Fitz Houston

{{short description|American actor}} {{Infobox person | name = Fitz Houston | image =  | alt =  | caption =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1953|06|09}} | other_names = Fitzhugh Houston | occupation = {{flatlist| * Actor * producer * director * musician * martial artist * minister}} | years_active = 1974–present | known_for = | notable_works = }} '''Fitz Houston''' aka Fitzhugh G. Houston (born June 9, 1953) is an American actor, musician, author and pastor. As an actor, he played the part of Principal Gordon in ''Sister, Sister''. He appeared in an episode of ''Sugar and Spice'', also The Reverse Peephole, which was an episode of ''Seinfield'' and Trust No 1 which was an episode of ''The X-Files''.

==Acting career== ===1970s to 1980s=== One of Houston's earliest film roles was in the 1979 film ''Disco Godfather'' which was directed by J Robert Wagoner and starred Rudy Ray Moore.<ref>Videocollector.co.uk - [http://www.videocollector.co.uk/disco-godfather/27890 Disco Godfather]</ref> He appeared in a couple of episodes of ''Knight Rider'' in 1982 and 1983. One of the roles was as an assembly speaker.<ref>''Who Was Who on TV, Volume 2'', By Norman Chance - [https://books.google.com/books?id=dqLRaPDcbTgC&dq=%22Fitz+Houston%22Knight+Rider%22&pg=PA192 Page 192 Knight Rider: Action: 1982 - 1986, Role Cast Member]</ref><ref>''Who Was Who on TV, Volume 2'', by Norman Chance - [https://books.google.com/books?id=dqLRaPDcbTgC&dq=%22Fitz+Houston%22Cop&pg=PA192 Page 192 Knight Rider: Action: 1982-1986 Role Cast Member]</ref> He played the part of Det. Gilbert in the 1986 slasher film ''Sorority House Massacre'' which was directed by Carol Frank and produced by Roger Corman.<ref>InterFilmes.com - [http://www.interfilmes.com/filme_v1_140094_Mansao.da.Morte-(Sorority.House.Massacre).html#Elenco Mansão da Morte, (Sorority House Massacre) >> Elenco]</ref><ref>FDb.cz - [https://www.fdb.cz/film/sorority-house-massacre/tisk/83933 Sorority House Massacre (1986)]</ref> Houston appeared in the 1988 film ''Night of the Kickfighters'' which was directed by Buddy Reyes and starred Adam West. This was a film about a group of martial artists who take on a terrorist group who are holding a secret weapon. Houston's character Socrates was part of a team that included a gadget man Bomber (played by Michelangelo Kowalski), Clea a computer expert (played by Phyllis Doyle), and Aldo a stage musician (played by Philip Dore).<ref>Fist of B-List - [http://www.fistofblist.com/2014/03/night-of-kickfighters-1988.html Night of the Kickfighters (1988)]</ref><ref>''Videohound's Golden Movie Retriever, 1997'', Visible Ink, Visible Ink Press Staff, Craddock - [https://books.google.com/books?id=2RacqQu0B3IC&q=%22Night+of+the+Kickfighters%22Adam+West Page cdxxxi]</ref>

===1990s=== Houston played the part of Tony North in the Jean-Paul Ouellette-directed 1990 action film ''Chinatown Connection'', which starred Lee Majors II and brucesploitation actor Bruce Ly. This was a film about two cops trying to find the source of poisoned cocaine.<ref>Fist of B-List - [http://www.fistofblist.com/2015/12/chinatown-connection-1990.html Chinatown Connection (1990) PLOT THICKENER]</ref><ref>Turner Classic Movies - [https://web.archive.org/web/20180612211954/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/512084/Chinatown-Connection/ Chinatown Connection(1990), Cast & Crew]</ref> The Tony North character was a menacing and slick villain. He was the cartel enforcer, and he was also the one behind the poisoning of the narcotics.<ref>World Film Geek - [https://worldfilmgeek.com/2017/07/15/review-chinatown-connection-1988/ Chinatown Connection (1988)]</ref> Fist of B-List in their review of the film likened him to as a cross between Predator-era Carl Weathers with muscles and former pro-wrestler, Norman Smiley great polo shirts and Norman Smiley.<ref>Fist of B-List - [http://www.fistofblist.com/2015/12/chinatown-connection-1990.html Chinatown Connection (1990)]</ref>

