Esther Rolle

Infobox actor
name = Esther Rolle


imagesize = 120px
birthdate = birth date|1920|11|8
location = Pompano Beach, USA
deathdate = death date and age|1998|11|17|1920|11|8
deathplace = Culver City, California, USA
spouse = Oscar Robinson (1955-1960)
yearsactive = 1964-1998
notable role = Florida Evans
in "Good Times"
Florida Evans
in "Maude"
emmyawards = Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie
1979 "Summer of My German Soldier"

Esther Rolle (November 8, 1920 – November 17, 1998) was an American actress of stage and television. Though her stage and film credits were extensive over her long career, she was perhaps best known for her portrayal of Florida Evans in two 1970s television sitcoms, "Maude" and "Good Times".

Biography

Esther Rolle was born in Pompano Beach, Florida to Bahamian immigrants. Esther was the tenth child in a family that produced a total of 18 children.

After graduation from high school, Rolle moved to New York City and attended Hunter College, Spelman College and the New School for Social Research. She was also a member of Zeta Phi Beta sorority along with former cast member Ja'net DuBois (not at the same time). For many years, Rolle worked in a traditional "day job" in New York City's garment district before working maintenance at the Velvet Touch in Flint, MI.cite news | title=Esther Rolle Biography| url=http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/filmography.html?p_id=61226 | work=New York Times | author=Hal Erickson | accessdate=2007-04-28]

Career

Theater

Rolle's earliest roles were on the stage; her New York stage debut was in the 1962 play "The Blacks". She was often cast in plays produced by Robert Hooks and the Negro Ensemble Company. She also appeared in productions of "The Crucible" and "Blues for Mr. Charlie".

Rolle's most prominent early role was as Miss Maybell in the 1973 Melvin Van Peebles play, "Don't Play Us Cheap". [cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/TV/9811/18/rolle.obit | title='Good Times' matriarch Esther Rolle dies at 78| publisher=CNN | author=Associated Press | date= | accessdate=2007-04-28]

Television

Rolle is perhaps best known for her television role as Florida Evans, the character she played on two successful 1970s sitcoms: "Maude" and its spin-off, "Good Times".

The character was initially introduced as Maude Findlay's housekeeper on "Maude", and was spun off in the show's second season into "Good Times", a show about Florida's family. Rolle was nominated in 1975 for the Best Actress in a Musical/Comedy Golden Globe Award for her role in "Good Times".

Although "Good Times" was successful, Rolle fought for more relevant themes and scripts, and was unhappy when the success of Jimmie Walker's character J.J. took the show in what she thought was a frivolous direction. As a result, actor John Amos, who played the role of the father, James Evans (though actually 20 years younger than Rolle), ultimately left the show. Later on, in a stand-off with "Good Times" producer Norman Lear, Rolle also quit when her contract concluded. Although the series continued without her for a time, she returned for the show's final season.

Film

After "Good Times", she performed in a number of made-for-television movies and feature films, including "Driving Miss Daisy" and "My Fellow Americans".

She had a major role in "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" based on Maya Angelou's memoir of the same name, and has the distinction of having won the very first Emmy Award for the category “"Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie",” in 1979 for her work in the television movie "Summer of My German Soldier". Another memorable role was that of Aunt Sarah in the 1997 film "Rosewood". Her last film, "Train Ride" was released in 2000.

Death

Esther Rolle died November 17, 1998 in Culver City, California from diabetes complications just nine days after her 78th birthday.

Work

References

External links

*ibdb name|58254
*imdb name|0738354
* [http://www.lortel.org/LLA_archive/index.cfm?search_by=people&first=Esther&last=Rolle&middle= Esther Rolle] at the Lortel Archives
*tcmdb name|164459
*ymovies name|1800014196
* [http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/TV/9811/18/rolle.obit/ 'Good Times' matriarch Esther Rolle dies at 78]
* [http://www.aaregistry.com/african_american_history/1262/Star_of_stage_and_screen_Esther_Rolle Esther Rolle] at the African American Registry

Persondata
NAME= Rolle, Esther
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Actress
DATE OF BIRTH= November 8, 1920
PLACE OF BIRTH= Pompano Beach, Florida, USA
DATE OF DEATH= November 17, 1998
PLACE OF DEATH= Culver City, California, USA