John Randolph was a celebrated character actor, recognized with a Tony Award, whose career was significantly shaped by his activism and the McCarthy-era blacklist. Though not always a leading man, Randolph was a familiar and respected presence in Hollywood across film and television for over four decades.
Born Emanuel Cohen on June 1, 1915, in New York City, John Randolph’s roots were in Jewish immigrant heritage, with his parents Dorothy (Shorr) and Louis Cohen hailing from Romania and Russia respectively. His mother worked as an insurance agent, and his father was a hat manufacturer. Following his father’s death and his mother’s subsequent remarriage to Joseph Lippman, he was briefly known as Mortimer, before choosing to forge his own path in acting.
In the 1930s, Emanuel Cohen began his dramatic arts journey, studying under the renowned Stella Adler. It was during this period he adopted the stage name John Randolph, a less overtly ethnic name, to broaden his opportunities in the acting profession. His commitment to service saw him join the Army Air Force during World War II. In 1945, while engaged in Orson Welles’s stage production of “Native Son” in Chicago, John Randolph married actress Sarah Cunningham. Their marriage brought them two children, Martha and Harrison.
Post-war, John Randolph became a founding member of the prestigious Actors Studio, a testament to his dedication to his craft. His early film work included Stadt ohne Maske (1948). However, Randolph’s outspoken leftist beliefs and his support for others accused of similar affiliations drew scrutiny. This led to the blacklisting of both John Randolph and his wife during the height of McCarthyism. In 1955, they were both summoned before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), where they invoked their Fifth Amendment rights. This principled stance, while consistent with his beliefs, resulted in a substantial career setback. For 15 years, John Randolph faced limited opportunities in mainstream Hollywood, yet he persevered, primarily finding work on the New York stage.
A turning point arrived when director John Frankenheimer courageously broke the Hollywood blacklist by casting John Randolph in Der Mann, der zweimal lebte (1966), known in English as “Seconds”. Frankenheimer also cast fellow blacklisted actors Will Geer and Jeff Corey in the film, signaling a shift in the industry. In “Seconds,” John Randolph played a pivotal role as a disillusioned older man who undergoes surgery to appear younger, a role then embodied by Rock Hudson. This role marked Randolph’s resurgence in film and television. He went on to secure significant roles in acclaimed films such as Serpico (1973), Frances (1982), Die Ehre der Prizzis (1985) (Prizzi’s Honor), and e-m@il für Dich (1998) (You’ve Got Mail). His television work was equally notable, with appearances in TV movies like The Missiles of October (1974) and “Lincoln” (1975), and a recurring role as Roseanne Barr’s father in her popular sitcom “Roseanne.”
His career pinnacle arrived in 1987 when John Randolph received both the Tony Award and the Drama Desk Award for his compelling portrayal of a Communist, left-wing grandfather in Neil Simon’s play “Broadway Bound.” This role resonated deeply with his own life experiences and activism. Beyond acting, John Randolph remained committed to social causes, leading the Council of American-Soviet Friendship in the 1980s, an organization dedicated to fostering cultural exchange. John Randolph passed away from natural causes at the age of 88, leaving behind a legacy as a talented actor who stood firm in his convictions during a challenging period in American history.
