Esther Rolle was an American actress born on November 8, 1920, in Pompano Beach, Florida, to Bahamian immigrant parents Jonathan and Elizabeth Rolle. She was the tenth of 18 children, and her family was deeply rooted in the arts, with two of her sisters, Estelle Evans and Rosanna Carter, also becoming actresses.
Esther Rolle graduated from Blanche Ely High School and initially studied at Spelman College in Atlanta before moving to New York City to pursue her passion for the arts. While in New York, she attended Hunter College, The New School, and Yale University.
She began her artistic career as a dancer, joining Asadata Dafora's dance troupe, Shogolo Oloba, which was later renamed the Federal Theater African Dance Troupe.
She became the troupe's director in 1960 and performed at various venues, including Carnegie Hall and the Apollo Theater. Her New York stage debut was in the 1962 play "The Blacks," and she continued to work with theater companies such as the Negro Ensemble Company.
Full Name | Esther Rolle |
Other Name | Esther Elizabeth Rolle |
Gender | Female |
Profession | Actress |
Date of Birth | 08-November-1920 (78 years) |
Birth Location | Pompano Beach, Florida, U.S. |
Death Time | 17-November-1998 |
Death Location | Culver City, California, U.S. |
Her most prominent early roles included Miss Maybell in the Broadway musical "Don't Play Us Cheap" and Lady Macbeth in Orson Welles' Haitian-influenced version of Shakespeare's "Macbeth".
Her television career took off when she was cast as Florida Evans, the housekeeper on the CBS sitcom "Maude," in 1972. Her portrayal of Florida was so well-received that it led to a spin-off series, "Good Times," in 1974.
She played Florida Evans on "Good Times" for five seasons and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Series Musical or Comedy in 1976. She also won an Emmy Award in 1979 for her role in the television film "Summer of My German Soldier".
Esther Rolle appeared in several films, including "Driving Miss Daisy" (1989) and "Rosewood" (1997). She was known for her strong-willed personality and her commitment to fighting racial stereotypes in the media.
She was married to Oscar Robinson from 1955 until their divorce in 1975, and she had no children. She passed away on November 17, 1998, due to complications from diabetes.
Esther Rolle was 78 years old
Esther Rolle was born on 08-November-1920
Esther Rolle was born in Pompano Beach, Florida, U.S.
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