Madame Sul-Te-Wan
Madame Sul-Te-Wan

Madame Sul-Te-Wan

Born: March 7, 1873 - Died: February 1, 1959 (85 years)
Louisville, Kentucky, USA

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.

Movies as Actor (58)
The Buccaneer

The Buccaneer

as Good Luck Charm Vendor

Dec 11, 1958

Tarzan and the Trappers

Tarzan and the Trappers

as Witch Woman

Jan 1, 1958

Band of Angels

Band of Angels

as Flower Vendor (Uncredited)

Aug 3, 1957

Something of Value

Something of Value

as Midwife (Uncredited)

May 8, 1957

Carmen Jones

Carmen Jones

as Hagar – Carmen's Grandmother (Uncredited)

Oct 28, 1954

The Story of Seabiscuit

The Story of Seabiscuit

as Libby

Nov 12, 1949

Mighty Joe Young

Mighty Joe Young

as Young Family Servant (Uncredited)

Jul 13, 1949

Thank Your Lucky Stars

Thank Your Lucky Stars

as Bit in "Ice Cold Katie" Number (uncredited)

Sep 25, 1943

Revenge of the Zombies

Revenge of the Zombies

as Beulah

Sep 17, 1943

Mokey

Mokey

as Miss Cully (uncredited)

Apr 1, 1942

Sullivan's Travels

Sullivan's Travels

as Church Harmonium Player (Uncredited)

Nov 30, 1941

King of the Zombies

King of the Zombies

as Tahama

May 14, 1941

Love Thy Neighbor

Love Thy Neighbor

as Lady McBeth

Dec 27, 1940

Maryland

Maryland

as Naomi

Jul 19, 1940

Safari

Safari

as Native Woman

Jun 14, 1940

Torchy Blane... Playing with Dynamite

Torchy Blane... Playing with Dynamite

as Ruby (uncredited)

Aug 12, 1939

Tell No Tales

Tell No Tales

as Jim Alley's Mother (uncredited)

Jun 12, 1939

Kentucky

Kentucky

as Lily

Dec 30, 1938

The Affairs of Annabel

The Affairs of Annabel

as Benzedrina (uncredited)

Sep 9, 1938

The Toy Wife

The Toy Wife

as Eve, a Black Servant (Uncredited)

Jun 10, 1938

In Old Chicago

In Old Chicago

as Hattie

Apr 15, 1938

Island in the Sky

Island in the Sky

as Scrubwoman (Uncredited)

Apr 1, 1938

Maid of Salem

Maid of Salem

as Tituba

Feb 12, 1937

San Francisco

San Francisco

as Earthquake Survivor (Uncredited)

Jun 26, 1936

So Red the Rose

So Red the Rose

as Slave (Uncredited)

Dec 20, 1935

Imitation of Life

Imitation of Life

as Cook (uncredited)

Nov 23, 1934

Black Moon

Black Moon

as Ruva

Jun 15, 1934

Operator 13

Operator 13

as Slave at Medicine Show ( Uncredited)

Jun 8, 1934

A Modern Hero

A Modern Hero

as Mme. Azais' Neighbor ( Uncredited)

Apr 21, 1934

King Kong

King Kong

as Native Handmaiden (uncredited)

Apr 7, 1933

Ladies They Talk About

Ladies They Talk About

as Mustard (uncredited)

Feb 4, 1933

Jungle Mystery

Jungle Mystery

as Native Woman in Stockade (Uncredited)

Sep 12, 1932

Heaven on Earth

Heaven on Earth

as Voodoo Sue

Nov 27, 1931

The Pagan Lady

The Pagan Lady

as Carla the Servant

Sep 7, 1931

The Thoroughbred

The Thoroughbred

as Sacharine

Aug 9, 1930

Sarah and Son

Sarah and Son

as Belloc's Maid (Uncredited)

Mar 14, 1930

Queen Kelly

Queen Kelly

as Kali Sana - Aunt's Cook (uncredited)

Dec 31, 1929

Thunderbolt

Thunderbolt

as Bit Role

Jun 20, 1929

The Carnation Kid

The Carnation Kid

as The Maid (Uncredited)

Mar 2, 1929

Uncle Tom's Cabin

Uncle Tom's Cabin

as Slave at Wedding (uncredited)

Nov 4, 1927

College

College

as Cook (uncredited)

Sep 10, 1927

The Golden Bed

The Golden Bed

as Boarding House Maid (Uncredited)

Jan 25, 1925

The Narrow Street

The Narrow Street

as Easter

Jan 4, 1925

The Lightning Rider

The Lightning Rider

as Mammy

May 18, 1924

Manslaughter

Manslaughter

as Prison Inmate (uncredited)

Sep 24, 1922

The Show

The Show

as Maid (uncredited)

Mar 19, 1922

Why Change Your Wife?

Why Change Your Wife?

as Sally's Maid (Uncredited)

May 21, 1920

His Musical Sneeze

His Musical Sneeze

as Maid (uncredited)

Feb 22, 1919

Who's Your Father?

Who's Your Father?

as Black Mother (uncredited)

Jun 30, 1918

Old Wives for New

Old Wives for New

as Viola's Maid (uncredited)

May 18, 1918

Tarzan of the Apes

Tarzan of the Apes

as Esmeralda - Jane's Maid (uncredited)

Jan 27, 1918

Stage Struck

Stage Struck

as Uncredited

Feb 25, 1917

The Children Pay

The Children Pay

as Uncredited

Nov 26, 1916

Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages

Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages

as Girl at the Marriage Market (uncredited)

Sep 4, 1916

Hoodoo Ann

Hoodoo Ann

as Black Cindy

Mar 26, 1916

The Birth of a Nation

The Birth of a Nation

as Black Woman (uncredited)

Mar 8, 1915

The Cause of It All

The Cause of It All

as Mary - The Hotel Cook

Jan 29, 1915

Squirrel Food

Squirrel Food

as Flirt