TH
Photo of Theresa Harris

Theresa Harris

Actor
Born December 31, 1906Died October 8, 1985 (78 years)
Theresa Harris (December 31, 1906 [some sources indicate 1909] – October 8, 1985) was an American film and television actress, singer and dancer.

In 1929 Harris traveled to Hollywood, where she embarked on an acting career. She made her film debut in Thunderbolt, singing the song "Daddy Won't You Please Come Home". As she entered the 1930s she found herself playing maids to fictitious Southern belles, socialites and female molls. These parts were sometimes uncredited. She also floated around studios doing bit parts, usually at Warner Bros. or MGM. Aside from maids, she specialized in playing blues singers, waitresses, tribal women, prostitutes, and hatcheck girls.

Harris had a featured role as a friend of Jean Harlow in MGM's Hold Your Man (1932). In 1933 she appeared as Chico in the Warner Bros. pre-Code production of Baby Face, starring Barbara Stanwyck. That same year Harris starred in a substantial role opposite Ginger Rogers in Professional Sweetheart. As Rogers' character's maid, Harris' character subs for Rogers' character as a singer on the radio. Despite the fact that Harris' character was a major point for the story's plot development, she was uncredited for the role.

Throughout the 1930s, Harris played many uncredited parts in films such as Horse Feathers (1932), Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933), Mary Stevens, M.D. (1933) and Morning Glory (1933). She also played Bette Davis's maid Zette in the film Jezebel (1938). In 1937 she appeared in the race film Bargain With Bullets opposite Ralph Cooper for Million Dollar Productions. While doing promotion for the film, Harris spoke about her frustration over the difficulty African American actors faced in the film industry, stating, "I never had the chance to rise about the role of maid in Hollywood movies. My color was against me anyway you looked at it. The fact that I was not "hot" stamped me either as uppity or relegated me to the eternal role of stooge or servant....My ambition is to be an actress. Hollywood had no parts for me."

Harris continued to lobby for better parts but found few opportunities within Hollywood. In the 1939 movie Tell No Tales she was credited for her part as Ruby, the wife of a murdered man. Harris played an emotional scene with Melvin Douglas at the funeral. She appears in a small but vivid role as Kathie Moffat's ex-maid Eunice Leonard in Jacques Tourneur 1947 Out of the Past.

In addition to films, Harris performed in many radio programs. She was often paired with Eddie Rochester Anderson, who portrayed her on-screen boyfriend. She also appeared in several prominent roles for RKO Pictures as she was a favorite of RKO producer Val Lewton who routinely cast African American actors in non-stereotypical roles. In 1942 Lewton cast Harris as a sarcastic waitress in Cat People, followed by roles in I Walked with a Zombie (1943), Phantom Lady (1944), and Strange Illusion (1945).

During the 1950s Harris appeared several times on television shows. She made her last film appearance in an uncredited role in The Gift of Love in 1958.

Harris later married a doctor and retired from acting, living comfortably after having carefully invested the money she made during her career in the movies.

On October 8, 1985, Harris (then known as Theresa Robinson) died in Inglewood, California.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Movies & Shows on Plex

  • Santa Fe Trail
  • The File on Thelma Jordon
  • Arrowsmith
  • Strange Illusion
  • Roman Scandals
  • Free Wheeling

