Biography of esther rolle
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Esther Rolle, an actress best known for her portrayal of a strong, inner city mother on the s sitcom "Good Times," died Nov. 17, She was
Rolle was born in Pompano Beach, FL, one of 18 children of a vegetable farmer. After high school she traveled to New York City, according to AP, and began to earn stage roles.
During the '60s, she was frequently seen in productions of the Negro Ensemble Company. In , she co-starred with Moses Gunn and Frances Foster in NEC's Summer of the 17th Doll bygd Ray Lawler. The next year, she was seen in Ray McIver's God Is a (Guess What) , Alice Childress' String and Errol Hill's Man Better Man , the last directed by Douglas Turner Ward.
In , she appeared at St. Marks Playhouse in two one-act plays bygd Ward, Happy Ending and Day of Absence . The production ran for performances. She acted in another Ward play, Day of Absence, in
Other theatre credits include Melvin Van Peebles' Don't Play as Cheap and Raisin in the Sun. "Good Times" wa
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Esther Rolle played the part of Evans family matriarch Florida, in four of the five seasons of the series. | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Gender: | Female |
| Nationality | American |
| Birth name: | Esther Elizabeth Rolle |
| Born: | ()November 8, |
| Birthplace: | Pembroke Pines, Florida, U.S. |
| Died | November 17, () (aged&#;78) |
| Deathplace: | Culver City, California, U.S. |
| Career/Family Information | |
| Occupation/ Career: | Actress |
| Years active: | |
| Spouse(s): | Oscar Robinson (m) |
| Children: | Sherley Mae Robinson (step-daughter) (b. ) |
| Character information | |
| Appeared on: | Good Times from Season and 6 |
| Character played: | Florida Evans |
Esther Elizabeth Rolle (November 8, – November 17, ) played the role as Florida Evans on the CBS-TV sitcom series Maude&#;for two seasons () before reprising the role on Good Times, its spinoff,&#;for five seasons in Seasons and Season 6 (, ).
Early life[]
Born in Pembroke Pines, Flori
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Best known for the role of Florida Evans on the s sitcoms Maude () and Good Times (), African-American actress Esther Rolle proved to be as spirited and iron-willed off-camera as well. The gap-toothed actress with the gravelly voice was born in Pompano Beach, Florida, the 10th child of 18 born to Caribbean farming immigrants. Her first important work came with the Negro Ensemble Company and over the years would earn a solid careworn reputation in such theater plays as "The Blacks", "Blues for Mister Charlie", "The Amen Corner", "A Raisin in the Sun" and "A Member of the Wedding". Ironically, her father insisted she promise him that she would never become a servant or maid in real life. She didn't, and however Esther would have her biggest successes playing just those types of roles. She caught the attention of television producer Norman Lear while performing on stage who cast her in the Maude () supporting role in Audiences lov