From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (main entry)
Wiggins, Alfred W., Sr.
(born: July 4, 1936 - died: February 22, 2017) Reverend Alfred W. Wiggins, Sr. was born in Waller, TX and grew up in Louisville, KY. He was an educator, actor, playwright, and pastor. He portrayed the character Judge Clagett in 16 episodes of the television series Matlock. Between 1992-2006, he appeared in more than 20 television series and movies, including the movies Road Trip, Drumline, Nell, The Program, Target Earth, The Wedding; and the television series Savanah, In the Heat of the Night, and I'll Fly Away. He was also in the short film Two Soldiers. He wrote the play Diamond Jake and several other plays. For more on his acting career, see "Al Wiggins" in Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2017 by H. M. Lentz III.During his acting career,Wiggins was also a fine arts professor at Western Carolina University and at Fayetteville State University, both located in North Carolina. At Western Carolina he founded the Black Theater Ensemble. The group performs on campus, in neighboring communities, and has performed in Louisville. Alfred Wiggins, Sr. was the 2001 recipient of the Paul A. Reid Distinguished Service Award at Western Carolina University and the recipient of the North Carolina Governor’s Award for Excellence.
In 2002, Rev. Wiggins was a founding member of the New Progressive Baptist Church in Jeffersonville, IN. He would later serve as an associate pastor.
Alfred W. Wiggins, Sr. was a graduate of Louisville Central High School, earning his B.A. at Shaw University and his Master of Fine Arts in Theater at the University of California San Diego. He was the son of William H. Wiggins, Sr. and Mabel Leora Washinton Wiggins. He was a brother of William H. Wiggins, Jr. He and his wife Barbara Stum Wiggins had six children.
See the Alfred W. Wiggins, Sr. obituary at Legacy.com.
This entry was suggested by Ms. Anna Smith, who also provided background information about her brother Alfred W. Wiggins, Sr.