Marc Hannibal was an American actor and singer who appeared in a single Italian film, Alfonso Brescia’s extremely silly Superuomini, superdonne, superbotte (75).
By all acounts, Hannibal started out as a basketball player, appearing for the famed Harlem Globetrotters and becoming notorious for his trademark ’45 Foot single-handed set shot’. He was good friends with Wilt Chamberlain, another former Globetrotter who had a breif cinema career (Conan the Destroyer, 84).
He started acting in the late 1960s, appearing in several TV series (Ironside, Mission IMpossible, Columbo, McLoud). His film career, though, was brief: apart from Superuomini he only had very small roles in The Grasshopper (69), The Man from ORGY (70) and Joey (77). The last credit I have for him is in an episode of Kojack from 1978, and after that he appears to have moved out of the film industry.
I have found news reports about a Marc Hannibal who was in a car accident in late 2010, who could well be the same person!
Marc Hannibal had a speaking role in the original “Airport” movie with Dean Martin and George C. Scott. He also had recurring roles on “Adam 12” and “Dragnet” and his last TV role was on “The Colbys” in the 1980s. His debut TV role was in 1963 and the story was featured in Time Magazine http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,873039,00.html
Sadly, Mr. Hannibal passed away two weeks ago today. RIP.
Marc Hannibal dies at 80
Was actor, singer, Harlem Globetrotter
By Variety Staff
Actor, singer and former Harlem Globetrotter Marc Hannibal died in Salem, Ore., of natural causes on July 23. He was 80.
Hannibal made his TV acting debut in 1963 on “CBS Repertoire Workshop,” narrating the story of the historical Dred Scott Supreme Court case. He went on to star in several variety shows, including “Hannibal’s Trunk.” Hannibal guested on series including “Dragnet,” “Adam 12” and “Mission Impossible” and appeared in films including “Airport,” “Fools,” “The Strangers in 7A” and “The Grasshopper.” In 1975, he starred in the Italian cult film “Superuomini, superdonne, superbotte” (known by various English titles including “Three Fantastic Supermen”) as a gladiator superhero.
In 1976 he produced and starred in a variety show called “On the Strip,” live from Las Vegas.
As a singer, he headlined nightclubs across North America in the 1960s, once opening for Phyllis Diller at Gaslight Square in St. Louis, and headlined The Sands and Union Plaza hotels in Las Vegas in the 1970s. He recorded two albums: the first, anonymously titled disc was for Philips, the second, “Night Times,” for independent label First American. In 2002 his song “Forever Is a Long, Long Time” was sampled by Royce Da 5’9″ for the latter’s song “Boom,” which appeared on the album “Rock City (version 2.0)” as well as on the soundtrack of MTV’s 2001 telepic “Hip Hopera: Carmen.” Hannibal’s music career was chronicled in the book “The First Book of Oregon Jazz, Rock and All Sorts of Music” by Carolan Gladden.
Frank Charles Hannibal Jr. was born in St. Louis. After graduating from Benson Polytechnic High School in Portland, Ore., as a star basketball player, he served briefly in the Army. In 1954, Hannibal was recruited by the Harlem Globetrotters and toured with the team for two years. He then played with Marques Haynes’ barnstorming team, the Harlem Magicians.
Hannibal is survived by three daughters and a son.
two sons, one was born in canada and has the same name as him, his real name frank charles hannibal the third to set the record straight, he was not a great dad, left his son and only met him once as adults……..