 2013), also known professionally as Lou Myers or alternately as Lou Leabengula Myers, was an American actor and pianist.
Myers appeared in many movies, plays, and television programs. He made his Broadway debut in 1975 as Reverend Mosely in the production The First Breeze of Summer, alongside Ethel Ayler, Moses Gunn, Bebe Drake, and Barbara Montgomery.Playbill - The First Breeze of Summer He joined them in recreating their roles for a television adaptation that aired on Great Performances in 1976.IMDB - The First Breeze of Summer
Myers was an original cast member of many August Wilson plays, including Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Fences, and The Piano Lesson.
He is perhaps best known as the feisty Mr. Vernon Gaines in the sitcom A Different World. Myers was also an accomplished pianist and founder/director of the Tshaka Ensemble Players in Africa.
Early life Myers was born in Chesapeake, West Virginia, the son of Dorothy Louise Brown Myers and Otis Louis Myers, a coal miner who spoke fluent German. He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1951. He was discharged in 1953 and went on to earn a bachelor's degree in sociology from West Virginia State University and an MFA in theatre from NYU.Encyclopedia.com - Lou Myers
Personal life Myers had a son, named Melvin Myers, and a grandson.
Myers died at the Charleston Area Medical Center in West Virginia after battling pneumonia for several months.
Awards Myers won an NAACP Image Award for his role as the Stool Pigeon in the August Wilson play King Hedley II. He also won the Off-Broadway AUDELCO Award for his role in the play Fat Tuesday.
In 2005 the Appalachian Education Initiative listed Myers as one of 50 "Outstanding Creative Artists" from the State of West Virginia and featured him in their coffee table book Art & Soul.
Filmography Year Film Role Other notes1991Missing PiecesAttendant1994CobbWillie1995The Piano LessonWining BoyTV movie1994Living SingleMilton "The Baker"1995The Passion of Darkly NoonQuincy1996Tin Cup Clint1997VolcanoPastor Lake1998Mama Flora's FamilyAlbieTV mini-seriesGoodbye LoverPolice CaptainBulworthUncle TyroneHow Stella Got Her Groove BackUncle Ollie1999 The Big ConfessionTommyThe Stand-InHalf-Step Wilson2001The Wedding PlannerBurt WeinbergAll About You Toomie2002 Friday After NextMr. Johnson (Deleted scene only)2003 The Fighting TemptationsHomer T.Nobody Knows Anything!Blue Smoke Jones2004Team PlayerCoach Lou2007Kings of the EveningCounter Man2010It's Kind of a Funny StoryJimmy2013DreamsMr. Harlan(final film role)
References
External links
Interview with Lou Myers, mosaec.com