Madame Sul-Te-Wan
Acting
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
Acting58
movieThe Buccaneer
1958
Good Luck Charm Vendor
movieTarzan and the Trappers
1958
Witch Woman
movieBand of Angels
1957
Flower Vendor (Uncredited)
movieSomething of Value
1957
Midwife (Uncredited)
movieCarmen Jones
1954
Hagar – Carmen's Grandmother (Uncredited)
movieMighty Joe Young
1949
Young Family Servant (Uncredited)
movieThank Your Lucky Stars
1943
Bit in "Ice Cold Katie" Number (uncredited)
movieMokey
1942
Miss Cully (uncredited)
movieSullivan's Travels
1941
Church Harmonium Player (Uncredited)
movieLove Thy Neighbor
1940
Lady McBeth
movieMaryland
1940
Naomi
movieSafari
1940
Native Woman
movieTorchy Blane... Playing with Dynamite
1939
Ruby (uncredited)
movieTell No Tales
1939
Jim Alley's Mother (uncredited)
movieThe Affairs of Annabel
1938
Benzedrina (uncredited)
movieThe Toy Wife
1938
Eve, a Black Servant (Uncredited)
movieIn Old Chicago
1938
Hattie
movieIsland in the Sky
1938
Scrubwoman (Uncredited)
movieMaid of Salem
1937
Tituba
movieSan Francisco
1936
Earthquake Survivor (Uncredited)
movieSo Red the Rose
1935
Slave (Uncredited)
movieImitation of Life
1934
Cook (uncredited)
movieOperator 13
1934
Slave at Medicine Show ( Uncredited)
movieA Modern Hero
1934
Mme. Azais' Neighbor ( Uncredited)
movieKing Kong
1933
Native Handmaiden (uncredited)
movieLadies They Talk About
1933
Mustard (uncredited)
movieJungle Mystery
1932
Native Woman in Stockade (Uncredited)
movieHeaven on Earth
1931
Voodoo Sue
movieThe Pagan Lady
1931
Carla the Servant
movieThe Thoroughbred
1930
Sacharine
movieSarah and Son
1930
Belloc's Maid (Uncredited)
movieQueen Kelly
1929
Kali Sana - Aunt's Cook (uncredited)
movieThunderbolt
1929
Bit Role
movieThe Carnation Kid
1929
The Maid (Uncredited)
movieUncle Tom's Cabin
1927
Slave at Wedding (uncredited)
movieCollege
1927
Cook (uncredited)
movieThe Golden Bed
1925
Boarding House Maid (Uncredited)
movieManslaughter
1922
Prison Inmate (uncredited)
movieThe Show
1922
Maid (uncredited)
movieWhy Change Your Wife?
1920
Sally's Maid (Uncredited)
movieHis Musical Sneeze
1919
Maid (uncredited)
movieWho's Your Father?
1918
Black Mother (uncredited)
movieOld Wives for New
1918
Viola's Maid (uncredited)
movieTarzan of the Apes
1918
Esmeralda - Jane's Maid (uncredited)
Stage Struck
1917
Uncredited
movieThe Children Pay
1916
Uncredited
movieIntolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
1916
Girl at the Marriage Market (uncredited)
movieHoodoo Ann
1916
Black Cindy
movieThe Birth of a Nation
1915
Black Woman (uncredited)
The Cause of It All
1915
Mary - The Hotel Cook