Biography
Joe Seneca (1919–1996) was an American actor, singer and songwriter. Born Joel McGhee Jr. in Cleveland, Ohio, he began his career as a member of the R&B vocal group The Three Riffs, performing in New York supper clubs, and as a songwriter whose credits include 'Talk to Me' and 'Break It to Me Gently'.
He turned to acting in the 1970s, making his Broadway debut in Of Mice and Men (1974) and later appearing in The Little Foxes (1981) and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (1984). His film roles include Dr. Thompson in The Verdict (1982), Ezra in Silverado (1985), Willie Brown in Crossroads (1986), Dr. Meddows in The Blob (1988) and appearances in School Daze (1988), Malcolm X (1992) and A Time to Kill (1996). On television he played Dr. Zachariah J. Hanes in The Cosby Show and had roles in Law & Order and The Golden Girls. Seneca died in New York City on 15 August 1996.
