Rod Perry (actor)

Roderick Maurice Perry (July 30, 1934 – December 17, 2020) was an American actor best known for his role as Sgt. David "Deacon" Kay in the 1970s TV series S.W.A.T. Perry also played leading roles in two blaxploitation movies in the mid-1970s: The Black Godfather (1974) and The Black Gestapo (1975). Other TV appearances include Barney Miller, Good Times, Babylon 5, and the 1974 TV movies The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman and Trapped Beneath the Sea. In the 2000s, Perry had a cameo role in the 2003 film version of S.W.A.T., playing the father of the character he portrayed three decades earlier in the TV series, played on this occasion by LL Cool J.

Rod Perry
Born(1934-07-30)July 30, 1934
Coatesville, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedDecember 17, 2020(2020-12-17) (aged 86)[1]
OccupationActor
Years active1964–2005

Background

He is the father of singer DeQn Sue who released her Zeitgeist album in 2014.[2]

Career

Perry's earliest film work was in the Lamberto V. Avellana directed Indian / Philippine film, The Evil Within, released in 1970. He played the part of Rod Stevens who teamed up with special agent Dev Varma (played by Dev Anand) to bust up an opium syndicate.[3] Following that he played the part of cowboy Joe Pittman in the made for television film, The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman. His character Joe Pittman marries Miss Jane Pittman (Played by Cicely Tyson). After he is killed from being dragged by a horse.[4] After that he had the lead role in Street Wars aka The Black Godfather, which also starred Don Chastain and Jimmy Witherspoon.[5][6]

Perry was cast as Sgt. David "Deacon" Kay in the TV series S.W.A.T which came out in 1975, and ran until 1976. The role of "Deacon" was to take care of the field communication.[7] Perry played the lead role of Gen. Ahmed in the 1975 exploitation flick, The Black Gestapo.[8]

In 2005, he appeared in Halloween House Party which also starred Joe Torry, Rachel Owens and Buddy Lewis.[9]

Filmography
Film
Title Role Director Year Notes #
The Evil Within Rod Stevens Lamberto V. Avellana 1970
The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman Joe Pittman John Korty 1974 Made for television
The Black Godfather aka Street Wars J.J. John Evans 1974
Trapped Beneath the Sea Jimmy William Graham 1974 Made for television
The Black Gestapo General Ahmed Lee Frost 1975
S.W.A.T. Deke's Dad Clark Johnson 2003
Halloween House Party Leo Lawrence 2005
Television shows
Title Episode # Role Director Year Notes #
On Broadway Tonight Himself 1964 aired 9 September 1964
The Merv Griffin Show Episode #2.55 Himself 1965 aired 23 July 1965
The Merv Griffin Show Episode #3.54 Himself 1965 aired 18 November 1965
The Merv Griffin Show Episode #3.61 Himself 1965 aired 29 November 1965
Barney Miller The Life and Times of Barney Miller Sgt. Wilson Theodore J. Flicker 1974 aired 22 August 1974
Barney Miller Experience Sgt. Wilson Danny Arnold 1975 aired 30 January 1975
S.W.A.T. 37 episodes from
1975-1976		 Sergeant David 'Deacon' Kay various 1975 - 1976 aired 24 February 1975
to
3 April 1976
Project U.F.O. Sighting 4003: The Fremont Incident Robert Lee Armstrong Sigmund Neufeld 1978 aired 12 March 1978
Good Times A Matter of Mothers Jeffrey Gerren Keith 1979 aired 18 July 1979
Babylon 5 Survivors General Netter Jim Johnston 1994 aired 4 May 1994

[10]

References
  1. "Roderick Maurice Perry". Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  2. AL.com, Jul 24, 2014 - DeQn Sue track-by-track: Huntsville/Los Angeles singer and her Grammy-nominated Athens producer tell stories behind bold 'Zeitgeist' LP
  3. '"Scroll.in, Tuesday, February 20th 2018 - FILM HISTORY, From Dev Anand’s back catalogue, the Indo-Filipino movie about an evil princess and opium smuggling
  4. TV Guide - The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, Review
  5. Blaxploitation cinema: the essential reference guide, Josiah Howard - Page 98 THE BLACK GODFATHER
  6. Blaxploitation Films, By Mikel J Koven - The Black Godfather (1974)
  7. Crime Television, By Douglas Snauffer - Page 98 - 100
  8. Rotten Tomatoes - The Black Gestapo (1975)
  9. Cinemagia.ro - Halloween House Party (2005)
  10. IMDb - Filmography
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