Madame Sul-Te-Wan
Known For
Acting
Gender
Female
Birthday
Mar 7, 1873 (153 years old)
Place of Birth
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
| 1958 | Tarzan and the TrappersWitch Woman | |
| 1958 | The BuccaneerGood Luck Charm Vendor | |
| 1957 | Band of AngelsFlower Vendor (Uncredited) | |
| 1957 | Something of ValueMidwife (Uncredited) | |
| 1954 | Carmen JonesHagar – Carmen's Grandmother (Uncredited) | |
| 1949 | The Story of SeabiscuitLibby | |
| 1949 | Mighty Joe YoungYoung Family Servant (Uncredited) | |
| 1943 | Revenge of the ZombiesBeulah | |
| 1943 | Thank Your Lucky StarsBit in "Ice Cold Katie" Number (uncredited) | |
| 1942 | MokeyMiss Cully (uncredited) | |
| 1941 | Sullivan's TravelsChurch Harmonium Player (Uncredited) | |
| 1941 | King of the ZombiesTahama | |
| 1940 | Love Thy NeighborLady McBeth | |
| 1940 | SafariNative Woman | |
| 1940 | MarylandNaomi | |
| 1939 | Tell No TalesJim Alley's Mother (uncredited) | |
| 1939 | Torchy Blane... Playing with DynamiteRuby (uncredited) | |
| 1938 | In Old ChicagoHattie | |
| 1938 | The Affairs of AnnabelBenzedrina (uncredited) | |
| 1938 | KentuckyLily | |
| 1938 | Island in the SkyScrubwoman (Uncredited) | |
| 1938 | The Toy WifeEve, a Black Servant (Uncredited) | |
| 1937 | Maid of SalemTituba | |
| 1936 | San FranciscoEarthquake Survivor (Uncredited) | |
| 1935 | So Red the RoseSlave (Uncredited) | |
| 1934 | Black MoonRuva | |
| 1934 | A Modern HeroMme. Azais' Neighbor ( Uncredited) | |
| 1934 | Operator 13Slave at Medicine Show ( Uncredited) | |
| 1934 | Imitation of LifeCook (uncredited) | |
| 1933 | King KongNative Handmaiden (uncredited) | |
| 1933 | Ladies They Talk AboutMustard (uncredited) | |
| 1932 | Jungle MysteryNative Woman in Stockade (Uncredited) | |
| 1931 | The Pagan LadyCarla the Servant | |
| 1931 | Heaven on EarthVoodoo Sue | |
| 1930 | The ThoroughbredSacharine | |
| 1930 | Sarah and SonBelloc's Maid (Uncredited) | |
| 1929 | ThunderboltBit Role | |
| 1929 | The Carnation KidThe Maid (Uncredited) | |
| 1929 | Queen KellyKali Sana - Aunt's Cook (uncredited) | |
| 1927 | Uncle Tom's CabinSlave at Wedding (uncredited) | |
| 1927 | CollegeCook (uncredited) | |
| 1925 | The Narrow StreetEaster | |
| 1925 | The Golden BedBoarding House Maid (Uncredited) | |
| 1924 | The Lightning RiderMammy | |
| 1922 | ManslaughterPrison Inmate (uncredited) | |
| 1922 | The ShowMaid (uncredited) | |
| 1920 | Why Change Your Wife?Sally's Maid (Uncredited) | |
| 1919 | His Musical SneezeMaid (uncredited) | |
| 1918 | Who's Your Father?Black Mother (uncredited) | |
| 1918 | Tarzan of the ApesEsmeralda - Jane's Maid (uncredited) | |
| 1918 | Old Wives for NewViola's Maid (uncredited) | |
| 1917 | Stage StruckUncredited | |
| 1916 | Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the AgesGirl at the Marriage Market (uncredited) | |
| 1916 | The Children PayUncredited | |
| 1916 | Hoodoo AnnBlack Cindy | |
| 1915 | The Cause of It AllMary - The Hotel Cook | |
| 1915 | The Birth of a NationBlack Woman (uncredited) | |
| - | Squirrel FoodFlirt |