Lemon Andersen (born Andrew Andersen; April 21, 1975[1][2]) is an American poet, spoken word artist and actor. He is sometimes credited as Lemon. He is the author of County of Kings and the subject of the documentary Lemon.[3] In his November 2011 TEDYouth talk Please don't take my Air Jordans, Lemon's performance of the title poem by Reg E. Gaines is followed by his own spoken-word riff on the influence of Gaines, Etheridge Knight, and other poets on his creative growth as a poet and spoken word artist.[4]
Quick Facts Born, Other names ...
Lemon Andersen |
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Born | Andrew Andersen (1975-04-21) April 21, 1975 (age 49)
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Other names | Lemon, Lemon Anderson |
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Occupation(s) | Poet, spoken word artist, actor |
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Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, he still resides there. He is the son of Milagros "Mili" Quiñones, from Puerto Rico, and Peter Andersen, a Norwegian-American from Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. Growing up in poverty, as a teenager Lemon experienced the successive deaths of his stepfather, father, and mother from complications of heroin abuse and AIDS, leaving him and his older brother orphaned and forced to fend for themselves. Lemon became involved in serious crime, but was diverted through his passion first for hip hop and then acting, and a succession of mentors.[citation needed]
In film, Lemon has worked with Spike Lee on four movies: Sucker Free City (2004), She Hate Me (2004), Inside Man (2006) (appearing opposite Denzel Washington and Clive Owen), and Miracle at St. Anna (2008).[citation needed] In 2009, he played Uncle Tommy in The Soloist, directed by Joe Wright. He In 2012 he was the subject of the documentary film Lemon, which appeared as the fourth episode in America's PBS Voces series on October 19, 2012.[citation needed]
Lemon Andersen's theater credits include Slanguage, directed by Jo Bonney, The Ride at PS 122, and U at the Mark Taper Forum. He was also the voice actor for Pharaoh, Boxcar and Axel in The Warriors and The Crowd of Liberty City in Grand Theft Auto IV.[citation needed]