Esther Rolle (November , â€" November , ) was an American actress.
Rolle is best known for her role as Florida Evans, on the CBS
television sitcom Maude, for two seasons (â€"), and its spin-off
series Good Times, for five seasons (â€", â€"), for which Rolle was
nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Television
Series Musical or Comedy in . In , Rolle accepted the Emmy Award for
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Special for the
television film Summer of My German Soldier.Esther Rolle was born in
Pompano Beach, Florida. She was the tenth of children (children who
included siblings and fellow actresses Estelle Evans and Rosanna
Carter). Rolle graduated from Blanche Ely High School in Pompano
Beach, Florida. She initially studied at Spelman College in Atlanta,
before moving to New York City. While in New York, she attended Hunter
College before transferring to The New School and then Yale University
in New Haven, Connecticut. For many years, Rolle worked in a
traditional day job in New York City's garment district.Rolle was a
member of Asadata Dafora's dance troupe, Shogolo Oloba (later renamed
the Federal Theater African Dance Troupe). She became the troupe’s
director in . Rolle's earliest roles were on the stage; her New York
stage debut was in the play The Blacks. She was often cast in plays
produced by Robert Hooks and the Negro Ensemble Company. She also
appeared in productions of The Crucible and Blues for Mr. Charlie.
Rolle's most prominent early role was as Miss Maybell in the Melvin
Van Peebles play, Don't Play Us Cheap. In , Rolle portrayed Lady
Macbeth in Orson Welles' Haitian-influenced version of William
Shakespeare's Macbeth at the Henry Street New Federal Theater in
Manhattan.
Rolle is best known for her role as Florida Evans, on the CBS
television sitcom Maude, for two seasons (â€"), and its spin-off
series Good Times, for five seasons (â€", â€"), for which Rolle was
nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Television
Series Musical or Comedy in . In , Rolle accepted the Emmy Award for
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Special for the
television film Summer of My German Soldier.Esther Rolle was born in
Pompano Beach, Florida. She was the tenth of children (children who
included siblings and fellow actresses Estelle Evans and Rosanna
Carter). Rolle graduated from Blanche Ely High School in Pompano
Beach, Florida. She initially studied at Spelman College in Atlanta,
before moving to New York City. While in New York, she attended Hunter
College before transferring to The New School and then Yale University
in New Haven, Connecticut. For many years, Rolle worked in a
traditional day job in New York City's garment district.Rolle was a
member of Asadata Dafora's dance troupe, Shogolo Oloba (later renamed
the Federal Theater African Dance Troupe). She became the troupe’s
director in . Rolle's earliest roles were on the stage; her New York
stage debut was in the play The Blacks. She was often cast in plays
produced by Robert Hooks and the Negro Ensemble Company. She also
appeared in productions of The Crucible and Blues for Mr. Charlie.
Rolle's most prominent early role was as Miss Maybell in the Melvin
Van Peebles play, Don't Play Us Cheap. In , Rolle portrayed Lady
Macbeth in Orson Welles' Haitian-influenced version of William
Shakespeare's Macbeth at the Henry Street New Federal Theater in
Manhattan.
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