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
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Squirrel Food FutureFlirt★ NR -
The Buccaneer 1958Good Luck Charm Vendor★ 6.4 -
Witch Woman★ 4 -
Band of Angels 1957Flower Vendor (Uncredited)★ 6.2 -
Something of Value 1957Midwife (Uncredited)★ 5.5 -
Carmen Jones 1954Hagar – Carmen's Grandmother (Uncredited)★ 6 -
Libby★ 5.8 -
Mighty Joe Young 1949Young Family Servant (Uncredited)★ 6.3 -
Bit in "Ice Cold Katie" Number (uncredited)★ 6.1 -
Beulah★ 5.2 -
Mokey 1942Miss Cully, Old Black Woman (Uncredited)★ 5 -
Sullivan's Travels 1941Church Harmonium Player (Uncredited)★ 7.4 -
King of the Zombies 1941Tahama★ 5.1 -
Love Thy Neighbor 1940Lady McBeth★ 6.5 -
Maryland 1940Naomi★ 6.2 -
Safari 1940Native Woman★ 4 -
Ruby (uncredited)★ 6 -
Tell No Tales 1939Jim Alley's Mother (uncredited)★ 5.3 -
Kentucky 1938Lily★ 5.8 -
Benzedrina (uncredited)★ 4 -
The Toy Wife 1938Eve, a Black Servant (Uncredited)★ 4.8 -
In Old Chicago 1938Hattie★ 6.5 -
Island in the Sky 1938Scrubwoman (Uncredited)★ 7 -
Maid of Salem 1937Tituba★ 5.9 -
San Francisco 1936Earthquake Survivor (Uncredited)★ 6.6 -
So Red the Rose 1935Slave (Uncredited)★ 6.5 -
Imitation of Life 1934Cook (uncredited)★ 7 -
Black Moon 1934Ruva★ 5.2 -
Operator 13 1934Slave at Medicine Show ( Uncredited)★ 5.7 -
A Modern Hero 1934Mme. Azais' Neighbor ( Uncredited)★ 7 -
King Kong 1933Native Handmaiden (uncredited)★ 7.6 -
Mustard (uncredited)★ 6.1 -
Queen Kelly 1932Kali Sana – Aunt's Cook (Uncredited)★ 6.5 -
Jungle Mystery 1932Native Woman in Stockade (Uncredited)★ NR -
Heaven on Earth 1931Voodoo Sue★ 3 -
The Pagan Lady 1931Carla the Servant★ 2.5 -
The Thoroughbred 1930Sacharine★ 4.7 -
Sarah and Son 1930Belloc's Maid (Uncredited)★ 5.3 -
Thunderbolt 1929Bit Role★ 5.8 -
The Carnation Kid 1929The Maid (Uncredited)★ NR -
Uncle Tom's Cabin 1927Slave at Wedding (uncredited)★ 6.9 -
College 1927Cook (uncredited)★ 6.8 -
The Golden Bed 1925Boarding House Maid (Uncredited)★ 3.5 -
The Narrow Street 1925Easter★ NR -
The Lightning Rider 1924Mammy★ NR -
Manslaughter 1922Prison Inmate (uncredited)★ 5.4 -
The Show 1922Maid (uncredited)★ 6.5 -
Sally's Maid (Uncredited)★ 5.9 -
His Musical Sneeze 1919Maid (uncredited)★ 5.3 -
Who's Your Father? 1918Black Mother (uncredited)★ NR -
Old Wives for New 1918Viola's Maid (uncredited)★ 6.5 -
Tarzan of the Apes 1918Esmeralda - Jane's Maid (uncredited)★ 5.4 -
Stage Struck 1917Uncredited★ NR
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The Children Pay 1916Uncredited★ NR -
Girl at the Marriage Market (uncredited)★ 7.1 -
Hoodoo Ann 1916Black Cindy★ 5.6 -
Black Woman (uncredited)★ 6 -
The Cause of It All 1915Mary - The Hotel Cook★ NR