
Roscoe Orman
Biography
While a student at New York's High School of Art and Design, Orman made his theatrical debut in the 1962 topical revue "If We Grow Up." He was an early member of the Free Southern Theater for two years in the mid-1960s and a founding member of Harlem, New York's New Lafayette Theatre, where he acted in and directed numerous plays. His many other stage appearances have included roles in "Julius Caesar" and "Coriolanus" at Joseph Papp's Public Theater, the Broadway production of August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play "Fences", and Matt Robison's one-man play "The Confessions of Stepin Fetchit" at the American Place Theatre. Orman is the recipient of an Audelco Theatre Award and a five-time nominee. He made his feature film debut in the title role of Universal Studios' 1974 drama, Willie Dynamite and has also appeared in such films as F/X, Striking Distance, New Jersey Drive, Follow That Bird, Twilight's Last Gleaming,The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland, and "Jeremy Fink And The Meaning of Life". His television credits include work on such shows as All My Children, Kojak, Sanford and Son, Cosby, Sex and the City, The Wire, andLaw & Order. He most recently appeared on episode 5 of the Garry Trudeau/Amazon streaming production Alpha House. In June 2006, Orman's memoir Sesame Street Dad: Evolution of An Actor was released. In September 2007, his children's book Ricky and Mobo was released. On October 8, 2008, he became the Chief Storyteller of AudibleKids.com (a service of Audible.com), a website for parents, teachers, and children to connect with one another and download and listen to audiobooks oniPods, MP3 players, and computers. In his role as Chief Storyteller, Orman narrates audiobooks and communicates with children, parents and teachers online and at community, literacy and library events, lectures and conferences, and via other media to encourage the use of audiobooks to help build an interest in reading and develop literacy skills. He commented on being Chief Storyteller on October 8, 2008: “When Sesame Streetbegan, television was a new and even controversial medium. But we showed how that technology, if used correctly, could become a powerful learning tool...I see the same kind of opportunity emerging today as parents and educators increasingly view iPods with skepticism. With AudibleKids.com, I believe we can help turn these players into magnificent storytellers, tools for learning, and a way to promote a lifelong love of stories and language.” His new role was announced at a community event at The Educational Alliance Boys & Girls Club in New York City, where Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s office commended Orman’s life work and willingness to embrace new technology to help encourage children to read books, by naming October 8, 2008 AudibleKids Day in New York City. Orman is a resident of New Jersey. He has four children, Rasheda, Solana, Miles, and Cheyenne. His son, Miles Orman, was on Sesame Street playing Gordon and Susan's adopted son Miles Robinson from the mid-1980s into the early 1990s.
Filmografi
Striking Distance1993 · Sid
Sesame Street: P is for Princess2010 · Gordan Robinson
Jim Henson Idea Man2024 · Self (archive footage)
F/X1986 · Captain Wallenger
Original Sound2026 · Fred
30 Days2006 · Jo Jo
The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland1999 · Gordon
Coriolanus1979 · Adrian
Sesame Street: Elmo and Friends: The Letter Quest and Other Magical Tales2009 ·
Sesame Street: 20 Years & Still Counting! 1969-19891989 · Self – Gordon Robinson
Sesame Street: Wild Words and Outdoor Adventures2011 ·
Sesame Street: Bedtime with Elmo2009 · Gordon Robinson
New Jersey Drive1995 · Judge
Sesame Street Stays Up Late!1993 · Gordon
Follow That Bird1985 · Gordon
Sesame Street: 50 Years and Counting2019 · Gordon Robinson (archive footage)
Holiday Rush2019 · Reginald Miller
Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street2021 · Self
Sesame Street: Big Bird's Favorite Party Games · Gordon
Is That Black Enough for You?!?2022 · Self
Sesame Street: Elmopalooza!1998 · Gordon
Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration2019 · Gordon
Willie Dynamite1974 · Willie
Don't Eat the Pictures: Sesame Street at the Metropolitan Museum of Art1983 · Gordon
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David Bowie
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Orson Welles