Person Biography:
F.E. Miller was a renowned writer, lyricist, and actor in the African American musical theater on Broadway. Born Flournoy Earkin Miller on April 14, 1887, in Nashville, Tennessee, he met his future partner, Aubrey Lyles, while attending Fisk University. They formed a duo, Miller and Lyles, and began performing together in vaudeville and on Broadway.
Miller and Lyles made their Broadway debut in 1907 with the musical comedy "The Husband," which they wrote the book and lyrics for. They went on to write the book for the 1921 Broadway musical "Shuffle Along," collaborating with Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle. The show was a huge hit, running for 484 performances and considered the first major African American musical success in history.
Throughout his career, Miller worked on numerous Broadway shows, including "Runnin' Wild," "The Great Temptations," and "Keep Shuffling." He also made his directing debut in the 1927 musical revue "Rang Tang." In the 1930s, Miller started working regularly in films, appearing in 17 movies and writing four. He wrote the screenplay for the 1939 Western "Harlem Rides the Range" and acted in three films featuring Herb Jeffries.
Miller's later years were marked by a decline in his success on Broadway. His last successful show was "Keep Shuffling" in 1928, and he did not appear on Broadway again for nine years. His revival of "Shuffle Along" in 1952 was a flop, closing after only four performances. Miller died in Hollywood on June 6, 1971, but was posthumously nominated for a Tony Award in 1979 for his work on the Broadway musical "Eubie!"
