DeForest Covan

DeForest Covan (September 9, 1917 - September 8, 2007) was an American actor, dancer, and former black vaudeville performer. Starting with his first film appearance in The Singing Kid (1936), his acting career continued into the 1990s. In 1972, he appeared in an episode of Sanford and Son as Woodrow Anderson, in that character's first appearance in the series (this was Covan's only appearance in the series, as he was replaced by Raymond Allen for all subsequent Woodrow appearances). From 1974 to 1975, he held a recurring role on the first season of That's My Mama as a barbershop patron. In 1978, he appeared in two episodes of the television sitcom Good Times, as Reverend Beasley in the episode "Something Old, Something New", and as Shorty in the episode "Write On, Thelma". His other television appearances included Martin (1993) and NYPD Blue (1993).