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