Madame Sul-Te-Wan
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.
Acted in
Horrible Horror
1986
as Tahama in 'King of the Zombies'
The Buccaneer
1958
as Good Luck Charm Vendor
Tarzan and the Trappers
1958
as Witch Woman
Band of Angels
1957
as Flower Vendor (Uncredited)
Something of Value
1957
as Midwife (Uncredited)
Carmen Jones
1954
as Hagar – Carmen's Grandmother (Uncredited)
The Story of Seabiscuit
1949
as Libby
Mighty Joe Young
1949
as Young Family Servant (Uncredited)
Thank Your Lucky Stars
1943
as Bit in "Ice Cold Katie" Number (uncredited)
Revenge of the Zombies
1943
as Beulah
Mokey
1942
as Miss Cully, Old Black Woman (Uncredited)
Sullivan's Travels
1941
as Church Harmonium Player (Uncredited)
King of the Zombies
1941
as Tahama
Love Thy Neighbor
1940
as Lady McBeth
Maryland
1940
as Naomi
Safari
1940
as Native Woman
Torchy Blane.. Playing with Dynamite
1939
as Ruby (uncredited)
Tell No Tales
1939
as Jim Alley's Mother (uncredited)
Kentucky
1938
as Lily
The Affairs of Annabel
1938
as Benzedrina (uncredited)
The Toy Wife
1938
as Eve, a Black Servant (Uncredited)
In Old Chicago
1938
as Hattie
Island in the Sky
1938
as Scrubwoman (Uncredited)
Maid of Salem
1937
as Tituba
San Francisco
1936
as Earthquake Survivor (Uncredited)
So Red the Rose
1935
as Slave (Uncredited)
Imitation of Life
1934
as Cook (uncredited)
Black Moon
1934
as Ruva
Operator 13
1934
as Slave at Medicine Show ( Uncredited)
A Modern Hero
1934
as Mme. Azais' Neighbor ( Uncredited)
King Kong
1933
as Native Handmaiden (uncredited)
Ladies They Talk About
1933
as Prisoner Mustard (Uncredited)
Queen Kelly
1932
as Kali Sana – Aunt's Cook (Uncredited)
Jungle Mystery
1932
as Native Woman in Stockade (Uncredited)
Heaven on Earth
1931
as Voodoo Sue
The Pagan Lady
1931
as Carla the Servant
The Thoroughbred
1930
as Sacharine
Sarah and Son
1930
as Belloc's Maid (Uncredited)
Thunderbolt
1929
as Bit Role
The Carnation Kid
1929
as The Maid (Uncredited)
Uncle Tom's Cabin
1927
as Slave at Wedding (uncredited)
College
1927
as Cook (uncredited)
The Golden Bed
1925
as Boarding House Maid (Uncredited)
The Narrow Street
1925
as Easter
The Lightning Rider
1924
as Mammy
Manslaughter
1922
as Prison Inmate (uncredited)
The Show
1922
as Maid (uncredited)
Why Change Your Wife?
1920
as Sally's Maid (Uncredited)
His Musical Sneeze
1919
as Maid (uncredited)
Who's Your Father?
1918
as Black Mother (uncredited)
Old Wives for New
1918
as Viola's Maid (uncredited)
Tarzan of the Apes
1918
as Esmeralda - Jane's Maid (uncredited)
Stage Struck
1917
as Uncredited
The Children Pay
1916
as Uncredited
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
1916
as Girl at the Marriage Market (uncredited)
Hoodoo Ann
1916
as Black Cindy
The Birth of a Nation
1915
as Black Woman
The Cause of It All
1915
as Mary - The Hotel Cook
Squirrel Food
as Flirt