
Maidie Norman
Maidie Norman was born Maidie Ruth Gamble on October 16, 1912, in Villa Rica, Georgia, to Louis and Lila Gamble. She received a B.A. from Bennett College in 1934 and a master's degree from Columbia University three years later. She also attended the Actors Lab in Hollywood from 1946 to 1949.
Norman first appeared on film in The Peanut Man in 1947. Throughout the fifties-not a good time for film roles for black women-she appeared in a number of films, such as Bright Road with Dorothy Dandridge and Sidney Poitier and Torch Song, both in 1953; About Mrs. Leslie and Susan Slept Here in 1954; and 1956's Written on the Wind. These were often servant roles, with a special fifties blandness. Still, Norman was skillful and professional in her execution of them. In 1962, she got a chance to chew up the scenery with Bette Davis and Joan Crawford in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
In 1968-69, Norman was an artist-in-residence at Stanford University and, throughout the seventies, she was lecturer, director, and acting teacher at UCLA. At the same time, Norman was highly visible on television, appearing in Mannix, Adam 12, Streets of San Francisco, Kung Fu, The Jeffersons, and others. She was also part of the cast of Roots: The Next Generation in 1979.
Norman was a founding member of the American Negro Theater West; in 1977, she was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame; and an award in her name is presented each year for outstanding research by an undergraduate in Black Theater at UCLA. She died on May 6, 1998.
Known For
Credits
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Delphine and Carole 2020Self (archive footage)★ 6.9
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Edna★ 6
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Neddy★ 6
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Nurse Agnes★ 5.2
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Matt Houston 1982★ 6.2
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Hotel 1982★ 6.8
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Cagney & Lacey 1982Elevator Operator★ 6.9
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Simon & Simon 1981★ 6.7
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Self★ 6.3
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Thornwell 1981Ruth Thornwell★ 6
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Sister Scrap Scott★ 7.4
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Movie Movie 1978Gussie ("Baxter's Beauties of 1933")★ 5.8
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The Incredible Hulk 1977Mrs. Dennison★ 7.2
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Airport '77 1977Dorothy★ 5.6
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A Star Is Born 1976Justice of the Peace (uncredited)★ 6
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The Jeffersons 1975★ 7.3
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Baretta 1975★ 6.3
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Librarian★ 7.6
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Police Woman 1974★ 6.2
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Harry O 1974★ 4.6
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★ 7.9
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Rhoda 1974★ 6.3
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Sty of the Blind Pig 1974Weedy Warren★ NR
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Good Times 1974★ 8
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Jennie Daley★ 6
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Maurie 1973Mrs. Stokes★ NR
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The Lie 1973Janine★ 6
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Kung Fu 1972★ 7.6
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Coralee★ NR
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Nurse Ferguson★ 6.8
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★ 6.9
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Sixteen 1972Aunt Ada★ 3.8
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Funny Face 1971★ 5
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Cannon 1971★ 6.5
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Adam-12 1968Ethel May★ 7
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Mannix 1967★ 6.7
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Judd for the Defense 1967★ 7.5
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Ironside 1967★ 6.8
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CBS Playhouse 1966★ 7
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The F.B.I. 1965Caregiver★ 5.5
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Mama Lou★ 7.2
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4 for Texas 1963Burden's Maid★ 5.1
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Elvira Stitt★ 7.9
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Ben Casey 1961★ 5.6
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Dr. Kildare 1961Mrs. Johnson★ 5.5
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The Twilight Zone 1959Maid (uncredited)★ 8.4
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The Opposite Sex 1956Violet (uncredited)★ 5.2
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Written on the Wind 1956Bertha★ 6.9
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Man with the Gun 1955Sarah (uncredited)★ 6.2
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Matinee Theater 1955★ 5
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Eloise★ 7.7
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Mad at the World 1955Miss Lovett★ 5.7
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Suma★ 4.9
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About Mrs. Leslie 1954Camilla★ 7
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Susan Slept Here 1954Georgette★ 6.2
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Executive Suite 1954Housekeeper★ 7
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Forever Female 1953Emma★ 6.7
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Torch Song 1953Anne★ 6
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Letter to Loretta 1953Flora★ 6.5
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Bright Road 1953Mrs. Hamilton - Tanya's Mother★ 6.3
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Cavalcade of America 1952Aunt Nellie★ 3.5
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Four Star Playhouse 1952Coralee★ 6.3
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Lurie★ 8.6
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Dragnet 1951★ 6.4
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The Well 1951Martha Crawford★ 7
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Lux Video Theatre 1950Flora★ 6.3
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Manhandled 1949Christine, Bennet's Maid (uncredited)★ 5.1
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The Peanut Man 1947Lucretia★ NR