ER
Esther Rolle
Actor
Born November 8, 1920Died November 17, 1998 (78 years)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 direction. John Amos agreed with Rolle about Walker's character and was fired from the show after the third season ended. Later on, in a stand-off with Good Times producer Norman Lear, Rolle also quit when her contract ended. Although the show continued without her for the fifth season, she returned for the show's final season. In 1979 she won an Emmy for her role in Summer of My German Soldier, a made-for-television movie.
Among her guest star roles was one on The Incredible Hulk in an episode entitled "Behind the Wheel" where she played a taxicab business owner. In the 1990s, Rolle was a surprise guest on RuPaul's VH-1 talk show. Her Maude co-star Bea Arthur was the guest, and Rolle was brought out to surprise Arthur. The two had not seen each other in years, Arthur said, and embraced warmly. Rolle also appeared in a series of psychic hotline TV commercials in the 1990s. "Tell them Esther sent you," was her trademark line.
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 direction. John Amos agreed with Rolle about Walker's character and was fired from the show after the third season ended. Later on, in a stand-off with Good Times producer Norman Lear, Rolle also quit when her contract ended. Although the show continued without her for the fifth season, she returned for the show's final season. In 1979 she won an Emmy for her role in Summer of My German Soldier, a made-for-television movie.
Among her guest star roles was one on The Incredible Hulk in an episode entitled "Behind the Wheel" where she played a taxicab business owner. In the 1990s, Rolle was a surprise guest on RuPaul's VH-1 talk show. Her Maude co-star Bea Arthur was the guest, and Rolle was brought out to surprise Arthur. The two had not seen each other in years, Arthur said, and embraced warmly. Rolle also appeared in a series of psychic hotline TV commercials in the 1990s. "Tell them Esther sent you," was her trademark line.
Filmography
| 2004 | |
| 2000 | Train Ride · as Dean Of Students |
| 1998 | Down in the Delta · as Annie Sinclair |
| 1997 | Rosewood · as Aunt Sarah |
| 1996 | My Fellow Americans · as Rita |
| 1996 | Promised Land (TV Series) · as Mary Harding |
| 1996 | Poltergeist: The Legacy (TV Series) · as Grandma Rose |
| 1995 | How to Make an American Quilt · as Aunt Pauline |
| 1994 | |
| 1994 | Touched by an Angel (TV Series) · as Mary Harding |
| 1993 | To Dance with the White Dog · as Neelie |
| 1993 | Message from Nam · as Queenie / Elizabeth Mcqueen |
| 1993 | House of Cards · as Adelle |
| 1991 | Cape Fear · as Woman Watching Cady Get Out From Under The Car (uncredited) |
| 1990 | The Kid Who Loved Christmas · as Esther Clayton |
| 1989 | Age-Old Friends · as Mrs. Baker |
| 1989 | Driving Miss Daisy · as Idella |
| 1989 | The Mighty Quinn · as Ubu Pearl |
| 1987 | P.K. and the Kid · as Mim |
| 1986 | Ethnic Notions · as Narrator |
| 1984 | Murder, She Wrote (TV Series) · as Margaret |
| 1984 | Finder of Lost Loves (TV Series) · as Nellie |
| 1984 | Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer (TV Series) · as Viola Green |
| 1982 | The New Odd Couple (TV Series) · as Ms. Gibbs |
| 1981 | Darkroom (TV Series) · as Old Woman |
| 1981 | See China and Die · as Momma Sykes |
| 1980 | American Playhouse (TV Series) · as Lena 'mama' Younger |
| 1980 | Flamingo Road (TV Series) |
| 1979 | I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings · as Momma |
| 1978 | Summer of My German Soldier · as Ruth |
| 1978 | CBS: On The Air- A Celebration of 50 Years (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1977 | The Incredible Hulk (TV Series) |
| 1977 | The Love Boat (TV Series) · as Judge Kramer |
| 1977 | Fantasy Island (TV Series) · as Mama |
| 1974 | Good Times (TV Series) · as Florida Evans |
| 1973 | Cleopatra Jones · as Mrs. Johnson |
| 1972 | Don't Play Us Cheap · as Miss Maybell |
| 1972 | Maude (TV Series) · as Florida Evans |
| 1971 | Who Says I Can't Ride a Rainbow! · as Maid |
| 1970 | The Bold Ones: The Senator (TV Series) · as Black Woman |
| 1968 | One Life to Live (TV Series) · as Sadie Gray #2 (1971) |
| 1967 | N.Y.P.D. (TV Series) · as Nurse |
| 1967 | Up the Down Staircase · as Teacher |
| 1964 | Nothing But a Man · as Church Woman |