By 1980, a young black comedian from Bluefield, West Virginia had made a name for himself by performing stand up comedy routines at the fountain in Washington Square Park in New York City where others street artist (musicians, jugglers…other comedy people) were attempting to win the crowd over. But he was one of the only few who could “fill up the fountain”, as seen in the 1988 documentary “Mondo New York.”
Barnett at Washington Square Park.
This fame led to him auditioning for a slot on a still fairly new late night sketch comedy show called “Saturday Night Live.” The performer did a great job and a producer from the show wanted him to come back for a read through; but due to the comedian’s reading disability, he didn’t return for the call back.
Eventually, that “SNL” slot when to another young black upstart named Eddie Murphy, and a TV/film career was made.
That incident didn’t prevent Charlie Barnett from acting in movies, a role on a popular TV show and becoming a stand-up legend (Dave Chappelle claims Barnett was his mentor), but it was akin to spraining an ankle before running a marathon.
My first time seeing Barnett was in the 1983 comedy “D.C. Cab,” where he played Tyrone, a cab driver who wore a wig with rollers attached to it, who feels he’s not living up to his full potential. His role is one of the four characters that were fleshed out and felt like a real person (Barnett stood out among an ensemble of young talent such as Bill Maher, Paul Rodriguez, Marsha Warfield and comic veteran Whitman Mayo).
Barnett lived in California during the filming of the movie, and did some performances on Venice Beach where a young Michael Colyar also worked his routines.
When “D.C.Cab” was released, it was a box office dud, and the critics weren’t fond of it either. But Charlie’s marathon was finally off and running.
Barnett’s “mugger’s gun” scene from “DC Cab”
I saw the movie as a ten year old in the mid 1980’s when it aired on HBO ten times a week. The mixture of Mr. T, along with a group of f**k-ups that goofed around on the job, and a scene with boobs in it, made it the greatest movie of all time in my young eyes.
The scene where Tyrone gets his hands on the mugger’s gun, is worth the price of admission.
Besides the theme song “The Dream”, performed by 80’s pop sensation Irene Carra (who makes a cameo in the film) and the film score (which, years later, I discovered was composed by musical genius Giorgio Moroder, best known in the States for the theme from the “Scarface” film and the “Miami Vice” TV show), Barnett made the film for me, and his character is the soul of the story.
Next stop…television.
From 1984 to 1987 Barnett had a recurring role on the hit television drama “Miami Vice” as Neville “Noogie” Lamont, a part time informant/petty criminal who would help Tubbs & Crockett bust the big coke kingpin of the week, once a season.
In the few episodes that I remember that featured Barnett, he seemed to do a lot of ad-libbing, but it worked for the sketchy character he was playing. I’m sure the producers liked his energy, but knew not to give him too much “heavy lifting”, with extra dialogue to remember.
The show was an instant hit, giving Barnett national attention. During the span of the “Miami Vice” era, was the busiest time of his television/film career.
He also made an appearance on the 80’s cop show “TJ Hooker,” minor roles in three forgettable features (1985’s “My Man Leroy,” 1985’s “Beer” (featuring an energetic David Allen Grier) and 1986’s “Nobody’s Fool”); but his 1986 comedy special, “Terms of Enrollment,” put him back into his element.
Barnett’s “Terms of Enrollment” (No video unfortunately).
Produced for the home video market, “Terms” found him (once again) performing his humorous but vulgar stand-up humor. But unlike his Washington Square Park days of NYC, the college campus crowd (I believe this was shot in Florida, when he was filming “Miami Vice”) was uncomfortable with a lot of his routine.
The beginning and end of the program were made up of sketches of himself interacting with his celebrity peers (Phillip Micheal Thomas, Richard Belzer, Andrew “Dice” Clay, Dr. Joyce Brothers, and Ray Parker Jr. among others).
The thing about running a marathon is that obstacles can get in the way; The weather could hinder your stride…slower runners could be in your way. But sometimes talented people tend to trip up over a line of coke…or even a heroin needle. You might sprain your other ankle.
After Barnett left “Miami Vice” in 1987 (two years before the show ended), and besides a stand up appearance on “Def Comedy Jam” in 1992, he didn’t have another acting job for eight years.
Barnett on “Def Comedy Jam” (1992)
Charlie Barnett died on March 16, 1996.
His final film appearance, “They Bite”, was released on VHS format, April 2, 1996. From the look of the trailer, he seems to have been a supporting character.
“They Bite” trailer
I’ve heard rumors of a biopic, but I’m not sure if there’s enough audience for his story. Chappelle could co- produce. Kevin Hart would be a shoo-in for the lead role.
At the very least a documentary should suffice in detailing the life of a talented brother who may be the first “street comic” to go mainstream.
“DC Cab” aired on cable a couple weeks ago and I checked it out, having not seen it in about five years. It’s still a very 80s movie, but in a good way (fashion, slang, and Gray Busey going full “Busey”). The kind that you watch when nothing else decent is on..Tyrone and the gang of cabbies riding around in their beat up cabs…off on their own marathon.
It’s what I like to call a “Saturday Night Movie”. It doesn’t even have to be “Live”.
Kai Arnold is a former newsroom employee and currently resides in Selma, AL. His favorite TV show is “Sanford & Son.” See more of his rants at thedisgruntledduck.com and on Twitter @KIDVIDEO55
