African-American Actresses Who Died at the Height of Their Fame

The entertainment industry has mourned the loss of many incredible African American actresses who left us while their stars were shining brightly. These women made significant contributions to film and television through their talent and groundbreaking performances. Their legacies continue to influence new generations of performers and fans around the world. This list commemorates their careers and the lasting impact they had on the arts.

Aaliyah

Aaliyah was a rising star in both the music and film industries when she passed away in a plane crash. She had recently starred in ‘Romeo Must Die’ and completed filming for ‘Queen of the Damned’. Her career was reaching new heights as she balanced a successful recording career with major Hollywood roles. Fans remember her as a talented artist who left a lasting impact on pop culture.

Dorothy Dandridge

Dorothy Dandridge was a trailblazing actress and the first African American woman to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress. She earned this historic nomination for her title role in the musical ‘Carmen Jones’. Throughout her career she broke racial barriers in Hollywood and starred in significant films like ‘Porgy and Bess’. Her passing in 1965 came at a time when she was still considered a major icon of the silver screen.

Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston was a global superstar whose voice and acting talent captivated millions of viewers. She transitioned into acting with the blockbuster hit ‘The Bodyguard’ which featured her record breaking soundtrack. Houston followed this success with roles in ‘Waiting to Exhale’ and ‘The Preacher’s Wife’. Her death occurred just as she was returning to the screen in the film ‘Sparkle’.

Naya Rivera

Naya Rivera gained international fame for her portrayal of Santana Lopez on the hit television series ‘Glee’. Her performance was widely praised for its depth and vocal range throughout the six year run of the show. She continued her career with a recurring role in ‘Step Up High Water’ and released a successful memoir. Her tragic drowning in 2020 shocked fans who admired her talent and her advocacy for underrepresented groups.

Michelle Thomas

Michelle Thomas was a beloved television actress known for her roles in several iconic sitcoms. She first gained fame as Justine Phillips on ‘The Cosby Show’ before moving on to play Myra Monkhouse on ‘Family Matters’. Thomas also had a recurring role as Callie Rogers on the daytime soap opera ‘The Young and the Restless’. She passed away at the age of thirty shortly after her work on ‘Family Matters’ concluded.

Tara Correa-McMullen

Tara Correa-McMullen was a promising young talent who appeared in the film ‘Rebound’ starring Martin Lawrence. She was best known for her recurring role as Big Bam on the television drama ‘Judging Amy’. Her career was just beginning to take off when she was tragically killed in 2005. She is remembered as a vibrant young actress whose life was cut short far too early.

Diana Sands

Diana Sands was an acclaimed stage and screen actress who earned critical praise for her work in the 1960s. She is best remembered for her role as Beneatha Younger in the film adaptation of ‘A Raisin in the Sun’. Sands received multiple Tony Award nominations for her theatrical performances and was set to star in ‘Claudine’ before her health declined. She passed away at the age of thirty nine while her career was still highly active.

Phyllis Hyman

Phyllis Hyman was a gifted singer and actress who achieved success on Broadway and in film. She received a Tony Award nomination for her performance in the musical ‘Sophisticated Ladies’. Her film credits include appearances in ‘The Kill Reflex’ and ‘School Daze’ directed by Spike Lee. She was a prominent figure in the entertainment world until her death in 1995.

Minnie Riperton

Minnie Riperton was a celebrated vocalist who also explored opportunities in television and performance art. While her music career was her primary focus she made appearances on shows like ‘The Flip Wilson Show’. She was known for her incredible five octave vocal range and her hit song ‘Lovin’ You’. Riperton passed away at the age of thirty one at the height of her musical and performance fame.

Hattie McDaniel

Hattie McDaniel was a legendary actress who became the first African American to win an Academy Award. She earned the honor for her role as Mammy in the epic drama ‘Gone with the Wind’. McDaniel appeared in over three hundred films during her prolific career in Hollywood. She was still active in radio and television when she passed away in 1952.

Natalie Cole

Natalie Cole followed in the footsteps of her famous father while building a massive career of her own. She appeared in several films including ‘Always Outnumbered’ and ‘Lily in Winter’. Cole also had numerous guest roles on television series like ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘Law & Order’. She was a respected figure in both the music and acting communities until her death in 2015.

Pearl Bailey

Pearl Bailey was a versatile performer who achieved success on the stage and in Hollywood films. She starred in the all black production of ‘Hello Dolly’ for which she won a Tony Award. Her film career included notable roles in ‘Carmen Jones’ and ‘Porgy and Bess’. Bailey was also a popular television personality who hosted her own variety show during the peak of her career.

