Madame Sul-Te-Wan
Acting
1873 – 1959 (aged 85)
Louisville, Kentucky, USA
58 acting credits
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.
Known For
King Kong
07 Apr 1933
The Birth of a Nation
08 Mar 1915
Sullivan's Travels
30 Nov 1941
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
05 Sep 1916
College
10 Sep 1927
Mighty Joe Young
13 Jul 1949
Carmen Jones
28 Oct 1954
San Francisco
26 Jun 1936
Photos
Filmography
1960
- Tarzan and the Trappersas Witch Woman
1958
- The Buccaneeras Good Luck Charm Vendor
1957
- Band of Angelsas Flower Vendor (Uncredited)
- Something of Valueas Midwife (Uncredited)
1954
- Carmen Jonesas Hagar – Carmen's Grandmother (Uncredited)
1949
- The Story of Seabiscuitas Libby
- Mighty Joe Youngas Young Family Servant (Uncredited)
1943
- Thank Your Lucky Starsas Bit in "Ice Cold Katie" Number (uncredited)
- Revenge of the Zombiesas Beulah
1942
- Mokeyas Miss Cully (uncredited)
1941
- Sullivan's Travelsas Church Harmonium Player (Uncredited)
- King of the Zombiesas Tahama
1940
- Love Thy Neighboras Lady McBeth
- Marylandas Naomi
- Safarias Native Woman
1939
- Torchy Blane... Playing with Dynamiteas Ruby (uncredited)
- Tell No Talesas Jim Alley's Mother (uncredited)
1938
- Kentuckyas Lily
- The Affairs of Annabelas Benzedrina (uncredited)
- The Toy Wifeas Eve, a Black Servant (Uncredited)
- In Old Chicagoas Hattie
- Island in the Skyas Scrubwoman (Uncredited)
1937
- Maid of Salemas Tituba
1936
- San Franciscoas Earthquake Survivor (Uncredited)
1935
- So Red the Roseas Slave (Uncredited)
1934
- Imitation of Lifeas Cook (uncredited)
- Black Moonas Ruva
- Operator 13as Slave at Medicine Show ( Uncredited)
- A Modern Heroas Mme. Azais' Neighbor ( Uncredited)
1933
- King Kongas Native Handmaiden (uncredited)
- Ladies They Talk Aboutas Mustard (uncredited)
1932
- Jungle Mysteryas Native Woman in Stockade (Uncredited)
1931
- Heaven on Earthas Voodoo Sue
- The Pagan Ladyas Carla the Servant
1930
- The Thoroughbredas Sacharine
- Sarah and Sonas Belloc's Maid (Uncredited)
1929
- Queen Kellyas Kali Sana - Aunt's Cook (uncredited)
- Thunderboltas Bit Role
- The Carnation Kidas The Maid (Uncredited)
1927
- Uncle Tom's Cabinas Slave at Wedding (uncredited)
- Collegeas Cook (uncredited)
1925
- The Golden Bedas Boarding House Maid (Uncredited)
- The Narrow Streetas Easter
1924
- The Lightning Rideras Mammy
1922
- Manslaughteras Prison Inmate (uncredited)
- The Showas Maid (uncredited)
1920
- Why Change Your Wife?as Sally's Maid (Uncredited)
1919
- His Musical Sneezeas Maid (uncredited)
1918
- Who's Your Father?as Black Mother (uncredited)
- Old Wives for Newas Viola's Maid (uncredited)
- Tarzan of the Apesas Esmeralda - Jane's Maid (uncredited)
1917
- Stage Struckas Uncredited
1916
- The Children Payas Uncredited
- Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Agesas Girl at the Marriage Market (uncredited)
- Hoodoo Annas Black Cindy
1915
- The Birth of a Nationas Black Woman (uncredited)
- The Cause of It Allas Mary - The Hotel Cook