Laurence Criner

Laurence Criner

In his time was considered one of the most popular Black actors of stage and screen from the 1920s to the early 1950s starring in close to 30 films. He started his career as one of the members of the famed acting group The Lafayette Players. In 1926, he first starred in independently produced silent productions "The Flying Ace" and "Black Gold." In 1927, he starred in legendary Black film-maker Oscar Micheaux's "The Millionaire" and then in 1928 co-starred on Broadway in the hit "Meek Mose." In the late 1930's to the early 1940's, Lawrence became a leading man of "race films," starring in 12 films produced by Hollywood's first Black studio, Million Dollar Productions, and his leading ladies were (then legends in the making) Lena Horne in "The Duke Is Tops," Nina Mae McKinney in "Gang Smashers," Theresa Harris in "Gangsters on the Loose," Louise Beavers in "Life Goes On," Ruby Dee in "What A Guy," and a young Dorothy Dandridge played Lawrence's daughter in "Four Shall Die." His Hollywood screen credits were "Black Moon," "Up Jumped The Devil," "King of the Zombies" (where Lawrence played a Doctor, a far cry from Hollywood's usual stereotyping of Black males), "The Gang's All Here," "Sullivan's Travels," "Freckles Come Home," and "Law of the Jungle" where he was teamed with comedy legend Mantan Moreland. "One Dark Night," "Mr. Smith Goes Ghost," "Gang War," "While Thousands Cheer," "Am I Guilty?" "Pigmeat's Laugh Hepcats," and "Miracle in Harlem" are his other film credits. His last film was "The Jackie Robinson Story" where he gave a memorable performance as the minister who encourages Jackie Robinson to accept the offer to be the first Black to play in major league baseball. Lawrence Criner is honored in African American film history for helping in the development and enhancement of films with people of color by providing positive images and non-stereotypes. Another one of his achievements was he served in both WWI and in the Navy in WWII.

  • Title: Laurence Criner
  • Popularity: 2.22
  • Known For: Acting
  • Birthday:
  • Place of Birth:
  • Homepage:
  • Also Known As: J. Lawrence Criner
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Laurence Criner Movies

  • 1934
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    Black Moon

    Black Moon

    5.1 1934 HD

    A woman returning to her island birthplace finds herself drawn to a voodoo cult.

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  • 1940
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    While Thousands Cheer

    While Thousands Cheer

    1 1940 HD

    Kenny Harrington, the star football player of Gilmore College, leads his team to many victories, raising hopes that Gilmore will play in the "Peach...

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  • 1927
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    The Millionaire

    The Millionaire

    1 1927 HD

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  • 1937
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    Bargain with Bullets

    Bargain with Bullets

    1 1937 HD

    A gangster film about the Harlem underworld.

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  • 1938
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    The Duke Is Tops

    The Duke Is Tops

    6.7 1938 HD

    A theatrical producer puts aside his own success to boost the career of a talented singer.

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  • 1948
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    Miracle in Harlem

    Miracle in Harlem

    6.2 1948 HD

    A crooked real estate tycoon tricks a trusting young woman out of her small candy store. When he is found dead, the girl is suspected of the crime.

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  • 1941
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    The Gang's All Here

    The Gang's All Here

    5 1941 HD

    Two friends take jobs as truck drivers, unaware that the trucking company is being targeted by a gang of saboteurs who will stop at nothing,...

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  • 1941
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    Up Jumped the Devil

    Up Jumped the Devil

    1 1941 HD

    Two ne'er-do-wells, Washington and Jefferson, just out of prison are looking for jobs so they won't get arrested for vagrancy. They find out that the...

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  • 1939
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    Midnight Shadow

    Midnight Shadow

    3.7 1939 HD

    A confidence man pretending to be a mentalist swindles a family.

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  • 1926
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    The Flying Ace

    The Flying Ace

    6 1926 HD

    A veteran World War I fighter pilot returns home a war hero and immediately regains his former job as a railroad company detective. His first case:...

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  • 1950
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    The Jackie Robinson Story

    The Jackie Robinson Story

    6.4 1950 HD

    Biography of Jackie Robinson, the first black major league baseball player in the 20th century. Traces his career in the negro leagues and the major...

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  • 1940
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    Gang War

    Gang War

    5.8 1940 HD

    Two mobs fight for control of the jukebox racket.

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  • 1940
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    Four Shall Die

    Four Shall Die

    1 1940 HD

    Helen Fielding, heir to the fortunes of the late millionaire Roger Fielding, Sr., has broken off her relationship with the unscrupulous Lew Covey to...

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  • 1947
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    Pigmeat's Laugh Hepcats

    Pigmeat's Laugh Hepcats

    1 1947 HD

    Pigmeat's Laugh Hepcats

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  • 1940
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    Mr. Smith Goes Ghost

    Mr. Smith Goes Ghost

    1 1940 HD

    Mr. Smith Goes Ghost

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  • 1938
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    Life Goes On

    Life Goes On

    1 1938 HD

    The husband of Sally Weston dies, and she decides to move to New York City where she feels her two young sons, Bob and Henry, can get a better...

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  • 1948
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    What a Guy

    What a Guy

    1 1948 HD

    Mantan Moreland's comedy feature.

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  • 1938
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    Gang Smashers

    Gang Smashers

    1 1938 HD

    An undercover police woman poses as a nighclub entertainer to catch the main man behind the racketeers going on around Harlem. Meanwhile two men are...

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  • 1940
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    Am I Guilty?

    Am I Guilty?

    1 1940 HD

    A young black doctor sets out to establish a free clinic in Harlem.

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  • 1941
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    King of the Zombies

    King of the Zombies

    5.2 1941 HD

    During World War II, a small plane somewhere over the Caribbean runs low on fuel and is blown off course by a storm. Guided by a faint radio signal,...

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  • 1942
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    Freckles Comes Home

    Freckles Comes Home

    5 1942 HD

    Freckles Winslow comes home from college and the sheriff accuses him of murder, gangsters put him on the spot, and his girl friend, Jane, falls in...

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  • 1928
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    Black Gold

    Black Gold

    1 1928 HD

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