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Mary Alice

Born · December 3, 1936

Died · July 27, 2022 (85 years old)

Known For: Acting

Place of Birth: Indianola, Mississippi, USA

Bio

Mary Alice was born on December 3, 1936 in Indianola, Mississippi, USA to parents Ozelar Jurnakin (Smith) and Sam Smith. She was an actress, known for The Matrix Revolutions (2003), Awakenings (1990) and Malcolm X (1992). She taught in Elementary School before her acting career took off. When she was still a struggling actress doing stage plays, she made a living doing her castmate's laundry for a salary of $200 a week. She was a lifelong liberal Democrat, feminist, and civil rights activist. Was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2000. She retired from acting in 2005. She died of natural causes on July 27, 2022 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. Upon her death, she was buried with her siblings at Oak Wood Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois, in regard for her last wishes.

Known for

The Matrix Revolutions

The Matrix Revolutions

Awakenings

Awakenings

Malcolm X

Malcolm X

A Perfect World

A Perfect World

Kojak

Joyce · (1 episode)

2005

The Burly Man Chronicles

2004

The Jury

(1 episode)

2004

The Matrix Recalibrated

Self

2004

What I Want My Words to Do to You

Self

2003

The Matrix Revolutions

The Oracle

2003

Sunshine State

Eunice Stokes

2002

The Last Brickmaker in America

Dorothy Cobb

2001

Soul Food

Mrs. Pettaway · (1 episode)

2000

The Photographer

Violet

2000

Catfish in Black Bean Sauce

Dolores Williams

1999

Providence

Abby Franklin · (1 episode)

1999

The Wishing Tree

Mattie

1999

Down in the Delta

Rosa Lynn Sinclair

1998

Oz

Eugenia Hill · (1 episode)

1997

Cosby

(1 episode)

1996

Bed of Roses

Alice

1996

Heading Home

Mary Jones

1995

Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder

1995

The Mother

Black Lady

1994

Touched by an Angel

Georgia Bishop · (1 episode)

1994

The Inkwell

Evelyn

1994

The Vernon Johns Story

Altona

1994

A Perfect World

Lottie

1993

Laurel Avenue

Maggie Arnett · (2 episodes)

1993

Life with Mikey

Mrs. Gordon

1993

Malcolm X

School Teacher

1992

I'll Fly Away

Marguerite Peck · (39 episodes)

1991

I'll Fly Away

(2 episodes)

1991

The Bonfire of the Vanities

Annie Lamb

1990

Awakenings

Nurse Margaret

1990

To Sleep with Anger

Suzie

1990

Law & Order

Virginia Bryan · (1 episode)

1990

The Women of Brewster Place

Fannie Michael

1989

A Different World

Lettie Bostic · (30 episodes)

1987

L.A. Law

Maxine Manley · (1 episode)

1986

Charlotte Forten's Mission: Experiment in Freedom

Blind Lily

1985

Teachers

Linda Ganz

1984

Beat Street

Cora

1984

The Killing Floor

Lilah Dean

1984

The Brass Ring

Mrs. Hauser

1983

A House Divided: Denmark Vessey's Rebellion

Beck

1982

Joshua's World

Housekeeper

1980

Lawman Without a Gun

Minnie Hayward

1979

Just an Old Sweet Song

Helen Mayfield

1976

Sparkle

Effie

1976

Police Woman

(1 episode)

1974

The Education of Sonny Carson

Moms

1974

Sty of the Blind Pig

Alberta Warren

1974

Good Times

(1 episode)

1974

Sanford and Son

(2 episodes)

1972

Great Performances

(1 episode)

1971

Green Acres

(1 episode)

1965