Esther Elizabeth Rolle (born November 8, 1920) was an African-American actress. She is best known for her role as Florida Evans, on the CBS television sitcom Maude, and its spin-off series Good Times.
Birth Name: Esther Elizabeth Rolle
Hair: Black
Eyes: Brown
Height: 5' 6"
"I was proud of the family life I was able to introduce to television."
Esther Rolle was born in Pompano Beach, Florida, to Bahamian immigrants. She was the tenth of 18 children. Rolle graduated from Blanche Ely High School in Pompano Beach, Florida, and began er acting career on the stage.
Rolle is best known for her television role as Florida Evans, the character she played on two 1970s sitcoms. The character was introduced as Maude Findlay's housekeeper on Maude, and was spun off in the show's second season into Good Times, a show about Florida's family. Rolle was nominated in 1975 for the Best Actress in a Musical/Comedy Golden Globe Award for her role in Good Times.
Rolle was 19 years older than the actor (John Amos) who played her husband James Evans. The James Evans character was only added after Esther Rolle fought hard for a father figure and husband to be added to the show. Rolle had fought for the father character on the show, more relevant themes and scripts and was unhappy when the success of Jimmie Walker's character, J.J. Evans, took the show in a frivolous direction. Rolle quit when her contract ended. Although the show continued without her for the fifth season, she returned for the show's final season. In 1979.
After Good Times ended, she appeared in a number of made-for-television movies and films, including Driving Miss Daisy and My Fellow Americans. A memorable role was that of Aunt Sarah in the 1997 film Rosewood. She had a major role in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings based on Maya Angelou's memoir of the same name, and has the distinction of having won the first Emmy Award for the category Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie, in 1979, for her work in the television movie Summer of My German Soldier.
Rolle died on November 17, 1998 in Culver City, California, from complications of diabetes, nine days after her 78th birthday.
Birth Name: Esther Elizabeth Rolle
Hair: Black
Eyes: Brown
Height: 5' 6"
"I was proud of the family life I was able to introduce to television."
Esther Rolle was born in Pompano Beach, Florida, to Bahamian immigrants. She was the tenth of 18 children. Rolle graduated from Blanche Ely High School in Pompano Beach, Florida, and began er acting career on the stage.
Rolle is best known for her television role as Florida Evans, the character she played on two 1970s sitcoms. The character was introduced as Maude Findlay's housekeeper on Maude, and was spun off in the show's second season into Good Times, a show about Florida's family. Rolle was nominated in 1975 for the Best Actress in a Musical/Comedy Golden Globe Award for her role in Good Times.
Rolle was 19 years older than the actor (John Amos) who played her husband James Evans. The James Evans character was only added after Esther Rolle fought hard for a father figure and husband to be added to the show. Rolle had fought for the father character on the show, more relevant themes and scripts and was unhappy when the success of Jimmie Walker's character, J.J. Evans, took the show in a frivolous direction. Rolle quit when her contract ended. Although the show continued without her for the fifth season, she returned for the show's final season. In 1979.
After Good Times ended, she appeared in a number of made-for-television movies and films, including Driving Miss Daisy and My Fellow Americans. A memorable role was that of Aunt Sarah in the 1997 film Rosewood. She had a major role in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings based on Maya Angelou's memoir of the same name, and has the distinction of having won the first Emmy Award for the category Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie, in 1979, for her work in the television movie Summer of My German Soldier.
Rolle died on November 17, 1998 in Culver City, California, from complications of diabetes, nine days after her 78th birthday.
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