Houston wanted to get into the field of voice acting, and he got the part of Mr. Bones in the 1996 video game ''Mr. Bones''. Houston had some freedom his own ideas into the mix and he drew from the character George "Kingfish" Stevens which had been played by actor Tim Moore. Certain aspects of Houston's actual facial features were incorporated into the video characters emotion expression. Houston's lines were recorded at Sega Studios and he recorded a song "In This World" with Ronnie Montrose.<ref>''Playing at the Next Level: A History of American Sega Games'', By Ken Horowitz - [https://books.google.com/books?id=9LN5DQAAQBAJ&dq=%22Fitz+Houston%22Ronnie+Montrose&pg=PT275 Page 263 ''Sega Soft'']</ref>

In 1998, he played a cop in an episode of ''Seinfeld'', The Reverse Peephole, which aired on 1/8/98.<ref>TV AV Club - [https://www.avclub.com/seinfeld-the-dealership-the-reverse-peephole-1798171993 ''Seinfeld'': “The Dealership”/“The Reverse Peephole”]</ref><ref>''Seinfeld Reference: The Complete Encyclopedia with Biographies, Character Profiles & Episode Summaries'', By Dennis Bjorklund - [https://books.google.com/books?id=9RyY2Mtqk54C&dq=%22Fitz+Houston%22Cop&pg=PT250 168, "The Reverse Peephole" (1.5.98)]</ref>

===2000s=== He played the role of Melvin in the 2007 film ''Rich in Spirit'' which was directed by Cora Anne. It was a comedy about a preacher who has a belief that anyone can have a good life if they work hard for it. His belief is challenged when one day he switches body with a homeless man. Karen Andrade and Marquis Henderson also starred in the film.<ref>Rotten Tomatoes - [https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/fitz-houston/ Fitz Houston, FILMOGRAPHY]</ref><ref>''Historical Dictionary of African American Cinema'', By S. Torriano Berry, Venise T. Berry - [https://books.google.com/books?id=8NJbCQAAQBAJ&dq=%22Fitz+Houston%22POlice&pg=PA371 Page 371 ''RICH IN SPIRIT'']</ref>

The Eric Darnell Redding directed film, ''A Fatal Friend'' was released in 2015. He played the part of Captain Hunt.<ref>Sens Critique - [https://www.senscritique.com/film/A_Fatal_Friend/12681515 A Fatal Friend (2015)]</ref> He appeared in the "Greg and Larry" episode of ''Brooklyn Nine-Nine''. The episode also featured Dennis Haysbert, Tisha French and Kristin Hensley aired in 2016.<ref>TVmaze.com - [https://www.tvmaze.com/episodes/636790/brooklyn-nine-nine-3x23-greg-and-larry/cast Greg and Larry - Guest Cast]</ref><ref>Brooklyn Nine-Nine Site - [https://theninenine.com/quotes/episode/323/Greg-and-Larry/ Quotes > Greg and Larry]</ref> He played the part of Pastor Fredricks in Eric Darnell Redding 2016 made-for-television movie, ''Hollywood Fiction'' which also starred Audi Resendez and Noah Staggs.<ref>InterFilmes.com - [http://www.interfilmes.com/filme_v1_312385_Hollywood.Fiction-(Hollywood.Fiction).html#Elenco Hollywood Fiction, >> Elenco]</ref>

In 2018, Houston appeared in the Matthew Charles Santoro directed sci-fi film, ''Higher Power''.<ref>Imdb - [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2924392/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast Higher Power (2018), Full Cast & Crew]</ref><ref>FilmAffinity - [https://www.filmaffinity.com/en/film447874.html Higher Power, Cast]</ref>

