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.

Cast

The Narrow Street

Who's Your Father?

Black Mother (uncredited)

Carla the Servant

Tarzan of the Apes

Esmeralda - Jane's Maid (uncredited)

Uncle Tom's Cabin

Slave at Wedding (uncredited)

Prison Inmate (uncredited)

The Thoroughbred

The Affairs of Annabel

Benzedrina (uncredited)

Jim Alley's Mother (uncredited)

Heaven on Earth

Tarzan and the Trappers

Revenge of the Zombies

Belloc's Maid (Uncredited)

Torchy Blane... Playing with Dynamite

Ruby (uncredited)

Cook (uncredited)

Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages

Girl at the Marriage Market (uncredited)

Old Wives for New

Viola's Maid (uncredited)

Love Thy Neighbor

Thank Your Lucky Stars

Bit in "Ice Cold Katie" Number (uncredited)

Earthquake Survivor (Uncredited)

Island in the Sky

Scrubwoman (Uncredited)

So Red the Rose

Slave (Uncredited)

Native Handmaiden (uncredited)

Kali Sana - Aunt's Cook (uncredited)

The Cause of It All

Mary - The Hotel Cook

Mme. Azais' Neighbor ( Uncredited)

The Children Pay

Native Woman in Stockade (Uncredited)

The Carnation Kid

The Maid (Uncredited)

Ladies They Talk About

Mustard (uncredited)

Slave at Medicine Show ( Uncredited)

Boarding House Maid (Uncredited)

His Musical Sneeze

Maid (uncredited)

Why Change Your Wife?

Sally's Maid (Uncredited)

The Story of Seabiscuit

Miss Cully (uncredited)

Flower Vendor (Uncredited)

Good Luck Charm Vendor

Hagar – Carmen's Grandmother (Uncredited)

Mighty Joe Young

Young Family Servant (Uncredited)

Eve, a Black Servant (Uncredited)

Sullivan's Travels

Church Harmonium Player (Uncredited)

Something of Value

Midwife (Uncredited)

King of the Zombies

The Birth of a Nation

Black Woman (uncredited)

The Lightning Rider

Imitation of Life

Cook (uncredited)

Maid (uncredited)