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Esther Rolle

Esther Rolle

Actor · Born 1920-11-08 · Pompano Beach, Florida USA

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Biography

Esther Elizabeth Rolle (November 8, 1920 – November 17, 1998) was a Bahamian American actress. Rolle is best known for her role as Florida Evans, on the CBS television sitcom Maude, for two seasons (1972–1974), and its spin-off series Good Times, for five seasons (1974–77, 1978–79), for which Rolle was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Television Series Musical or Comedy in 1976. Rolle is best known for her television role as Florida Evans, the character she played on two 1970s sitcoms. The character was introduced as Maude Findlay's housekeeper on Maude, and was spun off in the show's second season into Good Times, a show about Florida's family. Rolle was nominated in 1975 for the Best Actress in a Musical/Comedy Golden Globe Award for her role in Good Times. Rolle was 19 years older than the actor (John Amos) who played her husband James Evans. The James Evans character was only added after Esther Rolle fought hard for a father figure and husband to be added to the show. Rolle had fought for the father character on the show, more relevant themes and scripts and was unhappy when the success of Jimmie Walker's character, J.J. Evans, took the show in a frivolous…

Movies & TV Shows

  1. Cape Fear (1991) — Woman Watching Cady Get Out from Under the Car (uncredited)
  2. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) — uncredited role
  3. Driving Miss Daisy (1989) — Idella
  4. The Incredible Hulk (1977)
  5. Murder, She Wrote (1984) — Margaret
  6. How to Make an American Quilt (1995) — Aunt Pauline
  7. Touched by an Angel (1994) — Mary Harding
  8. My Fellow Americans (1996) — Rita
  9. The Mighty Quinn (1989) — Ubu Pearl
  10. Rosewood (1997) — Aunt Sarah
  11. Good Times (1974) — Florida Evans
  12. House of Cards (1993) — Adelle
  13. Cleopatra Jones (1973) — Mrs. Johnson
  14. Maude (1972) — Florida Evans
  15. Scarlett (1994) — Mammy
  16. Nothing But a Man (1964) — Church Woman
  17. Down in the Delta (1998) — Annie Sinclair
  18. Up the Down Staircase (1967) — Teacher
  19. The Learning Tree (1969) — uncredited
  20. Ethnic Notions (1986) — Narrator
  21. Color Adjustment (1992) — Self
  22. Flamingo Road (1981)
  23. To Dance with the White Dog (1993) — Neelie
  24. Message from Nam (1993) — Queenie / Elizabeth McQueen
  25. Darkroom (1981) — Old Woman
  26. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1979) — Momma
  27. Summer of My German Soldier (1978) — Ruth
  28. Donny & Marie (1976) — Self
  29. Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951)
  30. American Playhouse (1982) — Church Woman
  31. Promised Land (1996) — Mary Harding
  32. Don't Play Us Cheap (1973) — Miss Maybell
  33. A Raisin in the Sun (1989) — Lena 'Mama' Younger
  34. The Kid Who Loved Christmas (1990) — Esther Clayton
  35. Finder of Lost Loves (1984) — Nellie
  36. The New Odd Couple (1982) — Ms. Gibbs
  37. Age-Old Friends (1989) — Mrs. Baker
  38. P.K. and the Kid (1987) — Mim
  39. Singer and Sons (1990)
  40. Who Says I Can't Ride a Rainbow! (1971) — Maid