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Esther Rolle
Born	November 8, 1920 Pompano Beach, Florida, USA
Died	November 17, 1998 (age 78) Culver City, California
Years active	1964-1998
Spouse(s)	Oscar Robinson (1955-1960)
Notable roles	Florida Evans in Good Times Florida Evans in Maude
Emmy Awards
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie 1979 Summer of My German Soldier

Esther Rolle (November 8, 1920 – November 17, 1998) was an American actress of Bahamian descent.

Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 2.1 Theater 2.2 Television 2.3 Film 3 Death 4 Stage appearances 5 Filmography 6 See also 7 External links

Rolle was the ninth child in a family that would total 18 children. She was born in Pompano Beach, Florida, to Bahamian immigrants.

Rolle moved to New York City and attended Hunter College, Spelman College and the New School for Social Research. She was also a member of Zeta Phi Beta sorority. For many years, Rolle worked in a traditional "day job" in New York City's garment district. [1]

Rolle's earliest roles were on the stage; her New York stage debut was in the 1962 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 1973 Melvin Van Peebles play, Don't Play Us Cheap. [2]

Rolle is perhaps best known for her television role as Florida Evans, the character she played on two successful 1970s sitcoms: Maude and its spinoff, Good Times.

The character was initially introduced as Maude Findlay's housekeeper on Maude, and was spun off in the show's second season into Good Times, a show about Florida's family. Rolle was nominated in 1975 for the Best Actress in a Musical/Comedy Golden Globe Award for her role in Good Times.

Although Good Times was successful, Rolle fought for more relevant themes and scripts, and was not happy when the success of Jimmie Walker and his character J.J. took the show in what she perceived as a more frivolous direction. As a result of this change, actor John Amos left, and in a stand-off with the show's producer Norman Lear, Rolle quit as well when her contract concluded. The series continued without her for a time, but she returned for the show's final season. [3]

After Good Times, she performed in a number of made-for-television movies and feature films, including Driving Miss Daisy and My Fellow Americans.

She had a major role in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings based on Maya Angelou's memoir of the same name, and has the distinction of having won the very first Emmy Award for the category “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie,” in 1979 for her work in the television movie Summer of My German Soldier. Another memorable role was that of Aunt Sarah in the 1997 film Rosewood. Her last film, Train Ride was released in 2000.

Rolle died 17 November 1998, in hospital in Culver City, a community in Los Angeles, due to complications from diabetes just nine days after her 78th birthday.

• A Raisin in the Sun (1989) – Lena
• Member of the Wedding (1989) – Berenice
• Day of Absence (1965)
• The Amen Corner (1965)

• Train Ride (2000) – The Dean
• Down in the Delta (1999) –
• Rosewood (1997) – Sarah Carrier
• My Fellow Americans (1996) – Rita
• The Kid Who Loved Christmas (1990) - Esther Clayton
• Driving Miss Daisy (1989) – Idella
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1979) – Momma
• Summer of My German Soldier (1978) – Ruth
• Good Times (1974-1979) – Florida Evans
• Don't Play Us Cheap (1973) – Miss Maybell
• Maude (1972-1974) – Florida Evans
• One Life to Live (1971) – Sadie Gray

• Bahamian American

• Esther Rolle at the Internet Broadway Database
• Esther Rolle at the Internet Movie Database
• Esther Rolle at the Notable Names Database
• Esther Rolle at the TCM Movie Database
• Esther Rolle at Yahoo! Movies
• Esther Rolle at The African American Registry

Awards
Preceded by none	Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actress - Miniseries or a Movie 1979 Summer of My German Soldier	Succeeded by Mare Winningham Amber Waves