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Draft:Elliott Branch Jr.

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Elliott Branch Jr.
Branch Jr. in Jules Winnfield cosplay in 2014
Born
Elliott Lee Branch, Jr.

(1962-07-18) July 18, 1962 (age 63)
Highland Park, Michigan, U.S.
Died(2024-08-01)August 1, 2024
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other namesElliot Branch, Elliott L. Branch
Alma materHighland Park Community High School
Occupations
  • Comedian
  • cosplayer
  • actor
  • telecommunications
Years active1988–2024
Known for
Notable credits
Television

Elliott Lee Branch, Jr. (July 18, 1962 – August 1, 2024) was an American comedian, cosplayer and actor. Branch did standup comedy throughout the Midwestern United States during the 1990s. He appeared in the films Cut Me a New Path (2003), Quentin Tarantino's Suicide Squad (2016), Deadpool The Musical 2 – Ultimate Disney Parody (2018), and Pulp Friction (2021), receiving acting nominations at Oceanside International Film Festival and Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema.[1][2][3][4][5]

Personal life

[edit]

Branch grew up in Highland Park, Michigan and later moved to Royal Oak.[6][4] He and his girlfriend lived in Royal Oak for three months out of the year while not on the road touring.[1]

Career

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Branch briefly joined the United States Air Force but was discharged with asthma.[1] Prior to working in the entertainment industry, he was a telecommunications coordinator and analyst for Sprint Corporation for six years.[1][7] He started studying to be a comedian in 1988.[1]

Comedy

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Starting out at Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle,[1] Branch did standup comedy at colleges, universities and comedy clubs throughout the Midwest[8] during the 1990s in the states Iowa,[9] Kentucky,[10][11] Michigan,[12] Ohio,[13][14] Pennsylvania,[15] Tennessee,[2][16] and Wisconsin.[17]

In 1990, Branch performed at the Holly Hotel[18] and opened a show for Kim Coles at UM-Flint.[19] In 1992, he opened for Randy Cole in Saginaw, Michigan.[7][20] In 1993, Branch did a show with Jimmy Shubert.[21] In 1994, Branch opened for Pam Stone's debut in Iowa at Penguin's Comedy Club.[9] In 1995, he headlined Comedy on the Square in Murfreesboro, Tennessee,[16][2] did standup with Vic Henley and Tom Cotter at Laffapalooza, hosted by Gatewood Galbraith,[10] and did a show with George Wallace.[22]

In February 1996, Branch opened for Leighann Lord during a free event at Lehigh University.[15] In support of Black History Month he did shows at Bluefield State College, West Virginia Wesleyan College, and University of Pittsburgh.[1] On July 28, 1997, Branch hosted a free show for the elderly at Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle and was the headliner for five nights in early August.[4] In 1999, Branch, known together with comedians Norm Stulz and Derek Richards as Detroit Comedy Machine, went on a 26 city tour called On Tour for a Cure raising money for the American Cancer Society.[23][24] Branch performed in Canada from 1999 through 2001 at Yuk Yuk's[25][26][27] and headlined at Leo's Komedy Showroom in 2000.[28]

Film and television

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Branch has worked on FOX and BET,[29] appearing on the television shows America's Funniest People[13] and ComicView.[6] In 2003, he starred as Jabari in an independent drama film based in Detroit called Cut Me a New Path, also known as Ahead of the Game.[30] In 2014, Branch cosplayed Samuel L. Jackson at San Diego Comic Con.[31] In 2018, Branch was cast as Jackson on an episode of Lookalikes in the United Kingdom.[32] Most of his credits are in short films, parodying Jules Winnfield and Nick Fury.[33][34]

Reception

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The Ann Arbor News called Branch "a whirlwind of a comedian (who) hits the stage at hurricane pace and never stops."[3] Sue White at The Saginaw News quoted several of Branch's jokes, one of which received a positive reaction from the crowd.[20] Doug Pullen at The Flint Journal said "Branch did a great send up of the Three Stooges".[19] Wisconsin State Journal called his style "charming and clean."[17] Ellen E Jones at The Guardian said his performance was "convincing, but can he really earn?"[35] Sumner Forbes at Film Threat said Branch "is one of the better Samuel L. Jackson imitators we'll come across."[36]

Filmography

[edit]
Short films
Year Title Role Notes
2009 Killing Tarantino Jules Best Editing winner at 2010 Beverly Hills Film Festival[37]
2010 Viva Castrama Guard Toreno
2013 Pain N Love Boom Mic Operator
2014 F.O.S. Jules TV movie featuring Dan Hicks
2016 Anger Anonymous Jules
Quentin Tarantino's Suicide Squad Jules Winnfield [38][33][39]
2018 Deadpool The Musical 2 – Ultimate Disney Parody Nick Fury [34]
2021 Pulp Friction Jules [36]

Accolades

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Event Year Award Title Result Ref.
Oceanside International Film Festival 2022 Best Supporting Actor Pulp Friction Nominated [40]
Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema Best Actor - Short Film Nominated
Southeast New England Film, Music & Arts Festival Best Acting - Comedy Won

