MBC Alumnus John Pancho Demmings 

My parents were not able to FEATURES THANK GOD FOR MY THAT DAY BEA SPEED- pay for our participation in The  The Fugitive MOTHER’S INSTINCTS, HASSELMANN CLAIMED Metropolitan Boys Choir, but  The Seat Filler ME AS ONE OF HER OWN, Bea would not turn us away, as  The Shrink Is In In the new place my brothers and the rest they say is she never turned away any boy  Very Bad Things James and Keith, my sister history….. because he lacked the means.  Opposite of Sox Kitisha, and myself were the  Shadows of Doubt first black children to attend She introduced me to a whole  George of the Jungle an all white elementary new world, a fraternity that has It is your contributions that  Progeny school. The transition would helped to mold and shape the have helped to tell my story,  The Fence not be an easy one.The racial lives of thousands of young men and that will continue to tell  Equinox tensions tested my mettle, for just like me. She has been an the stories of my many  Humanoids We moved into our new the playground was the arena incredible support and mentor MBC brothers. TELEVISION house February of 1969, the where I would earn my my entire life. The singing, the  24 first black family in an all Thank you for your stripes one contest at a time. dancing, the discipline, the  CSI NY white neighborhood. My Priceless Gift, The unfounded hatred aimed  Bones mother's intuition was to smiling embracing faces in the at my skin's color worked to John Pancho Demmings  NCIS move her children away from audiences of the Boys Choir the heat, away from the fire shape some sharp edges in performances set my life on a  Alias me, and threaten to steal my  The District in order to give us a chance at new course, for a flame was Director's note: innocence. I was the  The Division greater things in life, kindled inside of me. Thank you to John for sharing his gladiator of my youth with an  Chicago Hope something that seemed so story. Needless to say, I am so onslaught of willing  Sabrina the Teenage Witch fleeting in the place we left REALIZING YOUR very proud of him and his behind. opponents all wanting to be  24 DREAMS accomplishments and humbled by the one take "Pancho" down.  LA Doctors the personal credit given. What a Today I am an actor living in  City Guys I REMEMBER…… My parent s’ faith and prayers fine and compassionate Hollywood who has worked with  Fresh Prince of Bel-Air kept me framed in God's gentleman! It is so rewarding to I remember sitting on a the likes of Harrison Ford, Will  The Norm Show grace. They kept me in hear what the power of music does windowsill in the attic of the Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Mark  Beverly Hills 90210 church where I was a to help young boys develop old house the evening of Harmon, Keiffer Southerland,  Rescue 77 member of my church choir. confidence, self esteem and April 4th, 1968, the night Dr. Gary Sinese, David McCallum,  Louis and Clark However, their efforts didn’t discipline that stay with them for Martin Luther King Jr. was Dick Van Dyke, Courtney Cox, TELEVISION MOVIES keep me out of the principal’s life. Our many alumni, like John assassinated. My 6 year old David Arquette, Linda Hamilton  Babylon 5 office, so this particular day have attested to this. Thank you eyes and ears absorbed the and many others.  Another Woman’s Husband didn’t seem like any other. I for your part in making this all indelible images and riotous  A Private Affair sounds reaching across the was greeted by a woman happen. Please read on to learn of My humble beginnings were  On the Line whole of my neighborhood, a whose eyes seemed to know John's many accomplishments. facilitated by the generosity of THEATRE tumult of anger and despair, me, and whose calming voice What a talent!!! I am thankful for people like yourself. I was the 8th  Othello the hope of a nation exploded reached a place in me. the privilege that I have been of 11 children, and my brother  Six Degrees of Separation by an assassin’s bullet. given to work with the wonderful  To Kill a Mockingbird Keith was number 9. young boys of the Metropolitan  A Poster of the Cosmos  EDUCATION: Economics & Buisiness B.A. Degree, Boys Choir and seeing them  Master Harold & the Boys Macalester College, Religion Minor, Extensive Spanish grow into wonderfully  Tambourines of Glory responsible men. Sincerely,  TALENT & INTEREST: Basketball, Football, Baseball,  Imaginary Invalid Boxing, Jeet Kune Do, Tennis, Swimming, Tenor Voice, Bea Hasselmann  Improv Comedy

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