Earle Hyman is an actor who has woken on stage, in television, and in films. He began his career in 1943 and worked successfully as an actor until he retired in 2001. He is probably best-known for playing Russel Huxtable, the father of Cliff Huxtable, in ‘The Cosby Show’. He appeared in 40 episodes between 1984 and 1992. Sadly, Hyman passed away on November 17, 2017, at the age of 91. He died at the Lillian Booth Actors Home in New Jersey. Here are five more things you probably didn’t know about Earle Hyman.
1. He Was Related to Phyllis Hyman
It is believed that Earl Hyman is a distant relative of Phyllis Hyman. According to rumors, he is the singer’s first cousin once removed. Phyllis Hyman was a singer and actor who shot to fame during the late 1970s and early 1990s with a string of hits. She also won awards for her performances in musical theatre productions.
2. He Provided a Voice for Thundercats
Between 1985 and 1989, Hyman provided the voice for the character Panthro in the animated television series ‘Thundercats’. His voice can be heard in a total of 125 episodes of this series. Hyman also provided the voices for Red-Eye and the Ancients Spirits of Evil in this television series. He provided the voice for Panthro in the 1985 animated film ‘Thundercats- HO: The Movie’
3. Hyman was in Six Television Movies
Earle Hyman had roles in six television movies. The first was a television adaptation of Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ in 1968 and he played the title role. In 1980, he played Inspector St. George in ‘The Ivory Ape’. Two years later, he appeared in ‘Long Day’s Journey into Night’ as James Tyrone. He was then the voice of King Agwa in the 1985 television movie ‘The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus’. Hyman then appeared as Wayne Edwards in the 1996 television film ‘Hijacked: Flight 285′. In 2000, the year before he retired, he appeared in his final television movie. This was ‘The Moving of Sophia Myles’ in which he played ‘Bishop Heath’.
4. His Last Film Was ‘Light Years’
The final film in which Earle Hyman had a role was the 1988 movie ‘Light Years’. This film was alternatively known as ‘Gandahar’. It is an animated science-fiction fantasy film and Earle Hyman provided the voice of Maxum. The film was written by Raphael Cluzel and directed by Rene Laloux. It was based on the novel ‘Les Hommes-Machines Contre Gandahar’ by Jean-Pierre Andrevon.
5. He Was an Award Winner
In recognition of his talents as an actor, Earle Hyman won several awards throughout his career. He won a Theater World Award in 1956 and a CableACE Award for Actor in a Dramatic Presentation in 1983. The latter was for his performance in Long Day’s Journey Into Night’. He was also nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play in 1980 for his performance in ‘The Lady from Dubuque’. In 1986, Earle Hyman was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Comedy Series for playing the role of Russell Huxtable in ‘The Cosby Show’.
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