Madame Sul-Te-Wan
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.
Known For
Credits
- 1986 · Horrible Horror as Tahama in 'King of the Zombies'
- 1958 · The Buccaneer as Good Luck Charm Vendor
- 1958 · Tarzan and the Trappers as Witch Woman
- 1957 · Band of Angels as Flower Vendor (Uncredited)
- 1957 · Something of Value as Midwife (Uncredited)
- 1954 · Carmen Jones as Hagar – Carmen's Grandmother (Uncredited)
- 1949 · The Story of Seabiscuit as Libby
- 1949 · Mighty Joe Young as Young Family Servant (Uncredited)
- 1943 · Thank Your Lucky Stars as Bit in "Ice Cold Katie" Number (uncredited)
- 1943 · Revenge of the Zombies as Beulah
- 1942 · Mokey as Miss Cully, Old Black Woman (Uncredited)
- 1941 · Sullivan's Travels as Church Harmonium Player (Uncredited)
- 1941 · King of the Zombies as Tahama
- 1940 · Love Thy Neighbor as Lady McBeth
- 1940 · Maryland as Naomi
- 1940 · Safari as Native Woman
- 1939 · Torchy Blane.. Playing with Dynamite as Ruby (uncredited)
- 1939 · Tell No Tales as Jim Alley's Mother (uncredited)
- 1938 · Kentucky as Lily
- 1938 · The Affairs of Annabel as Benzedrina (uncredited)
- 1938 · The Toy Wife as Eve, a Black Servant (Uncredited)
- 1938 · In Old Chicago as Hattie
- 1938 · Island in the Sky as Scrubwoman (Uncredited)
- 1937 · Maid of Salem as Tituba
- 1936 · San Francisco as Earthquake Survivor (Uncredited)
- 1935 · So Red the Rose as Slave (Uncredited)
- 1934 · Imitation of Life as Cook (uncredited)
- 1934 · Black Moon as Ruva
- 1934 · Operator 13 as Slave at Medicine Show ( Uncredited)
- 1934 · A Modern Hero as Mme. Azais' Neighbor ( Uncredited)
- 1933 · King Kong as Native Handmaiden (uncredited)
- 1933 · Ladies They Talk About as Mustard (uncredited)
- 1932 · Queen Kelly as Kali Sana – Aunt's Cook (Uncredited)
- 1932 · Jungle Mystery as Native Woman in Stockade (Uncredited)
- 1931 · Heaven on Earth as Voodoo Sue
- 1931 · The Pagan Lady as Carla the Servant
- 1930 · The Thoroughbred as Sacharine
- 1930 · Sarah and Son as Belloc's Maid (Uncredited)
- 1929 · Thunderbolt as Bit Role
- 1929 · The Carnation Kid as The Maid (Uncredited)
- 1927 · Uncle Tom's Cabin as Slave at Wedding (uncredited)
- 1927 · College as Cook (uncredited)
- 1925 · The Golden Bed as Boarding House Maid (Uncredited)
- 1925 · The Narrow Street as Easter
- 1924 · The Lightning Rider as Mammy
- 1922 · Manslaughter as Prison Inmate (uncredited)
- 1922 · The Show as Maid (uncredited)
- 1920 · Why Change Your Wife? as Sally's Maid (Uncredited)
- 1919 · His Musical Sneeze as Maid (uncredited)
- 1918 · Who's Your Father? as Black Mother (uncredited)
- 1918 · Old Wives for New as Viola's Maid (uncredited)
- 1918 · Tarzan of the Apes as Esmeralda - Jane's Maid (uncredited)
- 1917 · Stage Struck as Uncredited
- 1916 · The Children Pay as Uncredited
- 1916 · Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages as Girl at the Marriage Market (uncredited)
- 1916 · Hoodoo Ann as Black Cindy
- 1915 · The Birth of a Nation as Black Woman
- 1915 · The Cause of It All as Mary - The Hotel Cook
- Future · Squirrel Food as Flirt