Ludie C. Washington

Lou's narrative would make a fascinating movie but he left us far too soon. He was one talented funny brother from "the hood" by the way, Lou D. despite Hollywood accolades for his comedic roles, oddly enough he loved to sing most and pursued his passion as a lifelong dream, singing before audiences. But fate would take him instead to the big screen where he'd often conjure up laughter as a caricature of a fat man humoring largely black audiences eager for laughs and a black hero vs. a mostly white villain formula as often depicted in Blackploitation films. Character types during the 70's and 80's which black and occasionally white audiences would often laugh or smirk uncomfortably at familiar archetypes, film persona's like the Lou D's, known from within their own neighborhoods. In Hollywood he was known as "Big Man" and Tiny, a caricature , some called him "Fat Man". His friends knew him and loved him as a supremely talented comedian, innovator and singer we knew as simply "Ludie !