Dewey “Pigmeat” Markham, born on April 18, 1904, in Durham, North Carolina, was a multifaceted African American entertainer renowned for his work as a comedian, singer, dancer, and actor. His career, which began in 1917, spanned vaudeville, the “Chitlin’ Circuit,” and mainstream television. Markham gained widespread recognition for his “Here Comes the Judge” routine, which became a cultural catchphrase, especially after its feature on “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In” in the late 1960s. He also released a single titled “Here Comes the Judge” in 1968, which is considered by some as an early influence on hip-hop. Markham passed away on December 13, 1981, in The Bronx, New York, due to a stroke.
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