Julius Harris
Biography
Julius W. Harris (August 17, 1923 – October 17, 2004) was an American male actor born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Over a career that lasted four decades, he appeared in more than seventy films and numerous television series, accumulating eighty‑one credited roles. Harris is especially remembered for his work in 1970s cinema, including the James Bond film Live and Let Die and the blaxploitation titles Super Fly, Black Caesar and Hell Up in Harlem. He was also known by the nickname Jul. At the time of his death he was eighty‑one years old.
Career overview
Julius W. Harris was born on August 17, 1923, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. He began a professional acting career that extended across four decades, during which he amassed more than 70 film appearances and a substantial body of work in television series. Over the course of his career he accumulated 81 credited roles, reflecting a steady presence in both cinematic and broadcast productions.
Harris is most frequently associated with a series of high‑profile films released in the 1970s. Among his most recognized performances are roles in the James Bond entry Live and Let Die and in several blaxploitation titles, including Super Fly, Black Caesar and Hell Up in Harlem. These films contributed to his reputation as a versatile character actor capable of navigating both mainstream and genre‑specific projects.
He continued to work in the industry until his death on October 17, 2004, at the age of 81. In addition to his formal name, he was sometimes credited simply as “Jul.” His extensive filmography and the breadth of his television work underscore a lasting contribution to American cinema and television spanning the mid‑20th century.
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Career timeline
Full filmography
- Carnage Collection: Vicious Violence & Vengeance (2023) as (archive footage)
- Inside 'Live and Let Die' (1999)
- ER (1994) as Gramps
- Shrunken Heads (1994) as Mr. Sumatra
- The Gifted (1993) as Pa
- Maniac Cop 3: Badge of Silence (1992) as Houngan
- Grave Secrets: The Legacy of Hilltop Drive (1992) as Elderly Farmer
- Eerie, Indiana (1991) as Prop Man
- Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man (1991) as Old Man
- Prayer of the Rollerboys (1991) as Speedbagger
- Shannon's Deal (1990) as Darryl
- Darkman (1990) as Gravedigger
- To Sleep with Anger (1990) as Herman
- The Plot Against Harry (1990) as Julie
- Split Decisions (1988) as Tony Leone
- Jake and the Fatman (1987)
- Friday the 13th: The Series (1987) as Simpson
- A Gathering of Old Men (1987) as Coot
- Hollywood Vice Squad (1986) as Jesse
- My Chauffeur (1986) as Johnson
- The Golden Girls (1985) as Mr. Lewis
- Amazing Stories (1985) as Joe
- Hollywood Wives (1985) as Reverend Daniel
- Crimewave (1985) as Hardened Convict
- Murder, She Wrote (1984) as Jack Lee Johnson
- WonderWorks (1984) as Lee
- The Enchanted (1984) as Booker
- Going Berserk (1983) as Judge
- Missing Pieces (1983) as Spencer Harris
- American Playhouse (1982) as Will Anderson
- American Playhouse (1982) as Julie
- St. Elsewhere (1982) as Earl
- Cagney & Lacey (1982) as Bardo
- Voyagers! (1982)
- The Blue and the Gray (1982) as Preacher
- Full Moon High (1981) as Hijacker (uncredited)
- Thornwell (1981) as Frisco
- First Family (1980) as Ambassador Longo
- Gorp (1980) as Fred the Chef
- Hart to Hart (1979)
- Benson (1979)
- Delta Fox (1979) as Tiny
- To Kill a Cop (1978) as Charles
- To Kill a Cop (1978) as Det. Baker
- Ring of Passion (1978) as Chappie Jackson
- To Kill a Cop (1978) as Det. Baker
- B.J. and the Bear (1978) as Colonel Whitmore
- The Love Boat (1977) as Minister
- The Incredible Hulk (1977)
- The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries (1977)
- Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977) as Black Cat
- Islands in the Stream (1977) as Joseph
- The Fat Albert Christmas Special (1977) as Mr. Tyrone (voice)
- Alambrista! (1977) as 2nd Drunk
- King Kong (1976) as Boan
- Victory at Entebbe (1976) as President Idi Amin
- The Jeffersons (1975)
- Ellery Queen (1975)
- Doctors' Hospital (1975)
- Let's Do It Again (1975) as Bubbletop Woodson
- Friday Foster (1975) as Monk Riley
- A Cry for Help (1975) as George Rigney
- Good Times (1974)
- Harry O (1974)
- Salty (1974) as Clancy
- The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) as Inspector Daniels
- Kojak (1973) as Joe Addison
- Live and Let Die (1973) as Tee Hee
- Hell Up In Harlem (1973) as Papa Gibbs
- Bond 1973: The Lost Documentary (1973) as Self
- Black Caesar (1973) as Mr. Gibbs
- Blade (1973) as Card Player
- Shock-A-Bye Baby (1973)
- Salty (1973) as Clancy Ames
- The Bob Newhart Show (1972)
- The Bob Newhart Show (1972) as Mr. Billings
- Sanford and Son (1972)
- Shaft's Big Score! (1972) as Capt. Bollin
- Super Fly (1972) as Scatter
- Trouble Man (1972) as Big
- Cannon (1971) as Millner
- Incident in San Francisco (1971) as Henry Carter
- Slaves (1969) as Shadrach
- Nothing But a Man (1964) as Will Anderson