Known For

  • I Walked with a Zombie
  • The Flame of New Orleans
  • Our Wife

Filmography

2011
These Amazing Shadows · as Chico (clip From Baby Face (1933))
1958
The Gift of Love · as Dora - Sam's Wife (uncredited)
1957
How To Marry A Millionaire (TV Series) · as Irene
1957
Spoilers of the Forest · as Nancy The Maid
1956
Back from Eternity · as Mamie (uncredited)
1955
Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV Series) · as Maid
1953
The French Line · as Clare (uncredited)
1953
Here Come the Girls · as Josie - Irene's Maid
1953
The Loretta Young Show (TV Series) · as Lulu
1953
Small Town Girl · as Backstage Maid
1952
Angel Face · as Nurse Theresa (uncredited)
1951
The Amos 'n Andy Show (TV Series) · as Gloretta
1951
The Company She Keeps · as Lilly Johnson (uncredited)
1951
Grounds for Marriage · as Stella, Ina's Maid
1951
1950
The Lux Video Theatre (TV Series) · as Young Woman
1949
Tension · as Woman In Drugstore (uncredited)
1949
1949
1949
The Doctor and the Girl · as Crying Patient
1949
Neptune's Daughter · as Matilda The Maid (uncredited)
1949
Alias Nick Beal · as Opal
1948
The Velvet Touch · as Nancy
1948
The Big Clock · as Daisy (uncredited)
1947
The Lady from Shanghai · as Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
1947
Out of the Past · as Eunice Leonard (uncredited)
1947
Merton of the Movies · as Beulah's Maid
1947
Miracle on 34th Street · as Cleo (uncredited)
1947
The Trespasser · as Julia, The Maid
1946
1946
1946
Smooth as Silk · as Louise (maid)
1945
The Dolly Sisters · as Ellabelle
1945
1943
1942
Cat People · as Minnie (uncredited)
1942
Tough As They Come · as Bessie Mae
1942
Sing Your Worries Away · as Hat Check Girl
1941
Here Comes Mr. Jordan · as Mother Listening To Hurdy-Gurdy (uncredited)
1941
Our Wife · as Hattie
1941
1941
The Flame of New Orleans · as Clémentine
1941
Sis Hopkins · as Chorus Girl
1940
Santa Fe Trail · as Maid (uncredited)
1940
Love Thy Neighbor · as Josephine
1940
Buck Benny Rides Again · as Josephine
1940
City of Chance · as Beulah - Powder Room Attendant
1939
The Women · as Olive (uncredited)
1939
Tell No Tales · as Ruby
1938
The Toy Wife · as 'pick'
1938
Jezebel · as Zette
1937
Big Town Girl · as Maid
1937
The Lady Escapes · as Maid (uncredited)
1937
1936
Banjo on My Knee · as Black Blues Singer
1936
15 Maiden Lane · as Ladies Room Maid
1936
The Green Pastures · as Angel (uncredited)
1936
Strike Me Pink · as Dancer
1935
In Person · as Carol's Maid
1935
1935
Go Into Your Dance · as Dressing Room Maid
1934
Desirable · as Ladies Room Maid At Party
1934
Black Moon · as Sacrificed Girl (uncredited)
1934
Operator 13 · as Slave At Medicine Show
1934
A Duke for a Day · as Jessie (gloria's Maid)
1934
Finishing School · as Evelyn (uncredited)
1934
A Modern Hero · as Leah's Maid
1934
1933
Flying Down to Rio · as Dancer
1933
Roman Scandals · as Handmaiden
1933
The Worst Woman in Paris? · as Lily - The Maid
1933
Baby Face · as Chico
1933
Blood Money · as Jessica (uncredited)
1933
Broadway Thru a Keyhole · as Joan's Maid
1933
Penthouse · as Lili (uncredited)
1933
Morning Glory · as Minor Role
1933
Mary Stevens, M.D. · as Andrews' Maid Alice (uncredited)
1933
Hold Your Man · as Lily Mae Crippen (uncredited)
1933
Private Detective 62 · as Janet's Maid (uncredited)
1933
Professional Sweetheart · as Vera (uncredited)
1933
Gold Diggers of 1933 · as Woman In "pettin' In The Park" Number (uncredited)
1933
Grand Slam · as Ladies' Room Attendant (uncredited)
1933
42nd Street · as Chorus Girl
1932
The Half-Naked Truth · as Emily (uncredited)
1932
The Sport Parade · as Nightclub Dancer
1932
Night After Night · as Ladies' Room Attendant (uncredited)
1932
Faithless · as Amanda
1932
1932
Horse Feathers · as Laura (uncredited)
1932
Merrily We Go to Hell · as Powder Room Attendant (uncredited)
1932
Union Depot · as Black Woman (uncredited)
1931
Arrowsmith · as Native Mother (uncredited)
1931
The Road to Reno · as Maid At Dude Ranch
1930
Morocco · as Camp Follower (uncredited)
1929
Thunderbolt · as Singer

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