Madame Sul-Te-Wan
Acting
🎂 1873-03-07
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.
Cast credits(58)
Black Woman (uncredited)
1915
Native Handmaiden (uncredited)
1933
Girl at the Marriage Market (uncredited)
1916
Witch Woman
1958
Libby
1949
Mustard (uncredited)
1933
Good Luck Charm Vendor
1958
Young Family Servant (Uncredited)
1949
Cook (uncredited)
1934
Slave at Medicine Show ( Uncredited)
1934
Earthquake Survivor (Uncredited)
1936
Church Harmonium Player (Uncredited)
1941
Bit Role
1929
Esmeralda - Jane's Maid (uncredited)
1918
Hagar – Carmen's Grandmother (Uncredited)
1954
Hattie
1938
Flower Vendor (Uncredited)
1957
Bit in "Ice Cold Katie" Number (uncredited)
1943
Cook (uncredited)
1927
Beulah
1943
Lily
1938
Ruva
1934
Tahama
1941
Midwife (Uncredited)
1957
Prison Inmate (uncredited)
1922
Tituba
1937
Slave (Uncredited)
1935
Miss Cully, Old Black Woman (Uncredited)
1942
Sally's Maid (Uncredited)
1920
Black Cindy
1916
Ruby (uncredited)
1939
Kali Sana – Aunt's Cook (Uncredited)
1932
Scrubwoman (Uncredited)
1938
Native Woman
1940
Uncredited
1917
Jim Alley's Mother (uncredited)
1939
Benzedrina (uncredited)
1938
Slave at Wedding (uncredited)
1927
Voodoo Sue
1931
Belloc's Maid (Uncredited)
1930
Naomi
1940
Sacharine
1930
Boarding House Maid (Uncredited)
1925
Maid (uncredited)
1922
Mammy
1924
Native Woman in Stockade (Uncredited)
1932
Eve, a Black Servant (Uncredited)
1938
Easter
1925
Carla the Servant
1931
Lady McBeth
1940
The Maid (Uncredited)
1929
Uncredited
1916
Viola's Maid (uncredited)
1918
Mme. Azais' Neighbor ( Uncredited)
1934
Maid (uncredited)
1919
Mary - The Hotel Cook
1915
Black Mother (uncredited)
1918
Flirt