Cast & creator
Count Basie
Best known for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The Mike Douglas Show, The Merv Griffin Show
William James "Count" Basie (/ˈbeɪsi/; August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. In 1935, he formed the Count Basie Orchestra, and in 1936 took them to Chicago for a long engagement and their first recording. He led the group for almost 50 years, creating innovations like the use of two "split" tenor saxophones, emphasizing the rhythm section, riffing with a big band, using arrangers to broaden their sound, his minimalist piano style, and others. Many musicians came to prominence under his direction, including the tenor saxophonists Lester Young and Herschel Evans, the guitarist Freddie Green, trumpeters Buck Clayton and Harry "Sweets" Edison, plunger trombonist Al Grey, and singers Jimmy Rushing, Helen Humes, Dennis Rowland, Thelma Carpenter, and Joe Williams. As a composer, Basie is known for writing such jazz standards as "Blue and Sentimental", "Jumpin' at the Woodside" and "One O'Clock Jump". Description above from the Wikipedia article Count Basie, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Also known as: William James Basie
37
film credits
15
television credits
50
1938–2022 · acting roles
7.1
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (52)
Showing 52 of 52 credits
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
The Mike Douglas Show
Self
1961
The Merv Griffin Show
Self
1962
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self
1948
The Steve Allen Show
Self - Conductor
1956The Steve Allen Show
Self - Pianist
1956The Steve Allen Show
Self - Bandleader
1956
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
Self
1956
The Kennedy Center Honors
Self
1978
Startime
Self
1959
The Hollywood Palace
Self - Pianist
1964
ABC Stage 67
Self
1966
The Judy Garland Show
Self
1963
Blazing Saddles
Count Basie
1974
The Big Show
Self
1980
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
Self (voice) (archive sound)
2022
Rat Pack
Self (archive footage)
2022
The Harlem Renaissance
Self (archive footage)
2004
Stage Door Canteen
Count Basie
1943
Piano Blues
Self (archive footage)
2003
Cinderfella
Count Basie
1960
Jamboree!
Count Basie
1957Cavalcade of Bands
1950
Made in Paris
Count Basie
1966
Sid & Judy
Self (archive footage)
2019
Bluesland: A Portrait in American Music
Self (archive footage)
1993
Improvisation
Self
2004
The Last of the Blue Devils
Self
1979
Charlie Parker: Bird Songs
Self (archive footage)
2022
Jazz Legends in Their Own Words
Self (archive footage)
2014New York in the Fifties
Self
2001
Count Basie At Carnegie Hall
Self
1981
Killer Diller
Original Music Composer
1948
Count Basie: Through His Own Eyes
2020
Frank Sinatra: The Man and His Music
Self
1981
Crazy House
Count Basie
1943
Sentimental Journey
In Memory Of
2006
Music Inn
Himself (archive footage)
2007
Billie
self
2020
Rhythm and Blues Revue
Self
1955
Judy Garland Duets
Self (archive footage)
2005
Astaire Time
Self
1960
Frank Sinatra Spectacular
Self
1965
Norman Granz’ Jazz in Montreaux presents Ella and Basie '79—"The Perfect Match"
Sself (Piano, Conductor)
1979
Ebony Parade
(archive footage)
Basie Boogie
1950
Top Man
Orchestra Leader
1943All-Star Jazz Show: Live from The Ed Sullivan Theater
Self
2011'Sugar Chile' Robinson, Billie Holiday, Count Basie and His Sextet
1951
Jazz Icons: Count Basie Live in '62
Himself
2006
Take Me Back, Baby
1941
Policy Man
Count Basie
1938