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.
Photos
Movies (58)
Tarzan and the Trappers
1960 · Witch Woman
The Buccaneer
1958 · Good Luck Charm Vendor
Band of Angels
1957 · Flower Vendor (Uncredited)
Something of Value
1957 · Midwife (Uncredited)
Carmen Jones
1954 · Hagar – Carmen's Grandmother (Uncredited)
The Story of Seabiscuit
1949 · Libby
Mighty Joe Young
1949 · Young Family Servant (Uncredited)
Thank Your Lucky Stars
1943 · Bit in "Ice Cold Katie" Number (uncredited)
Revenge of the Zombies
1943 · Beulah
Mokey
1942 · Miss Cully (uncredited)
Sullivan's Travels
1941 · Church Harmonium Player (Uncredited)
King of the Zombies
1941 · Tahama
Love Thy Neighbor
1940 · Lady McBeth
Maryland
1940 · Naomi
Safari
1940 · Native Woman
Torchy Blane... Playing with Dynamite
1939 · Ruby (uncredited)
Tell No Tales
1939 · Jim Alley's Mother (uncredited)
Kentucky
1938 · Lily
The Affairs of Annabel
1938 · Benzedrina (uncredited)
The Toy Wife
1938 · Eve, a Black Servant (Uncredited)
In Old Chicago
1938 · Hattie
Island in the Sky
1938 · Scrubwoman (Uncredited)
Maid of Salem
1937 · Tituba
San Francisco
1936 · Earthquake Survivor (Uncredited)
So Red the Rose
1935 · Slave (Uncredited)
Imitation of Life
1934 · Cook (uncredited)
Black Moon
1934 · Ruva
Operator 13
1934 · Slave at Medicine Show ( Uncredited)
A Modern Hero
1934 · Mme. Azais' Neighbor ( Uncredited)
King Kong
1933 · Native Handmaiden (uncredited)
Ladies They Talk About
1933 · Mustard (uncredited)
Jungle Mystery
1932 · Native Woman in Stockade (Uncredited)
Heaven on Earth
1931 · Voodoo Sue
The Pagan Lady
1931 · Carla the Servant
The Thoroughbred
1930 · Sacharine
Sarah and Son
1930 · Belloc's Maid (Uncredited)
Queen Kelly
1929 · Kali Sana - Aunt's Cook (uncredited)
Thunderbolt
1929 · Bit Role
The Carnation Kid
1929 · The Maid (Uncredited)
Uncle Tom's Cabin
1927 · Slave at Wedding (uncredited)
College
1927 · Cook (uncredited)
The Golden Bed
1925 · Boarding House Maid (Uncredited)
The Narrow Street
1925 · Easter
The Lightning Rider
1924 · Mammy
Manslaughter
1922 · Prison Inmate (uncredited)
The Show
1922 · Maid (uncredited)
Why Change Your Wife?
1920 · Sally's Maid (Uncredited)
His Musical Sneeze
1919 · Maid (uncredited)
Who's Your Father?
1918 · Black Mother (uncredited)
Old Wives for New
1918 · Viola's Maid (uncredited)
Tarzan of the Apes
1918 · Esmeralda - Jane's Maid (uncredited)
Stage Struck
1917 · Uncredited
The Children Pay
1916 · Uncredited
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
1916 · Girl at the Marriage Market (uncredited)
Hoodoo Ann
1916 · Black Cindy
The Birth of a Nation
1915 · Black Woman (uncredited)
The Cause of It All
1915 · Mary - The Hotel Cook
Squirrel Food
· Flirt
TV shows (0)
No credits available.