Madame Sul-Te-Wan

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

King Kong

The Birth of a Nation

Sullivan's Travels

Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages

The Buccaneer

Mighty Joe Young

San Francisco

Carmen Jones

All Movies (58)

• The Buccaneer1958 · as Good Luck Charm Vendor
• Tarzan and the Trappers1958 · as Witch Woman
• Band of Angels1957 · as Flower Vendor (Uncredited)
• Something of Value1957 · as Midwife (Uncredited)
• Carmen Jones1954 · as Hagar – Carmen's Grandmother (Uncredited)
• The Story of Seabiscuit1949 · as Libby
• Mighty Joe Young1949 · as Young Family Servant (Uncredited)
• Thank Your Lucky Stars1943 · as Bit in "Ice Cold Katie" Number (uncredited)
• Revenge of the Zombies1943 · as Beulah
• Mokey1942 · as Miss Cully (uncredited)
• Sullivan's Travels1941 · as Church Harmonium Player (Uncredited)
• King of the Zombies1941 · as Tahama
• Love Thy Neighbor1940 · as Lady McBeth
• Maryland1940 · as Naomi
• Safari1940 · as Native Woman
• Torchy Blane... Playing with Dynamite1939 · as Ruby (uncredited)
• Tell No Tales1939 · as Jim Alley's Mother (uncredited)
• Kentucky1938 · as Lily
• The Affairs of Annabel1938 · as Benzedrina (uncredited)
• The Toy Wife1938 · as Eve, a Black Servant (Uncredited)
• In Old Chicago1938 · as Hattie
• Island in the Sky1938 · as Scrubwoman (Uncredited)
• Maid of Salem1937 · as Tituba
• San Francisco1936 · as Earthquake Survivor (Uncredited)
• So Red the Rose1935 · as Slave (Uncredited)
• Imitation of Life1934 · as Cook (uncredited)
• Black Moon1934 · as Ruva
• Operator 131934 · as Slave at Medicine Show ( Uncredited)
• A Modern Hero1934 · as Mme. Azais' Neighbor ( Uncredited)
• King Kong1933 · as Native Handmaiden (uncredited)
• Ladies They Talk About1933 · as Mustard (uncredited)
• Jungle Mystery1932 · as Native Woman in Stockade (Uncredited)
• Heaven on Earth1931 · as Voodoo Sue
• The Pagan Lady1931 · as Carla the Servant
• The Thoroughbred1930 · as Sacharine
• Sarah and Son1930 · as Belloc's Maid (Uncredited)
• Queen Kelly1929 · as Kali Sana - Aunt's Cook (uncredited)
• Thunderbolt1929 · as Bit Role
• The Carnation Kid1929 · as The Maid (Uncredited)
• Uncle Tom's Cabin1927 · as Slave at Wedding (uncredited)
• College1927 · as Cook (uncredited)
• The Golden Bed1925 · as Boarding House Maid (Uncredited)
• The Narrow Street1925 · as Easter
• The Lightning Rider1924 · as Mammy
• Manslaughter1922 · as Prison Inmate (uncredited)
• The Show1922 · as Maid (uncredited)
• Why Change Your Wife?1920 · as Sally's Maid (Uncredited)
• His Musical Sneeze1919 · as Maid (uncredited)
• Who's Your Father?1918 · as Black Mother (uncredited)
• Old Wives for New1918 · as Viola's Maid (uncredited)
• Tarzan of the Apes1918 · as Esmeralda - Jane's Maid (uncredited)
• Stage Struck1917 · as Uncredited
• The Children Pay1916 · as Uncredited
• Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages1916 · as Girl at the Marriage Market (uncredited)
• Hoodoo Ann1916 · as Black Cindy
• The Birth of a Nation1915 · as Black Woman (uncredited)
• The Cause of It All1915 · as Mary - The Hotel Cook
• Squirrel Food— · as Flirt