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Lawrence Hilton Jacobs
Welcome Back Kotter Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs 1976.jpg
Lawrence Hilton Jacobs, c. 1976
Born (1953-09-04) September 4, 1953 (age 71)
Occupation Actor, singer
Years active 1974–present
Known for Freddie "Boom Boom" Washington in Welcome Back, Kotter

Lawrence Hilton Jacobs, also credited as Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs (born September 4, 1953), is an American actor and singer. Best known for playing Freddie "Boom Boom" Washington in Welcome Back Kotter (1975–79), he has also appeared in a number of films and television shows, including Claudine (1974), Cooley High (1975), Roots (1977), Bangers and Mash (1983), Alien Nation (1989–90), The Jacksons: An American Dream (1992), and 31 (2016).

Life and career

Jacobs was born in New York City, New York, the fifth of nine children of parents Hilton Jacobs (died 2000) and Clothilda Jacobs (died 2008). He began his acting career in the summer of 1969 and graduated from the High School of Art and Design in 1971. He attended Wilkes University for a short time before his acting career took off. Afterward, he studied acting with the Negro Ensemble Company and the Al Fann Theatrical Ensemble.

In 1975, he won the role of Freddie "Boom Boom" Washington on the ABC hit comedy series, Welcome Back, Kotter. Jacobs also starred in cult classic Cooley High in 1975, and two years later had a role in the block-buster ABC mini-series Roots. Jacobs starred in a few commercials over the years, including an early 1970s commercial for The United Negro College Fund. Later in his career, he appeared in the 1989-1990 science fiction TV series Alien Nation as Sgt. Dobbs, an LAPD detective. He portrayed Panda Thomas (#1) in Rob Zombie's slasher film 31.

Jacobs portrayed Joseph Walter "Joe" Jackson, the father of the Jackson family, in the 1992 miniseries The Jacksons: An American Dream. He also appeared in a commercial for Salon Selectives.

Jacobs sang on Rick James' 1981 album, Street Songs.

As a homage to him, the housing project in Eddie Murphy's television program The PJs is named the Hilton-Jacobs Projects.

He has two daughters.

Filmography

Film/Movie

Year Title Role Notes
1974 Claudine Charles
Death Wish Mugger in Park #2
The Gambler Street Basketball Boy
1975 Cooley High Richard "Cochise" Morris
1978 Youngblood Rommel
The Comedy Company Russell Dodd Television film
1980 For the Love of It Al Television film
1985 The Annihilators Floyd
1988 Paramedics Blade Runner
1989 L.A. Heat Det. Jon Chance
Angels of the City Det. Jon Chance Video
L.A. Vice Det. Jon Chance
East L.A. Warriors Chesare
1990 Kill Crazy Rubin Video
Chance Det. Jon Chance
1991 Quietfire Jessie Palmer Video
1992 Tuesday Never Comes Druilet
1993 ... Behavior Lou Parsons
1997 Tidal Wave: No Escape Marlan Clark Television film
1999 Mr. Right Now! - Video
2001 Southlander Motherchild
2002 Hip, Edgy, ..., Cool -
The Streetsweeper Jackie
2003 Killer Drag Queens on ... Mr. Fly
2004 30 Miles Anthony
2005 Don't Give Me the Finger Ross Short
2007 Sublime Mandingo Video
2008 Otis Male Nurse
2009 Young American Gangstas Elmer Reese
2011 Nocturnal Agony Theodore
2013 Playin' for Love Coach Preston Reid
2014 Airplane vs. Volcano Jim Kirkland Video
2015 Mercy for Angels Chief
Tamales and Gumbo Mr. Walker
The Christmas Gift Wesley Hardin Johnson Sr. Television film
2016 31 Panda Thomas
Dead Man Rising Warden Dallas
2017 A Chance in the World Mr. Robinson
Sins of the Father Kenny Short
2018 Welcome to Where You've Always Been Homeless Man Short
Compton's Finest Hostage Negotiator
2020 She's the One ...
Shooting ... Edward
The Perfect Mate Rev. Adams
2021 Escape from Death Block 13 Agent Langley

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1975–79 Welcome Back, Kotter Freddie 'Boom-Boom' Washington Main Cast
1976 Mr. T and Tina Freddie 'Boom-Boom' Washington Episode: "Pilot"
Baretta Dave Rich Episode: "Can't Win for Losin'"
1977 Roots Noah Episode: "Part V"
1979 Paris Thomas Sims Episode: "Dear John"
1980 Barnaby Jones Wes Carter Episode: "The Price of Anger"
1981 Darkroom Young Man / ... Episode: "Needlepoint"
Lewis & Clark Dave Rich Episode: "The Uptight End"
1984 On the boulevard Joe, an L.A. street musician Main character. Short film in memory of producer/director Horace Jenkins
1985 Rituals Lucky Washington Regular Cast
1986 New Love, American Style - Episode: "Love and Video Dating/Love at the Bus Stop"
Simon & Simon Gordon Tate Episode: "The Blue Chip Stomp"
The Redd Foxx Show Warren Episode: "The Good Samaritan"
Fame Lamar Episode: "The Inheritance"
1987 Hill Street Blues Crumley Episode: "The Cookie Crumbles"
1989–90 Alien Nation Sergeant Dobbs Main Cast
1992 The Jacksons: An American Dream Joe Jackson TV Mini Series
1994 Renegade Rocky Dussault 2 episodes
1995 Charlie Grace Detective Gossett Episode: "Take Me to the Pilot"
Pointman Joe Neal Episode: "Take the Points"
Martin Kevin Jones Episode: "Swing Thing"
Diagnosis: Murder Sgt. Baker Episode: "All American Murder"
1996 The Parent 'Hood Greg Harvey Episode: "Torn Between Two Brothers"
Roseanne Louis Episode: "Roseambo"
Homeboys in Outer Space Staff Episode: "Super Bad Foxy Lady Killer or Ty and Morris Get the Shaft"
1997 Weird Science Mr. Black Episode: "Boys on the Hide"
Mr. Rhodes Freddie 'Boom Boom' Washington Episode: "The Welcome Back Show"
Tracey Takes On... James Episode: "Race Relations"
Moesha Sgt. Baker 2 episodes
1998 The Wayans Bros. Richie Episode: "Help a Brother Out"
L.A. Doctors Robert Edwards Episode: "A Prayer for the Lying"
2000 The Jamie Foxx Show Milton Episode: "Rollin' in the Dough"
2002 Static Shock Driver Voice, episode: "Sunspots"
2002–03 Gilmore Girls Principal Merton 2 episodes
2004 Girlfriends Leonard James Episode: "New York Bound"
That's So Raven Mr. Carter Episode: "There Goes the Bride"
2009 Players at the Poker Palace Donny Recurring cast
2011 Chuck President of Zamibia Episode: "Chuck Versus the Tooth"
2011–13 Let's Stay Together Charles Sr. Recurring cast: Season 1, guest: Season 3
2014 Family Time Carl Episode: "The Will"
2018 Rel Mitchell Episode: "Re-Enter the Dragons"
2019– A House Divided Cameran Sanders, Sr. Main cast
2022–23 The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder Chuck Voice, 2 episodes

Music credits

  • Lawrence Hilton Jacobs S/T (1978)
  • All the Way...Love (1979)
  • Let Me Do It (1981) (producer); performed by Halo; sought-after record among collectors.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs para niños

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