Margaret Avery (born January 20, 1944) is an American actress and
singer. She began her career appearing on stage and later had starring
roles in films including Cool Breeze (1972), Which Way Is Up? (1977),
Scott Joplin (1977), and The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh (1979).Avery
is best known for her performance as Shug Avery in the 1985 period
drama film The Color Purple for which she was nominated for an Academy
Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. She continued appearing
in films include Blueberry Hill (1988), White Man's Burden (1995),
Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins (2008), Meet the Browns (2008), and Proud
Mary (2018). In 2013, Avery began starring as Helen Patterson, lead
character's mother, in the BET drama series Being Mary Jane.Margaret
Avery was born in Mangum, Oklahoma and raised in San Diego,
California, where she attended Point Loma High School. She then
attended San Francisco State University where, in 1965, she earned a
degree in education. While working as a substitute teacher in Los
Angeles, Avery began making singing and acting appearances.Avery is
best known for her role as Shug Avery in the 1985 film The Color
Purple. Her performance in this screen adaptation of Alice Walker's
prize-winning novel The Color Purple earned Avery an Oscar nomination
for Best Supporting Actress.
singer. She began her career appearing on stage and later had starring
roles in films including Cool Breeze (1972), Which Way Is Up? (1977),
Scott Joplin (1977), and The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh (1979).Avery
is best known for her performance as Shug Avery in the 1985 period
drama film The Color Purple for which she was nominated for an Academy
Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. She continued appearing
in films include Blueberry Hill (1988), White Man's Burden (1995),
Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins (2008), Meet the Browns (2008), and Proud
Mary (2018). In 2013, Avery began starring as Helen Patterson, lead
character's mother, in the BET drama series Being Mary Jane.Margaret
Avery was born in Mangum, Oklahoma and raised in San Diego,
California, where she attended Point Loma High School. She then
attended San Francisco State University where, in 1965, she earned a
degree in education. While working as a substitute teacher in Los
Angeles, Avery began making singing and acting appearances.Avery is
best known for her role as Shug Avery in the 1985 film The Color
Purple. Her performance in this screen adaptation of Alice Walker's
prize-winning novel The Color Purple earned Avery an Oscar nomination
for Best Supporting Actress.
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