Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs
Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs (born September 4, 1953) is an American actor and singer. He has appeared in a number of films and television shows, including "Claudine" (1974), "Cooley High" (1975), "Roots" (1977), "Welcome Back, Kotter" (1975–79), "Bangers and Mash" (1983), and "" (1992), ‘’31’’ (2016) Life and career. Hilton-Jacobs was born in New York City, New York, the fifth of nine children of parents Hilton Jacobs (died 2000) and Clothilda Jacobs (died 2008). He began his acting career in the summer of 1969 and graduated from the High School of Art and Design in 1971. He attended  Wilkes University for a short time before his acting career took off. Afterward, he studied acting with the Negro Ensemble Company and the Al Fann Theatrical Ensemble. In 1975, he won the role of Freddie "Boom Boom" Washington on the ABC hit comedy series, "Welcome Back, Kotter". Hilton-Jacobs also starred in cult classic "Cooley High" in 1975, and two years later had a role in the block-buster ABC mini-series "Roots". Hilton-Jacobs starred in a few commercials over the years, including an early 1970s commercial for The United Negro College Fund. Later in his career, he appeared  in the 1989-1990 science fiction TV series "Alien Nation" as Sgt. Dobbs, an LAPD detective. He portrayed Panda Thomas (#1) in Rob Zombie's slasher film "31". Hilton-Jacobs portrayed Joseph Walter "Joe" Jackson, the father of the Jackson family, in the 1992 miniseries "". He also appeared in a commercial for Salon Selectives. Hilton-Jacobs sang on Rick James' 1981 album "Street Songs". As a homage to him, the housing project in Eddie Murphy's television program "The PJs" is named the Hilton-Jacobs Projects. He has two daughters.