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Filmography
-
Known For
The Help Constantine Jefferson (2011) -
Diary of a Mad Black Woman Myrtle (2005) -
Fried Green Tomatoes Sipsey (1991) -
Known For
The Trip to Bountiful Mrs. Watts (2014) -
Actress
How to Get Away with Murder Ophelia Harkness (2015-2019) -
Last Flag Flying Mrs. Hightower (2017) -
Showing Roots Hattie (2016) -
House of Cards Doris Jones (2016) -
The Trip to Bountiful Mrs. Watts (2014)
-
The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia Mama Kay (2013) -
Alex Cross Nana Mama (2012) -
The Help Constantine Jefferson (2011)
-
Why Did I Get Married Too? Ola (2010) -
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Ondine Burdett (2009) -
![Relative Stranger]( "Relative Stranger")
Relative Stranger Pearl (2009) -
![Idlewild]( "Idlewild")
Idlewild Mother Hopkins (2006) -
![Fat Rose and Squeaky]( "Fat Rose and Squeaky")
Fat Rose and Squeaky Celine (2006) -
![Madea's Family Reunion]( "Madea's Family Reunion")
Madea's Family Reunion Aunt Myrtle (2006) -
![Diary of a Mad Black Woman]( "Diary of a Mad Black Woman")
Diary of a Mad Black Woman Myrtle (2005) -
![Higglytown Heroes]( "Higglytown Heroes")
Higglytown Heroes Great Aunt Shirley Hero (2005) -
![Because of Winn-Dixie]( "Because of Winn-Dixie")
Because of Winn-Dixie Gloria (2005) -
![The Proud Family]( "The Proud Family")
The Proud Family Mrs. Maureen Parker (2002) -
![The Rosa Parks Story]( "The Rosa Parks Story")
The Rosa Parks Story Leona Edwards McCauley (2002) -
![Jewel]( "Jewel")
Jewel Cathedral (2001) -
![The Outer Limits]( "The Outer Limits")
The Outer Limits Justice Gretchen Parkhurst (2000) -
![Touched by an Angel]( "Touched by an Angel")
Touched by an Angel Abigail Peabody-Jackson (2000) -
![Aftershock: Earthquake in New York]( "Aftershock: Earthquake in New York")
Aftershock: Earthquake in New York Emily Lincoln (1999) -
![A Lesson Before Dying]( "A Lesson Before Dying")
A Lesson Before Dying Tante Lou (1999) -
![Mama Flora's Family]( "Mama Flora's Family")
Mama Flora's Family Mama Flora (1998) -
![Always Outnumbered]( "Always Outnumbered")
Always Outnumbered Luvia (1998) -
![Ms. Scrooge]( "Ms. Scrooge")
Ms. Scrooge Ms. Ebenita Scrooge (1997) -
![Hoodlum]( "Hoodlum")
Hoodlum Stephanie St. Clair (1997) -
![The Price of Heaven]( "The Price of Heaven")
The Price of Heaven Vesta Lotte Battle (1997) -
![Riot]( "Riot")
Riot Maggie (segment "Homecoming Day") (1997) -
![Bridge of Time]( "Bridge of Time")
Bridge of Time Guardian (1997) -
![The Road to Galveston]( "The Road to Galveston")
The Road to Galveston Jordan Roosevelt (1996) -
![Sweet Justice]( "Sweet Justice")
Sweet Justice Carrie Grace Battle (1994-1995) -
![Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All]( "Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All")
Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All Castralia, Marsden Family House Slave / Maid (1994) -
![House of Secrets]( "House of Secrets")
House of Secrets Evangeline (1993) -
![When No One Would Listen]( "When No One Would Listen")
When No One Would Listen Sarah (1992) -
![Duplicates]( "Duplicates")
Duplicates Dr. Randolph (1992) -
![Fried Green Tomatoes]( "Fried Green Tomatoes")
Fried Green Tomatoes Sipsey (1991) -
![Clippers]( "Clippers")
Clippers Donna (1991) -
![The Kid Who Loved Christmas]( "The Kid Who Loved Christmas")
The Kid Who Loved Christmas Etta (1990) -
![Heat Wave]( "Heat Wave")
Heat Wave Ruthana Richardson (1990) -
![B.L. Stryker]( "B.L. Stryker")
B.L. Stryker Ruth Hastings (1990) -
![The Women of Brewster Place]( "The Women of Brewster Place")
The Women of Brewster Place Mrs. Browne (1989) -
![Intimate Encounters]( "Intimate Encounters")
Intimate Encounters Dr. Claire Dalton (1986) -
![Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story]( "Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story")
Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story Muriel (1986) -
![Acceptable Risks]( "Acceptable Risks")
Acceptable Risks Janet Framm (1986) -
![Playing with Fire]( "Playing with Fire")
Playing with Fire Carol Phillips (1985) -
Benny's Place Odessa (1982)
-
![The Marva Collins Story]( "The Marva Collins Story")
The Marva Collins Story Marva Collins (1981) -
-
![Bustin' Loose]( "Bustin' Loose")
Bustin' Loose Vivian Perry (1981) -
![The Concorde... Airport '79]( "The Concorde... Airport '79")
The Concorde... Airport '79 Elaine (1979) -
![A Woman Called Moses]( "A Woman Called Moses")
A Woman Called Moses Harriet Ross Tubman (1978) -
![King]( "King")
King Coretta Scott King (1978) -
![A Hero Ain't Nothin' But a Sandwich]( "A Hero Ain't Nothin' But a Sandwich")
A Hero Ain't Nothin' But a Sandwich Sweets (1978) -
![Wilma]( "Wilma")
Wilma Blanche Rudolph (1977) -
![Roots]( "Roots")
Roots Binta (1977) -
![Just an Old Sweet Song]( "Just an Old Sweet Song")
Just an Old Sweet Song Priscilla Simmons (1976) -
![The River Niger]( "The River Niger")
The River Niger Mattie Williams (1976) -
![The Blue Bird]( "The Blue Bird")
The Blue Bird Tylette (1976) -
![The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman]( "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman")
The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman Jane Pittman (1974) -
![Norman Corwin Presents]( "Norman Corwin Presents")
Norman Corwin Presents (1972) -
![Sounder]( "Sounder")
Sounder Rebecca (1972) -
![Wednesday Night Out]( "Wednesday Night Out")
Wednesday Night Out (1972) -
![Emergency!]( "Emergency!")
