Merrell Jackson

Merrell Jackson (April 26, 1952 – February 23, 1991) was an American actor and performer whose career spanned Broadway, film, and regional theater. He is perhaps best known for his role as one of the apostles in the 1973 film adaptation of Godspell, in which he performed the song "All Good Gifts."

Jackson's early training took place in Chicago, where he attended Calumet High School and graduated in 1971. During his time there, he served as a soloist for the school's a cappella chorus and earned a "best actor" award for leading roles in two stage productions. In his senior year, he portrayed King Melchior in a school staging of the Christmas opera Amahl and the Night Visitors, a production that was broadcast on local television station TV 26. He also served as an understudy in the Chicago production of the rock musical The Me Nobody Knows and participated in the All-City High School Chorus.

In the summer of 1971, Jackson received a scholarship to attend the National Youth Chorus Workshop at Wolf Trap American University Academy for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. That same year, he was among 25 selected performing arts students who appeared alongside Lloyd Haynes in the WMAQ-TV musical special The New Performers: Chicagoland '71. His fellow cast members voted him "Best Trouper" among the supporting performers, an honor that came with a $500 scholarship.

Later in 1971, Jackson joined the Goodman Theatre's touring company for the children's musical comedy The Magic Isle. He auditioned for the Chicago production of Godspell in May 1972 but was cast in the film version instead. Filming took place in New York from August through November of that year. He subsequently joined the Chicago stage production of Godspell in November 1972, was called back to New York for additional location shooting, and remained with the Chicago cast until the production concluded in August 1973. His Broadway credit stems from his appearance in Godspell in 1971.

Following Godspell, Jackson joined Nell Carter in the Chicago cast of the musical Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope, and later appeared with the show's national touring company in Baltimore. While based in New York City, he performed with dance companies, continued appearing in Broadway musicals, and filmed commercial spots for 7 Up. He was also a painter. Jackson had a child named David Clayton Jackson.

Merrell Jackson died of a sudden heart attack on February 23, 1991, at the age of 38.