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Madame Sul-Te-Wan
Madame Sul-Te-Wan

Madame Sul-Te-Wan

ActingBorn March 7, 1873Died February 1, 1959 (age 85)Louisville, Kentucky, USA

Biography

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.

Filmography

1958
The Buccaneer

as Good Luck Charm Vendor

Movie
1958Movie
1957
Band of Angels

as Flower Vendor (Uncredited)

Movie
1957
Something of Value

as Midwife (Uncredited)

Movie
1954
Carmen Jones

as Hagar – Carmen's Grandmother (Uncredited)

Movie
1949Movie
1949
Mighty Joe Young

as Young Family Servant (Uncredited)

Movie
1943
Thank Your Lucky Stars

as Bit in "Ice Cold Katie" Number (uncredited)

Movie
1943Movie
1942
Mokey

as Miss Cully (uncredited)

Movie
1941
Sullivan's Travels

as Church Harmonium Player (Uncredited)

Movie
1941Movie
1940
Love Thy Neighbor

as Lady McBeth

Movie
1940
Maryland

as Naomi

Movie
1940
Safari

as Native Woman

Movie
1939Movie
1939
Tell No Tales

as Jim Alley's Mother (uncredited)

Movie
1938
Kentucky

as Lily

Movie
1938
The Affairs of Annabel

as Benzedrina (uncredited)

Movie
1938
The Toy Wife

as Eve, a Black Servant (Uncredited)

Movie
1938Movie
1938
Island in the Sky

as Scrubwoman (Uncredited)

Movie
1937
Maid of Salem

as Tituba

Movie
1936
San Francisco

as Earthquake Survivor (Uncredited)

Movie
1935
So Red the Rose

as Slave (Uncredited)

Movie
1934
Imitation of Life

as Cook (uncredited)

Movie
1934
Black Moon

as Ruva

Movie
1934
Operator 13

as Slave at Medicine Show ( Uncredited)

Movie
1934
A Modern Hero

as Mme. Azais' Neighbor ( Uncredited)

Movie
1933
King Kong

as Native Handmaiden (uncredited)

Movie
1933
Ladies They Talk About

as Mustard (uncredited)

Movie
1932
Jungle Mystery

as Native Woman in Stockade (Uncredited)

Movie
1931
Heaven on Earth

as Voodoo Sue

Movie
1931
The Pagan Lady

as Carla the Servant

Movie
1930
The Thoroughbred

as Sacharine

Movie
1930
Sarah and Son

as Belloc's Maid (Uncredited)

Movie
1929
Queen Kelly

as Kali Sana - Aunt's Cook (uncredited)

Movie
1929
Thunderbolt

as Bit Role

Movie
1929
The Carnation Kid

as The Maid (Uncredited)

Movie
1927
Uncle Tom's Cabin

as Slave at Wedding (uncredited)

Movie
1927
College

as Cook (uncredited)

Movie
1925
The Golden Bed

as Boarding House Maid (Uncredited)

Movie
1925Movie
1924Movie
1922
Manslaughter

as Prison Inmate (uncredited)

Movie
1922
The Show

as Maid (uncredited)

Movie
1920
Why Change Your Wife?

as Sally's Maid (Uncredited)

Movie
1919
His Musical Sneeze

as Maid (uncredited)

Movie
1918
Who's Your Father?

as Black Mother (uncredited)

Movie
1918
Old Wives for New

as Viola's Maid (uncredited)

Movie
1918
Tarzan of the Apes

as Esmeralda - Jane's Maid (uncredited)

Movie
1917
Stage Struck

as Uncredited

Movie
1916
The Children Pay

as Uncredited

Movie
1916
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages

as Girl at the Marriage Market (uncredited)

Movie
1916
Hoodoo Ann

as Black Cindy

Movie
1915
The Birth of a Nation

as Black Woman (uncredited)

Movie
1915
The Cause of It All

as Mary - The Hotel Cook

Movie
Movie

Personal Info

DepartmentActing
BirthdayMarch 7, 1873
Day of DeathFebruary 1, 1959
Place of BirthLouisville, Kentucky, USA
Popularity0.1