Madame Sul-Te-Wan

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.

Actor

1915

[ ] The Cause of It All (Mary - The Hotel Cook)
[ ] The Birth of a Nation (Black Woman (uncredited))

1916

[ ] Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages (Girl at the Marriage Market (uncredited))
[ ] The Children Pay (Uncredited)
[ ] Hoodoo Ann (Black Cindy)

1917

[ ] Stage Struck (Uncredited)

1918

[ ] Who's Your Father? (Black Mother (uncredited))
[ ] Tarzan of the Apes (Esmeralda - Jane's Maid (uncredited))
[ ] Old Wives for New (Viola's Maid (uncredited))

1919

[ ] His Musical Sneeze (Maid (uncredited))

1920

[ ] Why Change Your Wife? (Sally's Maid (Uncredited))

1922

[ ] Manslaughter (Prison Inmate (uncredited))
[ ] The Show (Maid (uncredited))

1924

[ ] The Lightning Rider (Mammy)

1925

[ ] The Narrow Street (Easter)
[ ] The Golden Bed (Boarding House Maid (Uncredited))

1927

[ ] Uncle Tom's Cabin (Slave at Wedding (uncredited))
[ ] College (Cook (uncredited))

1929

[ ] Thunderbolt (Bit Role)
[ ] The Carnation Kid (The Maid (Uncredited))

1930

[ ] The Thoroughbred (Sacharine)
[ ] Sarah and Son (Belloc's Maid (Uncredited))

1931

[ ] The Pagan Lady (Carla the Servant)
[ ] Heaven on Earth (Voodoo Sue)

1932

[ ] Queen Kelly (Kali Sana - Aunt's Cook (uncredited))
[ ] Jungle Mystery (Native Woman in Stockade (Uncredited))

1933

[ ] King Kong (Native Handmaiden (uncredited))
[ ] Ladies They Talk About (Mustard (uncredited))

1934

[ ] Black Moon (Ruva)
[ ] A Modern Hero (Mme. Azais' Neighbor ( Uncredited))
[ ] Operator 13 (Slave at Medicine Show ( Uncredited))
[ ] Imitation of Life (Cook (uncredited))

1935

[ ] So Red the Rose (Slave (Uncredited))

1936

[ ] San Francisco (Earthquake Survivor (Uncredited))

1937

[ ] Maid of Salem (Tituba)

1938

[ ] In Old Chicago (Hattie)
[ ] The Affairs of Annabel (Benzedrina (uncredited))
[ ] Kentucky (Lily)
[ ] Island in the Sky (Scrubwoman (Uncredited))
[ ] The Toy Wife (Eve, a Black Servant (Uncredited))

1939

[ ] Tell No Tales (Jim Alley's Mother (uncredited))
[ ] Torchy Blane... Playing with Dynamite (Ruby (uncredited))

1940

[ ] Love Thy Neighbor (Lady McBeth)
[ ] Maryland (Naomi)
[ ] Safari (Native Woman)

1941

[ ] Sullivan's Travels (Church Harmonium Player (Uncredited))
[ ] King of the Zombies (Tahama)

1942

[ ] Mokey (Miss Cully (uncredited))

1943

[ ] Revenge of the Zombies (Beulah)
[ ] Thank Your Lucky Stars (Bit in "Ice Cold Katie" Number (uncredited))

1949

[ ] The Story of Seabiscuit (Libby)
[ ] Mighty Joe Young (Young Family Servant (Uncredited))

1954

[ W ] Carmen Jones (Hagar – Carmen's Grandmother (Uncredited))

1957

[ ] Band of Angels (Flower Vendor (Uncredited))
[ ] Something of Value (Midwife (Uncredited))

1958

[ ] Tarzan and the Trappers (Witch Woman)
[ ] The Buccaneer (Good Luck Charm Vendor)

????

[ ] Squirrel Food (Flirt)