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Archer, Bill (1996-02-20). "Elliott Branch Jr. BHS grad's BSC 'homecoming' something to laugh at". Bluefield Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2025-11-23 – via NewspaperArchive.
  2. ^ a b c Tucker, Nan (1995-11-10). "Just for laughs... Comedy finds audience on Murfreesboro Square". The Daily News-Journal. p. 24. Retrieved 2025-11-25 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b "Whirlwind comic Branch blows into Ann Arbor". The Ann Arbor News. 2001-12-06. p. 49. Retrieved 2025-11-23 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b c Wygonik, Keely (1997-07-24). "Local comedians 'Laugh, Make a Difference'" (PDF). Canton Observer. pp. E1–2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2014-11-11. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  5. ^ "Elliot Branch will present a comedy routine at LVC". Lebanon Daily News. 1996-02-01. p. 7. Retrieved 2024-08-02 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b "Motown comics plan a gaggle of giggles to help Gilda's Club". Detroit Free Press. 1997-08-22. p. 31. Retrieved 2024-08-02 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b White, Sue (1992-04-16). "Saginaw Comedy Inc. Debuts". The Saginaw News. p. 23. Retrieved 2025-02-05 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Wickman, Branch slated to perform at Shagnasty's". The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier. 1993-09-10. p. 20. Retrieved 2024-08-02 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b "Coach's' Pam Stone likes to horse around". The Gazette. 1994-01-07. p. 30. Retrieved 2024-08-02 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b "Gatewood is high on comedy". Courier-Journal. 1995-11-02. p. 22. Retrieved 2024-08-02 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Weekend calendar". Courier-Journal. 1999-06-11. p. 29. Retrieved 2024-08-02 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "July 9th & 10th at Comedy Court". Battle Creek Enquirer. 1993-07-10. p. 14. Retrieved 2024-08-02 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ a b "Sure Fire Laffs". The Akron Beacon Journal. 1999-09-02. p. 78. Retrieved 2024-08-02 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Looking Ahead". The Cincinnati Enquirer. 1999-05-21. p. 76. Retrieved 2024-08-02 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ a b "Children's films, Black History among events". The Morning Call. 1996-02-04. p. 76. Retrieved 2024-08-02 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ a b Tucker, Nan (1995-11-10). "Just for laughs... Comedy finds audience on Murfreesboro Square". The Daily News-Journal. p. 21. Retrieved 2025-11-25 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ a b "Funny Business Comedy Club". Wisconsin State Journal. 1994-07-29. p. 53. Retrieved 2024-08-02 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "On Stage". The Flint Journal. 1990-07-28. p. 9. Retrieved 2024-09-12 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ a b Pullen, Doug (1990-11-09). "Coles gives Flint a good laugh". The Flint Journal. p. 44. Retrieved 2024-09-12 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ a b White, Sue (1992-04-19). "Comedy club owners can laugh at doubters". The Saginaw News. p. 29. Retrieved 2025-02-05 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Groucho Comedy Club". Florida Today. 1993-08-27. p. 73. Retrieved 2024-09-12 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "Zanies: Send in the clowns". The Tennessean. 1995-06-02. p. 94. Retrieved 2024-08-02 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ Chesna, James (1999-08-12). "Detroit Comedy Machine hopes to manufacture funds to fight cancer". The Flint Journal. p. 13. Retrieved 2025-02-05 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ Chesna, James (1999-08-12). "Detroit Comedy Machine hopes to manufacture funds to fight cancer". The Flint Journal. p. 14. Retrieved 2025-02-05 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "It's a Yukin' Riot try it". Calgary Herald. 1999-05-06. p. 116. Retrieved 2024-08-02 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "LIVE Elliott Branch". The Windsor Star. 2001-07-27. p. 15. Retrieved 2024-08-02 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "STAGE". Calgary Herald. 1999-05-06. p. 115. Retrieved 2024-09-12 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ "Leo's Komedy Showroom". The Windsor Star. 2000-05-05. p. 18. Retrieved 2024-08-02 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ "Fresh Comics Flown in Weekly". The Kansas City Star. 1996-09-06. p. 147. Retrieved 2024-08-02 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ Koehler, Robert (2003-03-18). "Cut Me a New Path". Variety. ProQuest 454644734. Archived from the original on 2024-08-05. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  31. ^ Reading, Caleb (2014-07-29). "Shut It Down: This Is The Best 'Pulp Fiction' Cosplay Ever (Video And Pictures)". Uproxx. Archived from the original on 2021-04-15. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
  32. ^ "Lookalikes Series 2, Episode 2". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
  33. ^ a b Trumbore, Dave (2016-07-30). "Suicide Squad Quentin Tarantino-Style in a New Fan Trailer". Collider. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  34. ^ a b "SMASH HIT: Deadpool Musical Parody". Cosplay-Culture. 2018-07-23. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
  35. ^ Reed, Betsy; Jones, Ellen E (2018-06-27). "Wednesday's best TV: Stath Lets Flats; Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
  36. ^ a b Forbes, Sumner (2022-09-13). "Pulp Friction Featured, Reviews Film Threat". Film Threat. Archived from the original on 2022-09-14. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
  37. ^ "Beverly Hills Film Festival Announces 2010 Award Winners - Cinema Without Borders". 2010-04-19. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
  38. ^ Jayson, Jay (2016-07-29). "Suicide Squad Trailer Done In Quentin Tarantino Style". ComicBook.com. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  39. ^ Skowronski, Robert (2016-08-01). "Legion samobójców w wersji Quentina Tarantino - Antyradio". Antyradio (in Polish). Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  40. ^ "OIFF 2022 - Official Nominations Announcement". Oceanside International Film Festival. Archived from the original on 2022-02-17. Retrieved 2023-08-02.
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Category:1962 births Category:2024 deaths Category:21st-century African-American male actors Category:African-American male comedians Category:American male film actors Category:American male television actors Category:Comedians from Detroit Category:Comedians from Los Angeles Category:Cosplayers Category:People from Highland Park, Michigan Category:People from Royal Oak, Michigan Category:Male actors from Detroit Category:Male actors from Los Angeles Category:United States Air Force personnel

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