Known For
Acting
Born
Mar 07, 1873
Died
Feb 01, 1959
Place of Birth
Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Credits
58 titles
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
Filmography
Tarzan and the Trappers
Witch Woman
The Buccaneer
Good Luck Charm Vendor
Band of Angels
Flower Vendor (Uncredited)
Something of Value
Midwife (Uncredited)
Carmen Jones
Hagar – Carmen's Grandmother (Uncredited)
The Story of Seabiscuit
Libby
Mighty Joe Young
Young Family Servant (Uncredited)
Thank Your Lucky Stars
Bit in "Ice Cold Katie" Number (uncredited)
Revenge of the Zombies
Beulah
Mokey
Miss Cully (uncredited)
Sullivan's Travels
Church Harmonium Player (Uncredited)
King of the Zombies
Tahama
Love Thy Neighbor
Lady McBeth
Maryland
Naomi
Safari
Native Woman
Torchy Blane... Playing with Dynamite
Ruby (uncredited)
Tell No Tales
Jim Alley's Mother (uncredited)
Kentucky
Lily
The Affairs of Annabel
Benzedrina (uncredited)
The Toy Wife
Eve, a Black Servant (Uncredited)
In Old Chicago
Hattie
Island in the Sky
Scrubwoman (Uncredited)
Maid of Salem
Tituba
San Francisco
Earthquake Survivor (Uncredited)
So Red the Rose
Slave (Uncredited)
Imitation of Life
Cook (uncredited)
Black Moon
Ruva
Operator 13
Slave at Medicine Show ( Uncredited)
A Modern Hero
Mme. Azais' Neighbor ( Uncredited)
King Kong
Native Handmaiden (uncredited)
Ladies They Talk About
Mustard (uncredited)
Jungle Mystery
Native Woman in Stockade (Uncredited)
Heaven on Earth
Voodoo Sue
The Pagan Lady
Carla the Servant
The Thoroughbred
Sacharine
Sarah and Son
Belloc's Maid (Uncredited)
Queen Kelly
Kali Sana - Aunt's Cook (uncredited)
Thunderbolt
Bit Role
The Carnation Kid
The Maid (Uncredited)
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Slave at Wedding (uncredited)
College
Cook (uncredited)
The Golden Bed
Boarding House Maid (Uncredited)
The Narrow Street
Easter
The Lightning Rider
Mammy
Manslaughter
Prison Inmate (uncredited)
The Show
Maid (uncredited)
Why Change Your Wife?
Sally's Maid (Uncredited)
His Musical Sneeze
Maid (uncredited)
Who's Your Father?
Black Mother (uncredited)
Old Wives for New
Viola's Maid (uncredited)