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.
Filmography
The Buccaneer
as Good Luck Charm Vendor
The Buccaneer
as Good Luck Charm Vendor
Tarzan and the Trappers
as Witch Woman
Tarzan and the Trappers
as Witch Woman
Something of Value
as Midwife (Uncredited)
Something of Value
as Midwife (Uncredited)
Carmen Jones
as Hagar – Carmen's Grandmother (Uncredited)
Carmen Jones
as Hagar – Carmen's Grandmother (Uncredited)
The Story of Seabiscuit
as Libby
The Story of Seabiscuit
as Libby
Mighty Joe Young
as Young Family Servant (Uncredited)
Mighty Joe Young
as Young Family Servant (Uncredited)
Thank Your Lucky Stars
as Bit in "Ice Cold Katie" Number (uncredited)
Thank Your Lucky Stars
as Bit in "Ice Cold Katie" Number (uncredited)
Revenge of the Zombies
as Beulah
Revenge of the Zombies
as Beulah
Mokey
as Miss Cully (uncredited)
Mokey
as Miss Cully (uncredited)
Sullivan's Travels
as Church Harmonium Player (Uncredited)
Sullivan's Travels
as Church Harmonium Player (Uncredited)
King of the Zombies
as Tahama
King of the Zombies
as Tahama
Love Thy Neighbor
as Lady McBeth
Love Thy Neighbor
as Lady McBeth
Maryland
as Naomi
Maryland
as Naomi
Safari
as Native Woman
Safari
as Native Woman
Torchy Blane... Playing with Dynamite
as Ruby (uncredited)
Torchy Blane... Playing with Dynamite
as Ruby (uncredited)
Tell No Tales
as Jim Alley's Mother (uncredited)
Tell No Tales
as Jim Alley's Mother (uncredited)
Kentucky
as Lily
Kentucky
as Lily
The Affairs of Annabel
as Benzedrina (uncredited)
The Affairs of Annabel
as Benzedrina (uncredited)
The Toy Wife
as Eve, a Black Servant (Uncredited)
The Toy Wife
as Eve, a Black Servant (Uncredited)
In Old Chicago
as Hattie
In Old Chicago
as Hattie
Island in the Sky
as Scrubwoman (Uncredited)
Island in the Sky
as Scrubwoman (Uncredited)
Maid of Salem
as Tituba
Maid of Salem
as Tituba
San Francisco
as Earthquake Survivor (Uncredited)
San Francisco
as Earthquake Survivor (Uncredited)
So Red the Rose
as Slave (Uncredited)
So Red the Rose
as Slave (Uncredited)
Imitation of Life
as Cook (uncredited)
Imitation of Life
as Cook (uncredited)
Black Moon
as Ruva
Black Moon
as Ruva
A Modern Hero
as Mme. Azais' Neighbor ( Uncredited)
A Modern Hero
as Mme. Azais' Neighbor ( Uncredited)
King Kong
as Native Handmaiden (uncredited)
King Kong
as Native Handmaiden (uncredited)
Heaven on Earth
as Voodoo Sue
Heaven on Earth
as Voodoo Sue
The Pagan Lady
as Carla the Servant
The Pagan Lady
as Carla the Servant
The Thoroughbred
as Sacharine
The Thoroughbred
as Sacharine
Queen Kelly
as Kali Sana - Aunt's Cook (uncredited)
Queen Kelly
as Kali Sana - Aunt's Cook (uncredited)
Thunderbolt
as Bit Role
Thunderbolt
as Bit Role
The Carnation Kid
as The Maid (Uncredited)
The Carnation Kid
as The Maid (Uncredited)
Uncle Tom's Cabin
as Slave at Wedding (uncredited)
Uncle Tom's Cabin
as Slave at Wedding (uncredited)
College
as Cook (uncredited)
College
as Cook (uncredited)
The Golden Bed
as Boarding House Maid (Uncredited)
The Golden Bed
as Boarding House Maid (Uncredited)
The Narrow Street
as Easter
The Narrow Street
as Easter
Manslaughter
as Prison Inmate (uncredited)
Manslaughter
as Prison Inmate (uncredited)
The Show
as Maid (uncredited)
The Show
as Maid (uncredited)
Why Change Your Wife?
as Sally's Maid (Uncredited)
Why Change Your Wife?
as Sally's Maid (Uncredited)
Old Wives for New
as Viola's Maid (uncredited)
Old Wives for New
as Viola's Maid (uncredited)
The Children Pay
as Uncredited
The Children Pay
as Uncredited
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
as Girl at the Marriage Market (uncredited)
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
as Girl at the Marriage Market (uncredited)
The Birth of a Nation
as Black Woman (uncredited)
The Birth of a Nation
as Black Woman (uncredited)
The Cause of It All
as Mary - The Hotel Cook
The Cause of It All
as Mary - The Hotel Cook