Otis Young

Young was born in Providence, Rhode Island, one of 14 children. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps at the age of 17 and served in the Korean War.^[1] He then enrolled in acting classes at New York University School of Education where one of his classmates was the young Louis Gossett Jr.^{[citation needed]}

He trained at the Neighborhood Playhouse and worked off-Broadway as an actor and writer in the early 1960s. He appeared on Broadway in James Baldwin's Blues for Mister Charlie,^[2] with such notables as Diana Sands, and Al Freeman, Jr. His first movie appearance was in Murder in Mississippi (1965). On television, Young portrayed Jemal David, a former slave, in the ABC western The Outcasts (1968-1969).^[3] and the season 5 episode "Identity Crisis" in Columbo.

He studied theology at LIFE Bible College in Los Angeles and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in 1983.^[4] After, he was ordained pastor, eventually serving as senior pastor of Elim Foursquare Gospel Church in Rochester, New York from 1986 to 1988. He taught acting classes at School Without Walls, a college-like alternative public high school in Rochester, from 1987 through 1991. In 1989 he joined the faculty at Monroe Community College in Rochester; he remained there as a Professor of Communication and head of the Drama Department until his retirement in 1999.^[5]

Young suffered a stroke in Los Angeles and died on October 12, 2001, aged 69, at the Veterans Hospital. A memorial ceremony was held at Pepperdine University Chapel.^[6][5]

He was survived by his wife, Barbara, and two sons, two daughters and mother, Gwendolyn.^[5]