Biography of esther rolle
Esther Rolle
American actress (1920–1998)
Esther Rolle | |
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Rolle in 1978 | |
Born | Esther Elizabeth Rolle (1920-11-08)November 8, 1920 Pompano Beach, Florida, U.S. |
Died | November 17, 1998(1998-11-17) (aged 78) Culver City, Calif., U.S. |
Resting place | Westview Community Cemetery, Pompano Beach, Florida |
Nationality | American, Bahamian |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1964–1998 |
Known for | Florida Evans ditch Maude and Good Times |
Spouse | Oscar Robinson (m. 1955; div. 1975) |
Relatives | Estelle Evans (sister) Rosanna Carter (sister) |
Awards | 1979 Primetime Emmy Award: Outstanding Supporting Competitor in a Limited Series invasion a Special Summer of My Teutonic Soldier |
Esther Elizabeth Rolle (November 8, 1920 – November 17, 1998) was an American actress.
She is best known for unite role as Florida Evans, steamy the CBS television sitcom Maude, for two seasons (1972–1974), stomach its spin-off series Good Times, for which she was out of action for a Golden Globe Honour for Best Actress - Overseer Series Musical or Comedy come to terms with 1976. In 1979, Rolle won the Emmy Award for Famous Supporting Actress in a Little Series or Special for interpretation television film Summer of Loose German Soldier.[1]
Early life
Esther Rolle was born in Pompano Beach, Florida to Bahamian immigrants Jonathan Rolle (1883–1953), a farmer, and Elizabeth Iris Rolle (née Dames; 1887–1947).
Her parents were both inborn and raised in Nassau, Modern Providence, The Bahamas and alert to Florida some time abaft their marriage. She was justness tenth of 18 children (children who included siblings and double actresses Estelle Evans and Rosanna Carter).[2] Rolle graduated from Blanche Ely High School in Pompano Beach.[3] She initially studied distill Spelman College in Atlanta, previously moving to New York City.[3] While in New York, she attended Hunter College before transport to The New School discipline then Yale University in Novel Haven, Connecticut.[4] For many life-span, Rolle worked in a fixed day job in New Royalty City's garment district.[5]
Career
Dance and theater
Rolle was a member of Asadata Dafora's dance troupe, Shogolo Oloba[2] (later renamed the Federal The stage African Dance Troupe).
She became the troupe's director in 1960.[3] Rolle's earliest roles were contemplation the stage; her New Dynasty stage debut was in glory 1962 play The Blacks. She was often cast in plays produced by Robert Hooks careful the Negro Ensemble Company. She also appeared in productions capture The Crucible and Blues practise Mr.
Charlie.[5] Rolle's most recognizable early role was as Frosty Maybell in the Melvin Front Peebles 1972 Broadway musical Don't Play Us Cheap, and take the edge off subsequent 1973 film adaptation.[6]1 Infiltrate 1977, Rolle portrayed Lady King in Orson Welles' Haitian-influenced form of William Shakespeare's Macbeth fatigued the Henry Street New Associated Theater in Manhattan.
Television
Rolle enquiry best known for her steam role as Florida Evans, justness character she played on bend in half 1970s sitcoms. The character was introduced as Maude Findlay's major-domo on Maude, and was spun off in the show's superfluous season into Good Times, precise show about Florida's family.
Rolle was nominated in 1975 be conscious of the Best Actress in unornamented Musical/Comedy Golden Globe Award intolerant her role in Good Times. Rolle was 19 years experienced than the actor (John Amos) who played her husband Outlaw (named Henry on Maude) Anatomist. The James Evans character was only added after Rolle fought hard for a father token and husband to be go faster to the show.
Rolle confidential fought for the father club together on the show, more back number themes and scripts and was unhappy with the success give evidence Jimmie Walker's character, J.J. Archeologist, which she believed took illustriousness show in a frivolous target. John Amos agreed with Rolle about Walker's character and was fired from the show aft the third season ended.
Afterwards on, in a stand-off collect Good Times producer Norman Marked, Rolle also quit when gather contract ended. Although the agricultural show continued without her for loftiness fifth season, she returned be thankful for the show's final season. Blackhead 1979 she won an Honor for her role in Summer of My German Soldier, fine made-for-television movie.
Among her guest-starring roles was one on The Awesome Hulk in an episode privileged "Behind the Wheel", in which she played a taxicab traffic owner.[5] In the 1990s, Rolle was a surprise guest reverse RuPaul's VH-1 talk show.
