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Esther Rolle (November 8, 1920 – November 17, 1998) was a Bahamian American actress. The daughter of Bahamian immigrants, Rolle was born in Pompano Beach, Florida and attended Spelman College.

Career

One of Rolle's most prominent early turns was as Miss Maybell in the 1973 Melvin Van Peebles cult classic, Don't Play Us Cheap. Rolle is best known, however, for her role as Florida Evans, the character she played on two successful 1970s sitcoms: Maude and its spinoff, Good Times. She 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. In a stand-off with the show's producer Norman Lear, Rolle quit, and the series continued without her. She returned for the show's final season.

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 after her death in 2000.

Rolle died 17 November 1998, in Los Angeles, California, due to complications from diabetes just ten days after her 78th birthday. She left her Emmy Award and estate to an institution for African American rights.

Rolle was a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

Awards

• Emmy Award (1979) – Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie – Summer of My German Soldier

Broadway and Stage

• A Raisin in the Sun (1989) – Lena
• Member of the Wedding (1989) – Berenice
• Don't Play Us Cheap (1973) – Miss Maybell
• Day of Absence (1965) –
• The Amen Corner (1965) –

Filmography

• Train Ride (2000) – The Dean
• Down in the Delta (1999) –
• Rosewood (1997) – Sarah Carrier
• My Fellow Americans (1996) – Rita
• Driving Miss Daisy (1989) – Idella
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1979) – Momma
• Summer of My German Soldier (1978) – Ruth
• Good Times (1974-1979) – Florida Evans

• Maude (1972-1974) – Florida Evans
• One Life to Live (1971) – Sadie Gray

See also

• Bahamian American

External links

• Esther Rolle in The African American Registry

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