Emergency! Mrs. Johnson (1972) -
![Neighbors]( "Neighbors")
Neighbors (1971) -
![Marriage: Year One]( "Marriage: Year One")
Marriage: Year One Emma Teasley (1971) -
![Insight]( "Insight")
Insight Edna (1971) -
![Gunsmoke]( "Gunsmoke")
Gunsmoke Rachel Biggs (1970) -
![Mission: Impossible]( "Mission: Impossible")
Mission: Impossible Alma Ross (1970) -
![The Bill Cosby Show]( "The Bill Cosby Show")
The Bill Cosby Show Mildred Hermosa (1970) -
![Here Come the Brides]( "Here Come the Brides")
Here Come the Brides Princess Lucenda (1970) -
![The Courtship of Eddie's Father]( "The Courtship of Eddie's Father")
The Courtship of Eddie's Father Betty Kelly (1969) -
![The F.B.I.]( "The F.B.I.")
The F.B.I. Lainey Harber (1968-1969) -
![Medical Center]( "Medical Center")
Medical Center Susan Wiley (1969) -
![The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter]( "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter")
The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter Portia (1968) -
![Judd for the Defense]( "Judd for the Defense")
Judd for the Defense Lucille Evans (1967) -
![Cowboy in Africa]( "Cowboy in Africa")
Cowboy in Africa Julie Anderson (1967) -
![The Comedians]( "The Comedians")
The Comedians Marie Therese (1967) -
![I Spy]( "I Spy")
I Spy Vickie Harmon (1965-1966) -
![Guiding Light]( "Guiding Light")
Guiding Light Martha Frazier (1966) -
![A Man Called Adam]( "A Man Called Adam")
A Man Called Adam Claudia Ferguson (1966) -
![Slattery's People]( "Slattery's People")
Slattery's People Sarah Brookman (1965) -
![East Side/West Side]( "East Side/West Side")
East Side/West Side Jane Foster (1963-1964) -
![Naked City]( "Naked City")
Naked City Darlene Knox (1963) -
![The Doctors and the Nurses]( "The Doctors and the Nurses")
The Doctors and the Nurses Betty Ann Warner (1962) -
CBS Repertoire Workshop Daughter (1960)
-
![The Last Angry Man]( "The Last Angry Man")
The Last Angry Man Girl Left on Porch (1959) -
![Odds Against Tomorrow]( "Odds Against Tomorrow")
Odds Against Tomorrow Jazz Club Bartender (1959) -
Carib Gold Dottie (1957)
-
Actress
![Frontiers of Faith]( "Frontiers of Faith")
Frontiers of Faith Tony (1951) -
Soundtrack
![Saturday Night Live]( "Saturday Night Live")
Saturday Night Live (1979) -
Producer
![The Trip to Bountiful]( "The Trip to Bountiful")
The Trip to Bountiful (2014) -
Archive footage
![Entertainment Tonight]( "Entertainment Tonight")
Entertainment Tonight (2018) -
![Pioneers of Television]( "Pioneers of Television")
Pioneers of Television (2014) -
Archive footage
![And the Oscar Goes To...]( "And the Oscar Goes To...")
And the Oscar Goes To... (2014) -
![TV in Black: The First Fifty Years]( "TV in Black: The First Fifty Years")
All Filmography
Did You Know
Trivia
Was considered for the role of Mags in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013), which went to Lynn Cohen.
Quotes
I am the sum total of each one of the women I have played. That they were able to survive the times, and the way in which they did it, made me a stronger person and allowed me to truly believe that all things are possible.
Star Sign
Sagittarius
Personal Details
Born
New York City, New York, USA
Height:
5' 3½" (1.61 m)User Polls
The Most Wonderful Hollywood Actress Aged 55+
Methuselahs of the Movies
Soap Opera Actors Who Became Movie Stars
African-American Milestones in Movies and TV
Fabulous Female Emmy Fashion
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