Eartha Kitt

Eartha Kitt was a talented star known for her distinctive voice and captivating screen presence. She famously played Catwoman in the ‘Batman’ television series during the late 1960s. Kitt also received critical acclaim for her roles in films like ‘St. Louis Blues’ and ‘Anna Lucasta’. She remained an active performer on stage and in voice acting until her passing in 2008.

Diahann Carroll

Diahann Carroll was a pioneer who broke major racial barriers on television and film. She was the first African American woman to star in her own television series ‘Julia’ without playing a domestic worker. Carroll also earned an Academy Award nomination for her performance in the film ‘Claudine’. She later joined the cast of the prime time soap opera ‘Dynasty’ as the formidable Dominique Deveraux.

Cicely Tyson

Cicely Tyson was a legendary actress whose career spanned seven decades and earned her numerous accolades. She is well known for her powerful performances in ‘The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman’ and ‘Sounder’. Tyson received an honorary Academy Award and several Emmy Awards for her dedicated work in the arts. She continued to act in major projects like ‘How to Get Away with Murder’ until her death in 2021.

Nichelle Nichols

Nichelle Nichols was a groundbreaking actress best known for her role as Lieutenant Nyota Uhura on ‘Star Trek’. Her presence on the series was a major milestone for African American representation in science fiction. She continued the role in several ‘Star Trek’ feature films and became a spokesperson for NASA. Nichols remained a beloved figure at fan conventions and in the entertainment community for her entire life.

Ruby Dee

Ruby Dee was a distinguished actress and activist who left a lasting mark on American cinema and theater. She starred in the original production and film version of ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ alongside Sidney Poitier. Dee received an Academy Award nomination later in her career for her role in ‘American Gangster’. She was a frequent collaborator with her husband Ossie Davis on numerous artistic and social projects.

Esther Rolle

Esther Rolle became a household name for her portrayal of Florida Evans on the sitcoms ‘Maude’ and ‘Good Times’. Her performance as a strong and principled matriarch was highly influential in the 1970s. Rolle also appeared in films such as ‘Driving Miss Daisy’ and ‘Rosewood’ throughout her career. She won an Emmy Award for her role in the television movie ‘Summer of My German Soldier’.

Nell Carter

Nell Carter was a powerhouse performer who achieved great success on both Broadway and television. She won a Tony Award for her performance in the musical ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’ early in her career. Carter is perhaps best known to television audiences as the star of the sitcom ‘Gimme a Break!’. She remained a prominent figure in musical theater and comedy until her passing in 2003.

Beah Richards

Beah Richards was an esteemed actress and poet who earned an Academy Award nomination for her role in ‘Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner’. She had a prolific career that included roles in ‘In the Heat of the Night’ and ‘Beloved’. Richards also won two Emmy Awards for her guest appearances on television series like ‘Frank’s Place’ and ‘The Practice’. She was a respected veteran of the industry who worked until her final years.

Madge Sinclair

Madge Sinclair was an Emmy Award winning actress known for her authoritative and dignified roles. She played Queen Aoleon in the comedy ‘Coming to America’ and voiced Sarabi in ‘The Lion King’. Sinclair also had a long running role as Nurse Ernestine Shoop on the series ‘Trapper John M.D.’. Her career was highly active until she passed away in 1995.

Isabel Sanford

Isabel Sanford is best remembered for her iconic role as Louise Jefferson on ‘The Jeffersons’. She was the first African American woman to win a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. Sanford began her career in theater before moving to television with a recurring role on ‘All in the Family’. She continued to make guest appearances and perform in commercials long after her series ended.

Roxie Roker

Roxie Roker gained widespread recognition for her role as Helen Willis on the long running sitcom ‘The Jeffersons’. Her character was part of the first interracial couple featured on a major American television series. Roker was also an accomplished stage actress who received a Tony Award nomination for ‘The River Niger’. She remained an active member of the Hollywood community until her death in 1995.

Shirley Hemphill

Shirley Hemphill was a stand up comedian and actress who rose to fame on the sitcom ‘What’s Happening!!’. She played the sharp tongued waitress Shirley Wilson throughout the original run and sequel of the show. Hemphill also starred in her own self titled sitcom ‘One in a Million’ in the 1980s. She continued to perform comedy until she passed away at the age of fifty two.

LaWanda Page

LaWanda Page was a comedian and actress who became a television icon as Esther Anderson on ‘Sanford and Son’. Her hilarious rivalry with Fred Sanford made her one of the most memorable characters in sitcom history. She reprised the role in several spin offs and made guest appearances on various variety shows. Page remained active in the comedy circuit and television until her death in 2002.

