Why was John Randolph (actor) blacklisted from Hollywood?

John Randolph was blacklisted from working in Hollywood films and New York film and television and radio after 1948. There are several reasons why Randolph was blacklisted.

First, John Randolph was a member of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which was considered to be a subversive organization by the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC).

Second, John Randolph was a friend of Paul Robeson, a black actor and singer who was also blacklisted. Randolph was called before the HUAC in 1955 to testify concerning ongoing investigations regarding Communist infiltration in the American entertainment industry.

John Randolph refused to answer questions and cited the Fifth Amendment protection against testifying against himself. Despite being blacklisted, Randolph continued to work in the entertainment industry.

John Randolph was one of the last blacklisted actors to regain employment in Hollywood films when director John Frankenheimer cast him in a major role in Seconds in 1966.

One of John Randolph’s last film roles was as Joe Fox’s grandfather in You’ve Got Mail (1998). In 1988, John Randolph appeared in a Season 2 episode of Matlock as the head of a crime family in “The Investigation”.