Esther Rolle

Esther Elizabeth Rolle (November 8, 1920 – November 17, 1998) was an American actress. She is best known for her role as Florida Evans, on the CBS television sitcom Maude, for two seasons (1972–1974), and its spin-off series Good Times, for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Television Series Musical or Comedy in 1976. In 1979, Rolle became the first Black actress to win the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Special for the television film Summer of My German Soldier.

Early life and education Esther Rolle was born on November 8, 1920, in Pompano Beach, Florida, to Bahamian immigrants Jonathan Rolle (1883–1953), a farmer, and Elizabeth Iris Rolle (née Dames; 1887–1947). Her parents were both born and raised in the Bahamas. Her father moved to Florida to work for the railway; the family followed Rolle was the tenth of 18 children. Her older sisters are fellow actresses Estelle Evans and Rosanna Carter.

Rolle attended Booker T. Washington High School in Miami, but transferred to Blanche Ely High School in Pompano Beach from which she graduated.

Career For many years, Rolle worked in a traditional day job in New York City's garment district.

Dance and theater Rolle was a member of Asadata Dafora's dance troupe, Shogolo Oloba She was often cast in plays produced by Robert Hooks and the Negro Ensemble Company. In 1977, Rolle portrayed Lady Macbeth in Orson Welles' Haitian-influenced version of William Shakespeare's Macbeth at the Henry Street New Federal Theater in Manhattan.

Television Rolle is best known for her television role as Florida Evans, the character she played on two 1970s sitcoms.

Music and film Rolle released an album of music titled The Garden of My Mind in 1975. Rolle's first screen appearance is a small, uncredited role in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), and she later appeared in Gordon Parks' The Learning Tree (1969). Her sister, actress Estelle Evans, appeared in both films as well.

She is buried in Westview Community Cemetery in Pompano Beach. The cemetery is a historically black burial ground created in 1952, a time when the laws and customs of Florida did not permit white people and black people to be buried in the same cemetery.

Legacy Collection of Esther Rolle's personal works Rolle's family donated over 100 items of hers to the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The collection includes gowns, a black Raggedy Andy doll she endorsed, a recording of poems recited by Rolle, and awards such as the 1974 NAACP Eighth Image Award for Best Actress in a Series and her 1979 Emmy for her role in Summer of My German Soldier. There is a street named after Esther Rolle in her hometown of Pompano Beach, Florida.

Filmography/television Year Title Role Note 1964 Nothing But a Man Church woman 1967 Up the Down Staircase Teacher Uncredited 1970–1971 One Life to Live Sadie Gray Unknown episodes 1971 Who Says I Can't Ride a Rainbow! 1971 The Bold Ones: The Senator Black Woman Episode: "A Single Blow of a Sword" 1972–1974 Maude Florida Evans 45 episodes 1973 Cleopatra Jones Mrs. Johnson 1973 Don't Play Us Cheap Miss Maybell 1974–1979 Good Times Florida Evans 109 episodesNominated–Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Television Series Musical or Comedy 1978 Summer of My German Soldier Ruth TV moviePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie 1979 I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Momma TV movie 1979 The Incredible Hulk Colleen Jensen Episode: "Behind the Wheel" 1981 Darkroom Grandmother / Old Woman Episode: "Needlepoint" 1981 See China and Die Momma Sykes TV movie 1982 Flamingo Road Julia 3 episodes 1983 The Love Boat Judge Kramer Episode: "I Like To Be In America" 1983 Fantasy Island Mama Episode: "Edward/The Extraordinary Miss Jones" 1984 Finder of Lost Loves Nellie Episode: "Goodbye, Sara" 1985 Murder, She Wrote Margaret Episode: "Reflections of the Mind" 1986 Ethnic Notions Narrator Documentary about the history of racial stereotypes 1987 P.K. and the Kid Mim 1989 American Playhouse Lena Younger Episode: "A Raisin in the Sun" 1989 The Mighty Quinn Ubu Pearl 1989 Driving Miss Daisy Idella 1990 The Kid Who Loved Christmas Mrs. Clayton, Adoption Agency Director TV movie 1990 Singer & Sons Sarah Patterson 4 episodes 1993 House of Cards Adelle 1993 To Dance with the White Dog Neelie TV movie 1994 Scarlett Mammy 1 episode 1995 How to Make an American Quilt Aunt Pauline 1996 My Fellow Americans Rita 1996 General Hospital Mourner Unknown episodes 1997 Rosewood Aunt Sarah Nominated–Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture 1997 Touched by an Angel Mary Harding Episode: "Amazing Grace: Part 1" 1998 Poltergeist: The Legacy Grandma Rose Episode: "La Belle Dame Sans Merci" 1998 Down in the Delta Annie Sinclair 2000 Train Ride Dean of Students Released posthumously, (final film role)

Stage work Day of Absence (1965) Happy Ending (1965) The Amen Corner (1965) Man Better Man (1969) Akokawe (1970) Ride a Black Horse (1971) The Dream on Monkey Mountain (1971) Rosalee Pritchett (1971) Don't Play Us Cheap (1972) A Ballet Behind the Bridge (1972) Horowitz and Mrs. Washington (1980) Nevis Mountain Dew (1980) Dame Lorraine (1981) A Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet (1982) A Raisin in the Sun (1989) Member of the Wedding (1989)