Lynne Thigpen

Lynne Thigpen was a versatile actress who achieved success in theater, film, and television. She won a Tony Award for her performance in the play ‘An American Daughter’. Thigpen was well known for her role as The Chief on the educational series ‘Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?’. She was a series regular on the drama ‘The District’ at the time of her sudden passing in 2003.

Fredi Washington

Fredi Washington was a pioneering actress and activist during the Golden Age of Hollywood. She is best remembered for her role as Peola in the original 1934 version of ‘Imitation of Life’. Washington was a founding member of the Negro Actors Guild of America and worked to improve opportunities for black performers. She transitioned into journalism and activism after her prominent film career in the 1930s.

Louise Beavers

Louise Beavers was a prolific character actress who appeared in over one hundred and fifty films. She played the lead role of Delilah Johnson in the 1934 drama ‘Imitation of Life’ which was a major success. Beavers also starred as the title character in the early television series ‘Beulah’. She was a constant presence in Hollywood for decades until her death in 1962.

Theresa Harris

Theresa Harris was a talented actress and singer who appeared in numerous films during the 1930s and 1940s. She had significant roles in movies like ‘Baby Face’ and ‘Professional Sweetheart’. Harris often worked alongside major stars of the era and was known for her beauty and vocal talent. She continued to work in television and film until her retirement from the industry.

Juanita Moore

Juanita Moore was a distinguished actress who earned an Academy Award nomination for her role in ‘Imitation of Life’. Her performance as Annie Johnson in the 1959 remake remains one of the most celebrated in film history. Moore had a long career in both theater and cinema with appearances in ‘The Girl Can’t Help It’ and ‘The Singing Nun’. She remained a respected figure in the acting community until her passing at ninety nine.

Ethel Waters

Ethel Waters was a legendary singer and actress who broke many barriers for African American performers. She was the first black woman to be nominated for an Emmy Award and the second to be nominated for an Oscar. Her most famous roles include ‘The Member of the Wedding’ and ‘Pinky’. Waters also starred in the television series ‘Beulah’ during the early 1950s.

Butterfly McQueen

Butterfly McQueen is best known for her role as Prissy in the classic film ‘Gone with the Wind’. She appeared in several other notable films like ‘Cabin in the Sky’ and ‘Mildred Pierce’. McQueen also worked in television and won a Daytime Emmy Award for her performance in ‘The Seven Wishes of a Rich Kid’. She remained an active public figure and performer for many years.

Lena Horne

Lena Horne was a world renowned singer and actress who signed a long term contract with a major studio in the 1940s. She starred in several musical films including ‘Cabin in the Sky’ and ‘Stormy Weather’. Horne was a prominent civil rights activist who refused to play roles that were disrespectful to her heritage. She enjoyed a long career on stage and screen that lasted well into her eighties.

Della Reese

Della Reese was a successful singer who transitioned into a legendary career as a television actress. She is most famous for her role as Tess on the long running drama series ‘Touched by an Angel’. Reese also hosted her own talk show and appeared in films like ‘Harlem Nights’. She remained a major figure in the entertainment industry until her passing in 2017.

Ja’Net DuBois

Ja’Net DuBois was an actress and singer best known for her role as Willona Woods on ‘Good Times’. She also cowrote and sang the iconic theme song for the television series ‘The Jeffersons’. DuBois won two Emmy Awards for her voiceover work on the animated series ‘The PJs’. She remained active in the industry and was a mentor to many young performers.

Mary Alice

Mary Alice was an acclaimed actress of stage and screen who won both a Tony Award and an Emmy Award. She is well known for her role as Leticia Bostic on ‘A Different World’ and as The Oracle in ‘The Matrix Revolutions’. Her performance in the play ‘Fences’ earned her widespread critical acclaim. She was a respected veteran whose career spanned several decades of high quality work.

Irene Cara

Irene Cara was a superstar of the 1980s who achieved fame through her music and acting. She starred as Coco Hernandez in the movie ‘Fame’ and performed the title track. Cara also cowrote and sang the massive hit ‘Flashdance What a Feeling’ for which she won an Academy Award. She continued to work in music and independent film until her passing in 2022.

Claudia McNeil

Claudia McNeil was a powerful actress best known for her role as Lena Younger in ‘A Raisin in the Sun’. She received both Tony and Golden Globe nominations for her performance in the play and the film version. McNeil also appeared in movies like ‘The Last Angry Man’ and ‘There Was a Crooked Man’. She remained a dedicated performer on stage and television throughout her career.

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