Actor
Madame Sul-Te-Wan
Born 1873 · Louisville, Kentucky, USA
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.
Acting
King Kong
Native Handmaiden (uncredited) · 1933
Sullivan's Travels
Church Harmonium Player (Uncredited) · 1941
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
Girl at the Marriage Market (uncredited) · 1916
The Birth of a Nation
Black Woman (uncredited) · 1915
College
Cook (uncredited) · 1927
Imitation of Life
Cook (uncredited) · 1934
Mighty Joe Young
Young Family Servant (Uncredited) · 1949
San Francisco
Earthquake Survivor (Uncredited) · 1936
Carmen Jones
Hagar – Carmen's Grandmother (Uncredited) · 1954
In Old Chicago
Hattie · 1938
The Buccaneer
Good Luck Charm Vendor · 1958
Queen Kelly
Kali Sana - Aunt's Cook (uncredited) · 1929
Band of Angels
Flower Vendor (Uncredited) · 1957
Thank Your Lucky Stars
Bit in "Ice Cold Katie" Number (uncredited) · 1943
Ladies They Talk About
Mustard (uncredited) · 1933
The Carnation Kid
The Maid (Uncredited) · 1929
The Show
Maid (uncredited) · 1922
King of the Zombies
Tahama · 1941
The Lightning Rider
Mammy · 1924
Stage Struck
Uncredited · 1917
Thunderbolt
Bit Role · 1929
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Slave at Wedding (uncredited) · 1927
Black Moon
Ruva · 1934
So Red the Rose
Slave (Uncredited) · 1935