Madame Sul-Te-Wan
March 7, 1873 (151 years old) in Louisville, Kentucky, USA
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Madame Sul-Te-Wan (born Nellie Crawford; March 7, 1873 – February 1, 1959) was the first African-American actress to sign a film contract and be a featured performer. She was an American stage, film and television actress for over 50 years. The daughter of former slaves, she began her career in entertainment touring the East Coast with various theatrical companies and moved to California to become a member of the fledgling film community. She became known as a character actress, appeared in high-profile films such as The Birth of a Nation (1915) and Intolerance (1916), and easily navigated the transition to the sound films. In 1986, she was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame.
Known For
Credits
- 1958 ·The Buccaneeras Good Luck Charm Vendor
- 1958 ·Tarzan and the Trappersas Witch Woman
- 1957 ·Band of Angelsas Flower Vendor (Uncredited)
- 1957 ·Something of Valueas Midwife (Uncredited)
- 1954 ·Carmen Jonesas Hagar – Carmen's Grandmother (Uncredited)
- 1949 ·The Story of Seabiscuitas Libby
- 1949 ·Mighty Joe Youngas Young Family Servant (Uncredited)
- 1943 ·Thank Your Lucky Starsas Bit in "Ice Cold Katie" Number (uncredited)
- 1943 ·Revenge of the Zombiesas Beulah
- 1942 ·Mokeyas Miss Cully, Old Black Woman (Uncredited)
- 1941 ·Sullivan's Travelsas Church Harmonium Player (Uncredited)
- 1941 ·King of the Zombiesas Tahama
- 1940 ·Love Thy Neighboras Lady McBeth
- 1940 ·Marylandas Naomi
- 1940 ·Safarias Native Woman
- 1939 ·Torchy Blane.. Playing with Dynamiteas Ruby (uncredited)
- 1939 ·Tell No Talesas Jim Alley's Mother (uncredited)
- 1938 ·Kentuckyas Lily
- 1938 ·The Affairs of Annabelas Benzedrina (uncredited)
- 1938 ·The Toy Wifeas Eve, a Black Servant (Uncredited)
- 1938 ·Island in the Skyas Scrubwoman (Uncredited)
- 1937 ·Maid of Salemas Tituba
- 1936 ·San Franciscoas Earthquake Survivor (Uncredited)
- 1936 ·In Old Chicagoas Hattie
- 1935 ·So Red the Roseas Slave (Uncredited)
- 1934 ·Imitation of Lifeas Cook (uncredited)
- 1934 ·Black Moonas Ruva
- 1934 ·Operator 13as Slave at Medicine Show ( Uncredited)
- 1934 ·A Modern Heroas Mme. Azais' Neighbor ( Uncredited)
- 1933 ·King Kongas Native Handmaiden (uncredited)
- 1933 ·Ladies They Talk Aboutas Mustard (uncredited)
- 1932 ·Queen Kellyas Kali Sana – Aunt's Cook (Uncredited)
- 1932 ·Jungle Mysteryas Native Woman in Stockade (Uncredited)
- 1931 ·Heaven on Earthas Voodoo Sue
- 1931 ·The Pagan Ladyas Carla the Servant
- 1930 ·The Thoroughbredas Sacharine
- 1930 ·Sarah and Sonas Belloc's Maid (Uncredited)
- 1929 ·Thunderboltas Bit Role
- 1929 ·The Carnation Kidas The Maid (Uncredited)
- 1927 ·Uncle Tom's Cabinas Slave at Wedding (uncredited)
- 1927 ·Collegeas Cook (uncredited)
- 1925 ·The Golden Bedas Boarding House Maid (Uncredited)
- 1925 ·The Narrow Streetas Easter
- 1924 ·The Lightning Rideras Mammy
- 1922 ·Manslaughteras Prison Inmate (uncredited)
- 1922 ·The Showas Maid (uncredited)
- 1920 ·Why Change Your Wife?as Sally's Maid (Uncredited)
- 1919 ·His Musical Sneezeas Maid (uncredited)
- 1918 ·Who's Your Father?as Black Mother (uncredited)
- 1918 ·Old Wives for Newas Viola's Maid (uncredited)
- 1918 ·Tarzan of the Apesas Esmeralda - Jane's Maid (uncredited)
- 1917 ·Stage Struckas Uncredited
- 1916 ·The Children Payas Uncredited
- 1916 ·Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Agesas Girl at the Marriage Market (uncredited)
- 1916 ·Hoodoo Annas Black Cindy
- 1915 ·The Birth of a Nationas Black Woman
- 1915 ·The Cause of It Allas Mary - The Hotel Cook
- Future ·Squirrel Foodas Flirt