Born 1873 (age 85) · Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Appears in 58 titles

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

King Kong
7.6
King Kong
1933
as Native Handmaiden (uncredited)
The Birth of a Nation
6.0
The Birth of a Nation
1915
as Black Woman (uncredited)
Sullivan's Travels
7.4
Sullivan's Travels
1941
as Church Harmonium Player (Uncredited)
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
7.1
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
1916
as Girl at the Marriage Market (uncredited)
College
6.8
College
1927
as Cook (uncredited)
Mighty Joe Young
6.4
Mighty Joe Young
1949
as Young Family Servant (Uncredited)
Carmen Jones
6.2
Carmen Jones
1954
as Hagar – Carmen's Grandmother (Uncredited)
Imitation of Life
7.0
Imitation of Life
1934
as Cook (uncredited)
San Francisco
6.6
San Francisco
1936
as Earthquake Survivor (Uncredited)
King of the Zombies
5.2
King of the Zombies
1941
as Tahama
Queen Kelly
6.5
Queen Kelly
1929
as Kali Sana - Aunt's Cook (uncredited)
The Buccaneer
6.5
The Buccaneer
1958
as Good Luck Charm Vendor
In Old Chicago
6.7
In Old Chicago
1938
as Hattie
Band of Angels
6.3
Band of Angels
1957
as Flower Vendor (Uncredited)
Ladies They Talk About
6.1
Ladies They Talk About
1933
as Mustard (uncredited)
Thank Your Lucky Stars
6.2
Thank Your Lucky Stars
1943
as Bit in "Ice Cold Katie" Number (uncredited)
Thunderbolt
5.7
Thunderbolt
1929
as Bit Role
Black Moon
5.5
Black Moon
1934
as Ruva
Revenge of the Zombies
5.3
Revenge of the Zombies
1943
as Beulah
Tarzan and the Trappers
4.2
Tarzan and the Trappers
1958
as Witch Woman