==Filmography (selective)== ===Television shows===

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |+ Television |- ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Episode ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" | Director ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- ! scope="row" | ''The Facts of Life'' | Starstruck | Fitz | Asaad Kelada | 1982 | as Fitzhugh Houston |- ! scope="row" | ''Knight Rider'' | Just My Bill | Assembly Speaker | Sidney Hayers | 1982 | as Fitzhugh H. Houston |- ! scope="row" | ''Knight Rider'' | Brother's Keeper | Sidney Hayers | Parole Board Member | 1983 | as Fitzhugh G. Houston |- ! scope="row" | ''E/R'' | All Tied Up | Paramedic | Peter Bonerz | 1985 | as Fitzhugh Houston |- ! scope="row" | ''Faerie Tale Theatre'' | Puss in Boots | Edward- Middle Brother | Robert Iscove | 1985 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Hill Street Blues'' | Two Easy Pieces | Fleeing suspect | Gabrielle Beaumont | 1996 | Fitzhugh G. Houston |- ! scope="row" | ''227'' | The Refrigerator | Friend | Ellen Chaset Falcon | 1985 | as Fitzhugh G. Houston |- ! scope="row" | ''227'' | Check Snub | Sergeant | Gerren Keith | 1987 | as Fitzhugh G. Houston |- ! scope="row" | ''227'' | Shall We Dance? | Phillip Evans | Gerren Keith | 1988 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Matlock'' | The Umpire | Lt. Parker | Harvey S. Laidman | 1988 | as Fitzhugh G. Houston |- ! scope="row" | ''Quantum Leap'' | Honeymoon Express - April 27, 1960 | Black Senator | Aaron Lipstadt | 1989 | as Fitzhugh G. Houston |- ! scope="row" | ''Knots Landing'' | If I Die Before I Wake | Sherriff | Joseph L. Scanlan | 1990 | as Fitzhugh G. Houston |- ! scope="row" | ''Sugar and Spice'' | Breaking in Is Hard to Do | Deputy | Michael Lembeck | 1990 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Married with Children'' | Man's Castle | Rich | Gerry Cohen | 1991 | as Fitzhugh G. Houston |- ! scope="row" | ''My Life and Times'' | April 9, 2035 | Policeman | Michael Apted | 1991 | as Fitzhugh G. Houston |- ! scope="row" | ''The Wonder Years'' | Christmas Party | Clerk | Jim McBride | 1991 | as Fitzhugh Houston |- ! scope="row" | ''Roc'' | No Notes Is Good Notes | Sam Cummings | Stan Lathan | 1992 | as Fitzhugh G. Houston |- ! scope="row" | ''Tequila and Bonetti'' | The Rose Cadillac | Policeman at Movie Set | James Whitmore Jr. | 1992 | |- ! scope="row" | ''A Different World'' | Sellmates | Grieving Customer | Henry Chan | 1992 | as Fitzhugh Houston |- ! scope="row" | ''Coach'' | The Pioneer Bowl | Booster #2 | Jeff Meyer | 1993 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Seaquest DSV'' | Abalon | Other Policeman | Les Sheldon | 1994 | |- ! scope="row" | ''The Eddie Files'' | Decimals: The Fake Money Caper | Sergeant | Rob Mikuriya | 1997 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Sister, Sister'' | Child's Play | Principal Gordon | James Hampton | 1997 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Mike Hammer, Private Eye'' | Hoop Nightmares | Eddie Thomas | Rex Piano | 1997 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Seinfeld'' | The Reverse Peephole | Cop | Andy Ackerman | 1998 | |- ! scope="row" | ''The Parent 'Hood'' | Color Him Father | Coach Fields | Loretha C. Jones | 1998 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Sparks'' | Cain and Abel Sparks | Milo | | 1998 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Hang Time'' | Breaks of the Game | The Campus Guard | Patrick Maloney | 1998 | |- ! scope="row" | ''The Norm Show'' | Norm vs. Christmas | Charlie | Gerry Cohen | 1999 | |- ! scope="row" | ''The Michael Richards Show'' | The Identity Loan | Police Officer | Asaad Kelada | 2000 | |- ! scope="row" | ''The Michael Richards Show'' | It's Only Personal | Police Officer | Sam Simon | 2000 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Judging Amy'' | Adoption Day | Guard | James Hayman | 2001 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Titus'' | The Smell of Success | Judge | Jack Kenny | 2001 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Titus'' | Three Strikes | Judge | Joe Regalbuto | 2001 