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Madame Sul-Te-Wan

Madame Sul-Te-Wan

Actor · 1873–1959 · Louisville, Kentucky, USA

IMDb

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.

Acted in 55

1950s

  1. 1958

    The Buccaneer

    Good Luck Charm Vendor

  2. 1957

    Band of Angels

    Flower Vendor (Uncredited)

  3. Something of Value

    Midwife (Uncredited)

    59
  4. 1954

    Carmen Jones

    Hagar – Carmen's Grandmother (Uncredited)

    67

1940s

  1. 1949

    The Story of Seabiscuit

    Libby

  2. Mighty Joe Young

    Young Family Servant (Uncredited)

  3. 1943

    Thank Your Lucky Stars

    Bit in "Ice Cold Katie" Number (uncredited)

    66

  4. Revenge of the Zombies

    Beulah

  5. 1942

    Mokey

    Miss Cully (uncredited)

  6. 1941

    Sullivan's Travels

    Church Harmonium Player (Uncredited)

  7. King of the Zombies

    Tahama

    52
  8. 1940

    Love Thy Neighbor

    Lady McBeth

  9. Maryland

    Naomi

  10. Safari

    Native Woman

1930s

  1. 1939

    Torchy Blane... Playing with Dynamite

    Ruby (uncredited)

  2. Tell No Tales

    Jim Alley's Mother (uncredited)

  3. 1938

    Kentucky

    Lily

  4. The Affairs of Annabel

    Benzedrina (uncredited)

  5. The Toy Wife

    Eve, a Black Servant (Uncredited)

  6. In Old Chicago

    Hattie

  7. Island in the Sky

    Scrubwoman (Uncredited)

  8. 1937

    Maid of Salem

    Tituba

  9. 1936

    San Francisco

    Earthquake Survivor (Uncredited)

    75
  10. 1935

    So Red the Rose

    Slave (Uncredited)

  11. 1934

    Imitation of Life

    Cook (uncredited)

  12. Black Moon

    Ruva

  13. Operator 13

    Slave at Medicine Show ( Uncredited)

    59

  14. A Modern Hero

    Mme. Azais' Neighbor ( Uncredited)

  15. 1933

    King Kong

    Native Handmaiden (uncredited)

    85

  16. Ladies They Talk About

    Mustard (uncredited)

    65
  17. 1932

    Jungle Mystery

    Native Woman in Stockade (Uncredited)

  18. 1931

    Heaven on Earth

    Voodoo Sue

  19. The Pagan Lady

    Carla the Servant

  20. 1930

    The Thoroughbred

    Sacharine

  21. Sarah and Son

    Belloc's Maid (Uncredited)

1920s

  1. 1929

    Queen Kelly

    Kali Sana - Aunt's Cook (uncredited)

  2. Thunderbolt

    Bit Role

  3. The Carnation Kid

    The Maid (Uncredited)

  4. 1927

    Uncle Tom's Cabin

    Slave at Wedding (uncredited)

  5. College

    Cook (uncredited)

    75
  6. 1925

    The Golden Bed

    Boarding House Maid (Uncredited)

  7. The Narrow Street

    Easter

  8. 1924

    The Lightning Rider

    Mammy

  9. 1922

    Manslaughter

    Prison Inmate (uncredited)

  10. The Show

    Maid (uncredited)

  11. 1920

    Why Change Your Wife?

    Sally's Maid (Uncredited)

    64

1910s

  1. 1919

    His Musical Sneeze

    Maid (uncredited)

  2. 1918

    Who's Your Father?

    Black Mother (uncredited)

  3. Old Wives for New

    Viola's Maid (uncredited)

  4. Tarzan of the Apes

    Esmeralda - Jane's Maid (uncredited)

    64
  5. 1916

    The Children Pay

    Uncredited

  6. Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages

    Girl at the Marriage Market (uncredited)

    85

  7. Hoodoo Ann

    Black Cindy

  8. 1915

    The Birth of a Nation

    Black Woman (uncredited)

    68