Stanley Bennett Clay (born March 18, 1950) is an American actor, writer, playwright, stage and film director, and producer based in Manhattan, New York. He is best known for his acting work in the films All the President's Men (1976), Minstrel Man (1977) and I, Robot (2004).[1]
Stanley Bennett Clay | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 18, 1950 Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, writer, playwright, Film director |
| Years active | 1969–present |
| Notable work | Ritual (play) |
| Awards | NAACP Theater Awards |
Though a lifelong actor, Stanley Bennett Clay has stated he prefers directing and producing: "I've always been the one in charge. I like the responsibility. At 12, I produced my first show: wrote it, composed the music, directed it, sold tickets, controlled the concessions—lemonade and cookies—and starred in it in my parents' living room. People from the neighborhood lined up to see it. Yeah, it's about control. I'm doing my own things, doing them the way I want them done."[2]
Career edit
Stanley received three NAACP Theater Awards for co-producing, writing, and directing the play Ritual, which he also adapted for film.[3][2][4][5]
Author edit
Stanley has written the novels Looker and In Search of Pretty Young Black Men, both published by Simon & Schuster[6] and the novels Aching For It, Hollywood Flames and Madame Frankie published by Ellora's Cave.
Tribute to E. Lynn Harris edit
Shortly after the sudden death of fellow author E. Lynn Harris, Stanley was contacted by the writer Terrance Dean, who felt compelled to write a tribute to the trailblazing Harris. Stanley agreed and, along with James Earl Hardy, penned Visible Lives: Three Stories In Tribute To E. Lynn Harris. [7] Each story begins with the author reflecting on the impact E. Lynn Harris had on them as a writer.[8]
Private life edit
Clay was a long-time friend of actor Raymond St. Jacques and was one of the pall bearers at his funeral.[9]
References edit
- ^ "Stanley Bennett Clay Biography". IMDb. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
- ^ a b "Facing the 'Ritual' of Life in Baldwin Hills". Los Angeles Times. November 24, 1989. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
- ^ "Stanley Bennett Clay Biography". Retrieved May 27, 2016.
- ^ "Stereotypes Go By Boards In 'Ritual'". October 2, 1998. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
- ^ "Review: 'Ritual'". August 14, 2000. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
- ^ "Stanley Bennett Clay". Retrieved May 27, 2016.
- ^ "Remembering E. Lynn Harris". Essence magazine. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
- ^ "NEW REVIEW: Terrance Dean, James Earl Hardy, Stanley Bennett Clay - Visible Lives". www.urbanreviewsonline.com. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
- ^ "Cat-Talking: A Conversation with Openly Gay Veteran Actor, Author, Director, Publisher Stanley Bennett Clay (Part I) - Doug Cooper Spencer". Archived from the original on December 27, 2017. Retrieved May 5, 2020.