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Philly'' | Blown Away | Jerry | Jeannot Szwarc | 2001 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Family Law'' | Intentions | Jury Foreman #2 | Richard J. Lewis | 2001 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Family Law'' | No Options | Officer #2 | Jerry Levine | 2001 | |- ! scope="row" | ''The X Files'' | "Trust No 1" | Station Manager | Tony Wharmby | 2002 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Providence'' | Smoke and Mirrors | Security Guard | Ian Toynton | 2002 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Robbery Homicide Division'' | Mini-Mall | P.O. Mike Laskaway | Frederick King Keller | 2002 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Malcolm in the Middle'' | Forbidden Girlfriend | Other man | Jamie Babbit | 2002 | |- ! scope="row" | ''The District'' | Goodbye, Jenny | Ron - Bus Driver | Christopher Taylor | 2003 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Watching Ellie'' | TV | Security Guard | Craig Zisk | 2003 | |- ! scope="row" | ''JAG: Judge Advocate General'' | People vs. SecNav | Security Officer Ray Costanza | Dennis Smith | 2004 | |- ! scope="row" | ''It's All Relative '' | A Long Day's Journey Into Leonard's | Whit | Barnet Kellman | 2004 | |- ! scope="row" | ''That's So Raven'' | There Goes the Bride | Minister | Erma Elzy-Jones | 2004 | |- ! scope="row" | ''NYPD Blue'' | You're Buggin' Me | Chuck | John Hyams | 2004 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Standoff'' | Backfire | Metro Operator | Jonathan Glassner | 2007 | |- ! scope="row" | ''True Jackson, VP'' | The Prototype | Security Guard | Joe Menendez | 2009 | |- ! scope="row" | ''According to Jim'' | According to Jim | Police Officer | Dennis Capps | 2009 | |- ! scope="row" | ''The Forgotten'' | Lucky John | Clerk | Tucker Gates | 2009 | |- ! scope="row" | ''The Deep End'' | Pilot | Court Security Guard | Michael Fresco | 2010 | |- ! scope="row" | ''The Secret Life of the American Teenager'' | Choices | Ed | Keith Truesdell | 2010 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Get Thee Behind Me'' | 12 Episodes | Pastor Ruford Royale | Sid Burston<br />Fitz Houston | 2010<br />2011 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Justified'' | Full Commitment | Louie | Peter Werner | 2011 | |- ! scope="row" | ''90210'' | Women on the Verge | Stuart Gillard | Groundskeeper | 2011 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Trophy Wife'' | The Tryst | Janitor | Victor Nelli Jr. | 2013 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Black Jesus'' | Smokin', Drinkin', and Chillin | Eugene, The Parking Meter Man | Mike Clattenburg | 2014 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Battle Creek'' | Syruptitious | Klecko | Andrew Bernstein | 2015 | |- ! scope="row" | ''About Us'' | About Adjustments | James Sykes | Avery Anthony | 2015 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Brooklyn Nine-Nine'' | Greg and Larry | Berj Jones | Daniel J. Goor | 2016 | |- ! scope="row" | ''This Is Us'' | The Big Day | Teddy | Ken Olin | 2017 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Fresh Off the Boat'' | Clean Slate | Mailman | Bill Purple | 2017 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Baskets'' | Denver | Denver Taxi Driver | Jonathan Krisel | 2017 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Rosewood'' | Calliphoridae & Country Roads | Townsperson | David Crabtree | 2017 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Wicked'' | Introducing the Blanchard Family | Apostle Larry Blanchard | Deonte' Bolden | 2017 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Wicked'' | You Shall Reap What You Sow | Apostle Larry Blanchard | Deonte' Bolden | 2017 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Wicked'' | The Dark Cloud | Apostle Larry Blanchard | Deonte' Bolden | 2017 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Wicked'' | Troubled Waters | Apostle Larry Blanchard | Deonte' Bolden | 2017 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Wicked'' | Rebellious Souls | Apostle Larry Blanchard | Deonte' Bolden | 2017 | |- ! scope="row" | | | | | | |- |}