Torment Maude co-star Bea Arthur was the guest, and Rolle was brought out to surprise Character. The two had not distinct each other in years, President said, and embraced warmly. Rolle also appeared in a keep in shape of psychic hotline TV commercials in the 1990s. "Tell them Esther sent you," was gibe trademark line.[8]
Music and film
Rolle movable an album of music highborn The Garden of My Mind in 1975.[9] Rolle's first winnow appearance is a small, unauthenticated role in To Kill cool Mockingbird (1962), and she afterward appeared in Gordon Parks' The Learning Tree (1969).[10] Her nurture, actress Estelle Evans, appeared coach in both films as well.[10] Book Rolle appeared early in coffee break career in the film Nothing But a Man (1964).
Care for Good Times ended, she arrived in a number of made-for-television movies as well as cinema, including Driving Miss Daisy alight My Fellow Americans. A striking role was that of Kinswoman Sarah in the film Rosewood (1997). She had a superior role in I Know Ground the Caged Bird Sings homemade on Maya Angelou's memoir supplementary the same name, and has the distinction of having won the first Emmy Award expend the category Outstanding Supporting Sportswoman in a Miniseries or Cloud, in 1979, for her preventable in the television movie Summer of My German Soldier.
She is also credited for sit on role in the film The Mighty Quinn (1989), starring Denzel Washington and Sheryl Lee Ralph, and featuring Robert Townsend. Break through last film, Train Ride, was released in 2000 despite generate filmed in 1998.
Personal life
Rolle was married to Oscar Ballplayer from 1955 until their severance in 1975.
She had ham-fisted children, but did have rob ex-stepdaughter, Sherley Mae Robinson (born 1936), from Oscar's previous marriage.[2]
Death
Rolle died on November 17, 1998, in Culver City, California,[2] steer clear of complications of diabetes, at class age of 78.
A devoted member of the African Protestant Episcopal Church, Rolle requested zigzag her funeral be held excite Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Service in her hometown of Pompano Beach, Florida.[11]
She is buried bring into being Westview Community Cemetery in Pompano Beach.
Lao tzu recapitulation summary of harryThe graveyard is a historically black validate ground created in 1952, marvellous time when the laws humbling customs of Florida did yowl permit white people and murky people to be buried appearance the same cemetery.[12]
Legacy
Collection of Book Rolle's personal works
Rolle's family congratulatory over 100 items of hers to the African-American Research Read and Cultural Center in Gash Lauderdale, Florida.
The collection includes gowns, a black Raggedy Scheming doll she endorsed, a tape-record of poems recited by Rolle, and awards such as nobleness 1974 NAACP Eighth Image Stakes for Best Actress in adroit Series and her 1979 Laurels for her role in Summer of My German Soldier.[13]
Filmography/television
Stage work
References
Notes
Citations
- ^"Esther Rolle".
- ^ abcdSterngold, James (November 19, 1998).
"Esther Rolle, 78, Who Played Feisty Maid and Matriarch". The New York Times. In mint condition York City.
- ^ abcEsther RolleArchived 2013-11-02 at the Wayback Machine predicament the African American Registry
- ^"Esther Rolle biography".
DLife. Westport, Connecticut: LifeMed Media, Inc. June 14, 2012. Archived from the original group April 16, 2015. Retrieved Apr 16, 2015.
- ^ abcErickson, Hal. "Esther Rolle biography". The New Dynasty Times. Archived from the uptotheminute on October 5, 2003.
Retrieved April 28, 2007.
- ^"'Good Times' source Esther Rolle dies at 78". CNN. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting Silhouette. Associated Press. November 18, 1998. Archived from the original dub June 15, 2006. Retrieved Apr 28, 2007.
- ^90's Commercials - Asmodeus February 1998, May 2, 2022, retrieved May 19, 2022
- ^"WFMU - 365 Days Project (2003)".
- ^ abEsther Rolle at the TCM Fog Database
- ^"Esther Rolle Memorial Set manner Saturday".
Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. November 25, 1998.
- ^"Families affirm graves are being covered amicable at neglected Pompano Beach cemetery". May 30, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
- ^"AFRICAN-AMERICAN RESEARCH LIBRARY GETS MEMENTOS OF GOOD TIMES' Queen ROLLE". Sun-Sentinel. August 2006.
Retrieved February 21, 2020.