Scoey Mitchell
Roscoe Mitchlll Jr. or Scoey Mitchlll (March 12, 1930 – March 19, 2022), usually credited as Scoey Mitchell, was an American actor, writer and TV director known for frequent appearances on 1970s game shows, including "Match Game" and "Tattletales". He starred in the short-lived series "Barefoot in the Park" (based on the Neil Simon play) and had a recurring role on "Rhoda". He created two short-lived NBC TV series, "Me and Mrs. C" and "13 East". He appeared as Richard Pryor's father in the film "Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling". Early life and career . Mitchell was born on March 12, 1930, in Newburgh, New York as Roscoe Mitchlll Jr. (the surname had three "L"s, and no "E"). He started his career on "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" in 1967. He appeared in "What's It All About, World?" as himself in 1969. He guest-starred in many television series such as "The Mothers-in-Law", "Here Come the Brides", "That Girl", "The Odd Couple", "The Six Million Dollar Man", and "Baretta". Mitchell starred in several made-for-TV movies, such as "Voyage of the Yes", "Cops", and "Cindy". He also turned to directing television  with the movie "Me & Mrs. C." in 1984 and episodes of "13 East" in 1989–90. Mitchlll wrote for television and made-for-TV movies such as "The Scoey Mitchlll Show" in 1972, "Just a Little More Love" in 1983, and "Handsome Harry's". In addition, he ventured into production of television and made-for-TV movies such as "Grambling's White Tiger" in 1981, "Gus Brown and Midnight Brewster" in 1985, and "Miracle at Beekman's Place" in 1988. Mitchell also was on a number of television shows as himself such as "Match Game" from 1974 to 1979, "Super Password  in 1988, The Joey Bishop Show" 1968–69, "Hollywood Squares" in 1968, and "Tattletales" from 1974 to 1978 and from 1982 to 1984. In September 1970, ABC cast Mitchell in "Barefoot in the Park" based on Neil Simon's Broadway play of the same name. The series cast members were predominantly black, making it the first American television sitcom since "Amos 'n' Andy" to have a predominantly black cast (Vito Scotti was the sole major white character). "Barefoot in the Park" had been a successful 1967 film starring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda. It was thought by ABC that placing "Barefoot  in the Park" behind "Bewitched" would do well, but because that show was already in a slump, "Barefoot in the Park" never developed high numbers for the network. During its first few episodes, "Barefoot in the Park" developed behind-the-scenes strife that sealed its fate: Mitchlll was fired due to "differences of opinion" with the series' producers. Rather than replace Mitchell with another actor—and already disenchanted with the low ratings—ABC decided to cancel "Barefoot in the Park" in December 1970. In 1986, Mitchlll was in "Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling", a semi-autobiographical film about  Richard Pryor. In 2017, after a hiatus of almost thirty years, he returned to acting, in a one-off role in "A Kindred Soul". Death. On March 21, 2022, Scoey's brother, Billy Mitchell, posted on Facebook that Scoey passed away the past Saturday, a week after his 92nd birthday, in a hospice care facility in Torrance, California, of kidney failure. He was also survived by his widow, Claire.