Meet James Baskett: Actor & Uncle Remus In The Song of the South

If you are familiar with Walt Disney's infamous 1946 movie, Song of the South, then you have already met James Baskett for he played the main character in the movie, the much-loved Uncle Remus.

James Baskett lived from February 16, 1904 until July 9, 1948. He was an American Actor and most famous for his role in the Disney movie and for his performance of Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah, one of my favorite Walt Disney songs. As a matter of fact, he received an Honorary Academy Award for that movie, making him the first African American to receive an Oscar. The Oscar was presented to him because he created a lovely and heart-warming individual named Uncle Remus who went on to became both a friend and a storyteller for children around the world in the movie, Song of the South.

James Baskett was known by the following variations of his name: Jimmie Baskett, James Baskette, Jimmie Baskette and Jimmy Baskette. Highlights of his career and life include:

• James Baskett's career as an actor started in New York City where he was able to work as an actor.
• He was a member of Bill Robinson or Mr. Bojangles company.
• He worked with Louis Armstrong on Broadway in a musical revue called Hot Chocolates in 1929, which featured an all-black cast. He appeared in other all-black movies including 1932 movie, Harlem is Heaven with Bill Robinson after which he moved to Los Angeles.
• He later had a supporting role in Straight to Heaven and roles in 1943's Revenge of the Zombies, 1944's The Heavenly Body and on the from 1944 to 1948 had a role on Amos 'n' Andy radio show.
• His work with Disney began in 1945 when he auditioned for a role as a butterfly in Song of the South but went on to become Uncle Remus.
• James Baskett was not allowed to attend the movie premiere in Atlanta Georgia because of his race and because Georgia was a racially segregated city. In 1948, he received an Honorary Academy Award for his role as Uncle Remus.

Uncle Remus was created by Joel Chandler Harris as a character in his African American folktales published in 1881. Eventually, there were seven books featuring Uncle Remus and in 1946, Disney created their first animated live-action movie based on his folktales. The movie was Song of the South.

Baskett is reported to have said, "I thought that, maybe, they'd try me out to furnish the voice for one of Uncle Remus' animals." Walt Disney was impressed and hired him instantly to be Uncle Remus, the main character. He also voiced the butterfly that he auditioned for, Brer Fox and once was so versatile that they even used his voice once as the voice of Brer Rabbit, when the actor playing Brer Rabbit was unavailable.

Disney is reported to have wanted someone for the role of Uncle Remus who was not known through other movies and Baskett was chosen even though, contrary to earlier illustrations from the books written Joel Chandler Harris, Baskett was a rather large black man and had a round face.

Watch as James Baskette brings Uncle Remus to life in this short clip from Song of the South in which he sings Zip-a-dee-do-dah.