In the late '30s she worked in Chicago's WPA Theater. She moved to New York City in the early '40s, where she was a member of the Rose McClendon Players. She debuted on Broadway in 1941, portraying the sister of Bigger Thomas (Canada Lee) in Orson Welles's production of Native Son (1941). She established herself as a serious stage actress. She was one of the founders of the American Negro Theater. Over the years she landed a small handful of film roles, debuting onscreen in The Phenix City Story (1955). In the '70s she became recognizable to a large audience through her appearances on a number of sitcoms; she was a regular on Baby, I'm Back and 227, and she had guest appearances on many other shows.
| Title | Year | Editors' Rating | User Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bulworth
Actor |
1998 | |||
|
I Got The Hook-Up
Actor |
1998 | |||
| 1996 | ||||
|
Beverly Hills Cop III
Actor |
1994 | |||
|
A Rage in Harlem
Actor |
1991 | |||
|
Doc Hollywood
Actor |
1991 | |||
|
House Party 2
Actor |
1991 | |||
|
Night Angel
Actor |
1990 | |||
|
A Raisin in the Sun
Actor |
1989 | |||
| 1989 | ||||
|
Hollywood Shuffle
Actor |
1987 | |||
|
Mona Lisa
Actor |
1986 | |||
|
Amos
Actor |
1985 | |||
|
Repo Man
Actor |
1984 | |||
| 1983 | ||||
|
Deal of the Century
Actor |
1983 | |||
| 1983 | ||||
|
Dummy
Actor |
1979 | |||
|
Good Times: The Physical
Actor |
1979 | |||
|
Cindy
Actor |
1978 | |||
| 1978 | ||||
| 1977 | ||||
| 1977 | ||||
| 1977 | ||||
| 1977 | ||||
| 1976 | ||||
| 1976 | ||||
| 1976 | ||||
| 1976 | ||||
| 1976 | ||||
|
Death Wish
Actor |
1974 | |||
| 1974 | ||||
|
The Anderson Tapes
Actor |
1971 | |||
|
Cotton Comes to Harlem
Actor |
1970 | |||
|
Where's Poppa?
Actor |
1970 | |||
|
The Phenix City Story
Actor |
1955 |
