Raymond St. Jacques, born James Arthur Johnson (1930–1990), was an American actor, director, and producer, considered a pioneering figure for African American artists in Hollywood. His career took off in the 1960s, and he became the first Black actor to have a regular role in a Western television series, playing Simon Blake in "Rawhide". In film, he obtained prominent roles in movies such as "The Green Berets" (1968) alongside John Wayne, and the celebrated crime film "Cotton Comes to Harlem" (1970), in which he played the iconic detective Coffin Ed Johnson. In addition to acting, St. Jacques also directed and produced the film "Uptight" (1968), a work for which he received a Golden Globe nomination for Most Promising Newcomer. Active until the end of his life, he also appeared in successful series such as "Falcon Crest", leaving a fundamental legacy for portraying complex and authoritative characters that challenged the racial stereotypes of the era.