- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- March 7, 1873
- Place of Birth
- Louisville, Kentucky, USA
- Died
- February 1, 1959
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.
Filmography
movieThe Buccaneer
1958 · Good Luck Charm Vendor
movieTarzan and the Trappers
1958 · Witch Woman
movieBand of Angels
1957 · Flower Vendor (Uncredited)
movieSomething of Value
1957 · Midwife (Uncredited)
movieCarmen Jones
1954 · Hagar – Carmen's Grandmother (Uncredited)
movieThe Story of Seabiscuit
1949 · Libby
movieMighty Joe Young
1949 · Young Family Servant (Uncredited)
movieThank Your Lucky Stars
1943 · Bit in "Ice Cold Katie" Number (uncredited)
movieRevenge of the Zombies
1943 · Beulah
movieMokey
1942 · Miss Cully (uncredited)
movieSullivan's Travels
1941 · Church Harmonium Player (Uncredited)
movieKing of the Zombies
1941 · Tahama
movieLove Thy Neighbor
1940 · Lady McBeth
movieMaryland
1940 · Naomi
movieSafari
1940 · Native Woman
movieTorchy Blane... Playing with Dynamite
1939 · Ruby (uncredited)
movieTell No Tales
1939 · Jim Alley's Mother (uncredited)
movieKentucky
1938 · Lily
movieThe Affairs of Annabel
1938 · Benzedrina (uncredited)
movieThe Toy Wife
1938 · Eve, a Black Servant (Uncredited)
movieIn Old Chicago
1938 · Hattie
movieIsland in the Sky
1938 · Scrubwoman (Uncredited)
movieMaid of Salem
1937 · Tituba
movieSan Francisco
1936 · Earthquake Survivor (Uncredited)
movieSo Red the Rose
1935 · Slave (Uncredited)
movieImitation of Life
1934 · Cook (uncredited)
movieBlack Moon
1934 · Ruva
movieOperator 13
1934 · Slave at Medicine Show ( Uncredited)
movieA Modern Hero
1934 · Mme. Azais' Neighbor ( Uncredited)
movieKing Kong
1933 · Native Handmaiden (uncredited)
movieLadies They Talk About
1933 · Mustard (uncredited)
movieJungle Mystery
1932 · Native Woman in Stockade (Uncredited)
movieHeaven on Earth
1931 · Voodoo Sue
movieThe Pagan Lady
1931 · Carla the Servant
movieThe Thoroughbred
1930 · Sacharine
movieSarah and Son
1930 · Belloc's Maid (Uncredited)
movieQueen Kelly
1929 · Kali Sana - Aunt's Cook (uncredited)
movieThunderbolt
1929 · Bit Role
movieThe Carnation Kid
1929 · The Maid (Uncredited)
movieUncle Tom's Cabin
1927 · Slave at Wedding (uncredited)
movieCollege
1927 · Cook (uncredited)
movieThe Golden Bed
1925 · Boarding House Maid (Uncredited)
movieThe Narrow Street
1925 · Easter
movieThe Lightning Rider
1924 · Mammy
movieManslaughter
1922 · Prison Inmate (uncredited)
movieThe Show
1922 · Maid (uncredited)
movieWhy Change Your Wife?
1920 · Sally's Maid (Uncredited)
movieHis Musical Sneeze
1919 · Maid (uncredited)
movieWho's Your Father?
1918 · Black Mother (uncredited)
movieOld Wives for New
1918 · Viola's Maid (uncredited)
movieTarzan of the Apes
1918 · Esmeralda - Jane's Maid (uncredited)
Stage Struck
movieStage Struck
1917 · Uncredited
movieThe Children Pay
1916 · Uncredited
movieIntolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
1916 · Girl at the Marriage Market (uncredited)
movieHoodoo Ann
1916 · Black Cindy
movieThe Birth of a Nation
1915 · Black Woman (uncredited)
The Cause of It All
movieThe Cause of It All
1915 · Mary - The Hotel Cook
Squirrel Food
movieSquirrel Food
— · Flirt