Rufus Thomas, Jr.  (March 27, 1917 – December 15, 2001) was an American rhythm and blues, funk and soul singer and comedian from Memphis, Tennessee, who recorded on Sun Records in the 1950s and on Stax Records in the 1960s and 1970s. He was the father of soul singer Carla Thomas and keyboard player Marvell Thomas. A third child, Vaneese, a former French teacher, has a recording studio in upstate New York and sings for television commercials.

Filmography

• 2019Memphis '69
• 1999Cookie's Fortune — Theo Johnson
• 1996A Family Thing — Tommy
• 1989Great Balls of Fire! — Haney's Big House Dancer
• 1989Mystery Train — Man in Station
• Police Story

Appearances as themselves (6)

• The Blues — Self (archive footage)
• 2002Only the Strong Survive — Self
• 2002Sounds of Memphis — Self
• 1994The Soul of Stax — Self
• 1990All Day and All Night: Memories from Beale Street Musicians — Self
• 1973Wattstax — Self