Madame Sul-Te-Wan
Born
March 7, 1873
Died
February 1, 1959 (85 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Louisville, Kentucky, USA
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
The Buccaneer
Good Luck Charm Vendor
1958
Tarzan and the Trappers
Witch Woman
1958
Band of Angels
Flower Vendor (Uncredited)
1957
Something of Value
Midwife (Uncredited)
1957
Carmen Jones
Hagar – Carmen's Grandmother (Uncredited)
1954
The Story of Seabiscuit
Libby
1949
Mighty Joe Young
Young Family Servant (Uncredited)
1949
Thank Your Lucky Stars
Bit in "Ice Cold Katie" Number (uncredited)
1943
Revenge of the Zombies
Beulah
1943
Mokey
Miss Cully, Old Black Woman (Uncredited)
1942
Sullivan's Travels
Church Harmonium Player (Uncredited)
1941
King of the Zombies
Tahama
1941
Love Thy Neighbor
Lady McBeth
1940
Maryland
Naomi
1940
Safari
Native Woman
1940
Torchy Blane.. Playing with Dynamite
Ruby (uncredited)
1939
Tell No Tales
Jim Alley's Mother (uncredited)
1939
Kentucky
Lily
1938
The Affairs of Annabel
Benzedrina (uncredited)
1938
The Toy Wife
Eve, a Black Servant (Uncredited)
1938
In Old Chicago
Hattie
1938
Island in the Sky
Scrubwoman (Uncredited)
1938
Maid of Salem
Tituba
1937
San Francisco
Earthquake Survivor (Uncredited)
1936
So Red the Rose
Slave (Uncredited)
1935
Imitation of Life
Cook (uncredited)
1934
Black Moon
Ruva
1934
Operator 13
Slave at Medicine Show ( Uncredited)
1934
A Modern Hero
Mme. Azais' Neighbor ( Uncredited)
1934
King Kong
Native Handmaiden (uncredited)
1933
Ladies They Talk About
Mustard (uncredited)
1933
Queen Kelly
Kali Sana – Aunt's Cook (Uncredited)
1932
Jungle Mystery
Native Woman in Stockade (Uncredited)
1932
Heaven on Earth
Voodoo Sue
1931
The Pagan Lady
Carla the Servant
1931
The Thoroughbred
Sacharine
1930
Sarah and Son
Belloc's Maid (Uncredited)
1930
Thunderbolt
Bit Role
1929
The Carnation Kid
The Maid (Uncredited)
1929
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Slave at Wedding (uncredited)
1927
College
Cook (uncredited)
1927
The Golden Bed
Boarding House Maid (Uncredited)
1925
The Narrow Street
Easter
1925
The Lightning Rider
Mammy
1924
Manslaughter
Prison Inmate (uncredited)
1922
The Show
Maid (uncredited)
1922
Why Change Your Wife?
Sally's Maid (Uncredited)
1920
His Musical Sneeze
Maid (uncredited)
1919
Who's Your Father?
Black Mother (uncredited)
1918
Old Wives for New
Viola's Maid (uncredited)
1918
Tarzan of the Apes
Esmeralda - Jane's Maid (uncredited)
1918
Stage Struck
Uncredited
1917
The Children Pay
Uncredited
1916
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
Girl at the Marriage Market (uncredited)
1916
Hoodoo Ann
Black Cindy
1916
The Cause of It All
Mary - The Hotel Cook
1915
Squirrel Food
Flirt
The Birth of a Nation
Black Woman (uncredited)
1915