Acting
Madame Sul-Te-Wan
EN cinema · 58 credits
Born
7 March 1873
Died
1 February 1959 (aged 85)
Birthplace
Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Also known as Nellie Wan · Nellie Crawford · Madame Sultewan · Madame Wan · 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.
Known for
Filmography
Tarzan and the Trappers
as Witch Woman
The Buccaneer
as Good Luck Charm Vendor
Band of Angels
as Flower Vendor (Uncredited)
Something of Value
as Midwife (Uncredited)
Carmen Jones
as Hagar – Carmen's Grandmother (Uncredited)
Mighty Joe Young
as Young Family Servant (Uncredited)
Revenge of the Zombies
as Beulah
Thank Your Lucky Stars
as Bit in "Ice Cold Katie" Number (uncredited)
Mokey
as Miss Cully (uncredited)
Sullivan's Travels
as Church Harmonium Player (Uncredited)
King of the Zombies
as Tahama
Love Thy Neighbor
as Lady McBeth
Maryland
as Naomi
Safari
as Native Woman
Tell No Tales
as Jim Alley's Mother (uncredited)
Torchy Blane... Playing with Dynamite
as Ruby (uncredited)
In Old Chicago
as Hattie
The Affairs of Annabel
as Benzedrina (uncredited)
Kentucky
as Lily
Island in the Sky
as Scrubwoman (Uncredited)
The Toy Wife
as Eve, a Black Servant (Uncredited)
Maid of Salem
as Tituba
San Francisco
as Earthquake Survivor (Uncredited)
So Red the Rose
as Slave (Uncredited)
Black Moon
as Ruva
A Modern Hero
as Mme. Azais' Neighbor ( Uncredited)
Operator 13
as Slave at Medicine Show ( Uncredited)
Imitation of Life
as Cook (uncredited)
King Kong
as Native Handmaiden (uncredited)
Ladies They Talk About
as Mustard (uncredited)
Jungle Mystery
as Native Woman in Stockade (Uncredited)
The Pagan Lady
as Carla the Servant
Heaven on Earth
as Voodoo Sue
The Thoroughbred
as Sacharine
Sarah and Son
as Belloc's Maid (Uncredited)
Thunderbolt
as Bit Role
Queen Kelly
as Kali Sana - Aunt's Cook (uncredited)
The Carnation Kid
as The Maid (Uncredited)
Uncle Tom's Cabin
as Slave at Wedding (uncredited)
College
as Cook (uncredited)
The Narrow Street
as Easter
The Golden Bed
as Boarding House Maid (Uncredited)
The Lightning Rider
as Mammy
Manslaughter
as Prison Inmate (uncredited)
The Show
as Maid (uncredited)
Why Change Your Wife?
as Sally's Maid (Uncredited)
His Musical Sneeze
as Maid (uncredited)
Who's Your Father?
as Black Mother (uncredited)
Tarzan of the Apes
as Esmeralda - Jane's Maid (uncredited)
Old Wives for New
as Viola's Maid (uncredited)
Stage Struck
1917
Stage Struck
as Uncredited
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
as Girl at the Marriage Market (uncredited)
The Children Pay
as Uncredited
Hoodoo Ann
as Black Cindy
The Cause of It All
1915
The Cause of It All
as Mary - The Hotel Cook
The Birth of a Nation
as Black Woman (uncredited)