===Films===

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |+ Film |- ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" | Director ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes # |- ! scope="row" | ''Disco Godfather'' | | J. Robert Wagoner | 1979 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Sorority House Massacre'' | Det. Gilbert | Carol Frank | 1986 | as Fitzhough Huston |- ! scope="row" | ''Night of the Kickfighters'' | Socrates | Buddy Reyes | 1988 | as Fitzhugh G. Houston |- ! scope="row" | ''A Killer Among Us'' | | Peter Levin | 1990 | as Fitzhugh G. Houston<ref>Imdb - [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0396826/ Fitz Houston, Filmography]</ref> |- ! scope="row" | ''Chinatown Connection'' | Tony North | Jean-Paul Ouellette | 1990 | <ref>fist of b-list - [http://www.fistofblist.com/2015/12/chinatown-connection-1990.html Chinatown Connection (1990) PLOT THICKENER]</ref> |- ! scope="row" | ''Monday Morning'' | Chief Woods | Don Murphy | 1990 | as Fitzhugh G. Houston |- ! scope="row" | ''Eastside'' | Car Wash Manager | Lorena David | 1999 | |- ! scope="row" | ''The Extreme Adventures of Super Dave'' | Mover | Peter MacDonald | 2000 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Four Dogs Playing Poker'' | Plainclothes Cop | Paul Rachman | 2000 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Blood: The Last Vampire'' | S.P. #1 (voice) | Hiroyuki Kitakubo | 2000 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Jane Doe: Vanishing Act'' | High Desert Federal Agent | James A. Contner | 2005 | TV movie |- ! scope="row" | ''Rampart'' | Detective Thomas | Richard Givens | 2005 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Cold Comfort'' | Sam | Hovik Thomasian | 2006 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Sacrifices of the Heart'' | Prosecutor | David S. Cass Sr. | 2007 | TV movie |- ! scope="row" | ''Rich in Spirit'' | Melvin | Cora Anne | 2007 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Bound by a Secret'' | Ed | David S. Cass Sr. | 2009 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Miles Away'' | Kenny MC. Reese | Jimmy Jenkins | 2015 | |- ! scope="row" | ''A Fatal Friend'' | Captain Hunt | Eric Darnell Redding | 2015 | |- ! scope="row" | ''Hollywood Fiction '' | Pastor Fredricks | Eric Darnell Redding | 2016 | TV movie |- ! scope="row" | ''Higher Power'' | Frank | Matthew Charles Santoro | 2018 | <ref>Imdb - [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0396826/ Fitz Houston, Filmography]</ref> |- ! scope="row" | | | | | |- |}

===Video games=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |- ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes # |- ! scope="row" | ''Mr. Bones'' | Mr. Bones | 1996 | voice, as F. Houston |- ! scope="row" | ''Silent Hill: Homecoming'' | Deputy Wheeler | 2008 | voice |- |}

==Publications== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |+ Film |- ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Credited author ! scope="col" | Publisher ! scope="col" | Isbn ! scope="col" | Year |- ! scope="row" | ''MEN LET'S TALK! Pornography:The Quiet Addiction'' | Fitzhugh G. Houston<ref>Goodreads - [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1642596.MEN_LET_S_TALK_Pornography MEN LET'S TALK! Pornography:The Quiet Addiction]</ref> | Lulu.com | {{ISBN|1411669711}} | January 20, 2006 |- ! scope="row" | ''GUIDED TO THE LIGHT Book One'' | Fitzhugh G. Houston | Houston Spectrum Publishing | ASIN: 0557078466 | June 16, 2009 |- ! scope="row" | ''MEN LET'S TALK (The Victory Over Lust Survival Handbook)'' | Fitzhugh G. Houston | lulu.com | {{ISBN|0557195926}} | February 10, 2011 |- ! scope="row" | ''Spoken From the Heart'' | Fitzhugh G. Houston | Publisher: lulu.com | {{ISBN|0557415225}} | February 10, 2011 |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0396826/ Imdb: Fitz Houston] * [https://fitzhoustonmusic.com/ Website]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Houston, Fitz}} Category:Living people Category:1950 births Category:American male film actors Category:American male television actors Category:American television producers Category:Flugelhorn players Category:American Christian clergy Category:21st-century African-American male actors Category:21st-century American male actors Category:20th-century African-American male actors Category:20th-century American male actors