Trivia

Did not know how to play the piano. In Casablanca, the piano was empty and the music came from a pianist located behind the camera.

Dooley's piano playing in the film was actually performed by pianist/composer/songwriter Elliot Carpenter, who was placed where Wilson could see and imitate his hand movements. The only black talent on the Casablanca (1942) set, Wilson and Carpenter became and remained friends.

Though Wilson received only $350 per week for Casablanca (1942), the cost Paramount imposed on Warner Bros. for the loanout resulted in Wilson being the most expensive of Casablanca's supporting cast.

Dooley won the role of Sam over top contender Clarence Muse who later played Sam in a 1950s TV adaptation of "Casablanca."

Was on the board of directors of the Negro Actors Guild of America.

His vocal of "As Time Goes By" from "Casablanca" (1942) has become so iconic that, more than 70 years later, the original soundtrack recording continues to be used in the soundtracks of new motion picture and television productions.

There is a line often misquoted from Casablanca (1942). In a scene where Rick (Bogart) sits in the darkened nightclub, alone except for Dooley's piano-playing Sam, he is seen drinking and tormenting himself by insisting that Sam repeatedly play "As Time Goes By," saying, "You played it for her, you can play it for me... If she can stand it, I can! Play it!" Bogart's line is often misquoted as, "Play it again, Sam!"

In the '20's he led his own band on a world tour.

After leading his band on a world tour he returned to America and performed under Orson Welles and John Houseman at the Federal Theatre.

He was the only member of the cast to have visited Casablanca when he toured the world as a jazz musician.

He made less than 10 films after Casablanca before dying in 1953 aged 59.