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Esther Rolle

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
46

Gender
Female

Birthday
November 8, 1920 (105 years old)

Place of Birth
Pompano Beach, Florida USA

Esther Rolle

Biography

Esther Elizabeth Rolle (November 8, 1920 – November 17, 1998) was a Bahamian American actress. Rolle 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 five seasons (1974–77, 1978–79), for which Rolle was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Television Series Musical or Comedy in 1976.

Rolle is best known for her television role as Florida Evans, the character she played on two 1970s sitcoms. The character was introduced as Maude Findlay's housekeeper on Maude, and was spun off in the show's second season into Good Times, a show about Florida's family. Rolle was nominated in 1975 for the Best Actress in a Musical/Comedy Golden Globe Award for her role in Good Times. Rolle was 19 years older than the actor (John Amos) who played her husband James Evans. The James Evans character was only added after Esther Rolle fought hard for a father figure and husband to be added to the show. Rolle had fought for the father character on the show, more relevant themes and scripts and was unhappy when the success of Jimmie Walker's character, J.J. Evans, took the show in a frivolous direction. John Amos agreed with Rolle about Walker's character and was fired from the show after the third season ended. Later on, in a stand-off with Good Times producer Norman Lear, Rolle also quit when her contract ended. Although the show continued without her for the fifth season, she returned for the show's final season. In 1979 she won an Emmy for her role in Summer of My German Soldier, a made-for-television movie.

Among her guest star roles was one on The Incredible Hulk in an episode entitled "Behind the Wheel" where she played a taxicab business owner. In the 1990s, Rolle was a surprise guest on RuPaul's VH-1 talk show. Her Maude co-star Bea Arthur was the guest, and Rolle was brought out to surprise Arthur. The two had not seen each other in years, Arthur said, and embraced warmly. Rolle also appeared in a series of psychic hotline TV commercials in the 1990s. "Tell them Esther sent you," was her trademark line.

Known For

Acting

2005Train Rideas Dean of Students
1998Down in the Deltaas Annie Sinclair
1997Rosewoodas Aunt Sarah
1996My Fellow Americansas Rita
1996Promised Landas Mary Harding
1995How to Make an American Quiltas Aunt Pauline
1995Nobody's Girls: Five Women of the Westas Clara Brown
1994Scarlettas Mammy
1994Touched by an Angelas Mary Harding
1993To Dance with the White Dogas Neelie
1993Message from Namas Queenie / Elizabeth McQueen
1993House of Cardsas Adelle
1992Color Adjustmentas Self
1991Cape Fearas Woman Watching Cady Get Out from Under the Car (uncredited)
1990The Kid Who Loved Christmasas Esther Clayton
1990Singer and Sonsas
1989Age-Old Friendsas Mrs. Baker
1989Driving Miss Daisyas Idella
1989The Mighty Quinnas Ubu Pearl
1989A Raisin in the Sunas Lena 'Mama' Younger
1987P.K. and the Kidas Mim
1986Ethnic Notionsas Narrator
1984Murder, She Wroteas Margaret
1984Finder of Lost Lovesas Nellie
1983The Grand Babyas Momma
1982The New Odd Coupleas Ms. Gibbs
1982American Playhouseas Church Woman
1982American Playhouseas Lena Younger
1982The Tragedy of Romeo and Julietas Nurse
1981Darkroomas Old Woman
1981See China and Dieas Momma Sykes
1981Flamingo Roadas
1979I Know Why the Caged Bird Singsas Momma
1978Summer of My German Soldieras Ruth
1977The Incredible Hulkas
1976Donny & Marieas Self
1974Good Timesas Florida Evans
1973Cleopatra Jonesas Mrs. Johnson
1973Don't Play Us Cheapas Miss Maybell
1972Maudeas Florida Evans
1971Who Says I Can't Ride a Rainbow!as Maid
1969The Learning Treeas uncredited
1967Up the Down Staircaseas Teacher
1964Nothing But a Manas Church Woman
1962To Kill a Mockingbirdas uncredited role
1951Hallmark Hall of Fameas

Production