Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

58

Gender

Female

Birthday

1873-03-07

Day of Death

1959-02-01 (86 years old)

Place of Birth

Louisville, Kentucky, USA

Also Known As

Nellie Wan

Nellie Crawford

Madame Sultewan

Madame Wan

Sul-Te-Wan

Madame Sul-Te-Wan

Biography

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

Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages

Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages

King Kong

King Kong

Sullivan's Travels

Sullivan's Travels

Acting

The Narrow Street

1925

The Narrow Street

as

Easter

Black Moon

1934

Black Moon

as

Ruva

Who's Your Father?

1918

Who's Your Father?

as

Black Mother (uncredited)

The Pagan Lady

1931

The Pagan Lady

as

Carla the Servant

Tarzan of the Apes

1918

Tarzan of the Apes

as

Esmeralda - Jane's Maid (uncredited)

In Old Chicago

1938

In Old Chicago

as

Hattie

Uncle Tom's Cabin

1927

Uncle Tom's Cabin

as

Slave at Wedding (uncredited)

Manslaughter

1922

Manslaughter

as

Prison Inmate (uncredited)

The Thoroughbred

1930

The Thoroughbred

as

Sacharine

The Affairs of Annabel

1938

The Affairs of Annabel

as

Benzedrina (uncredited)

Tell No Tales

1939

Tell No Tales

as

Jim Alley's Mother (uncredited)

Heaven on Earth

1931

Heaven on Earth

as

Voodoo Sue

Tarzan and the Trappers

1958

Tarzan and the Trappers

as

Witch Woman

Revenge of the Zombies

1943

Revenge of the Zombies

as

Beulah

Kentucky

1938

Kentucky

as

Lily

Thunderbolt

1929

Thunderbolt

as

Bit Role

Maid of Salem

1937

Maid of Salem

as

Tituba

Sarah and Son

1930

Sarah and Son

as

Belloc's Maid (Uncredited)

Torchy Blane.. Playing with Dynamite

1939

Torchy Blane.. Playing with Dynamite

as

Ruby (uncredited)

College

1927

College

as

Cook (uncredited)

Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages

1916

Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages

as

Girl at the Marriage Market (uncredited)

Old Wives for New

1918

Old Wives for New

as

Viola's Maid (uncredited)

Love Thy Neighbor

1940

Love Thy Neighbor

as

Lady McBeth

Safari

1940

Safari

as

Native Woman

Maryland

1940

Maryland

as

Naomi

Thank Your Lucky Stars

1943

Thank Your Lucky Stars

as

Bit in "Ice Cold Katie" Number (uncredited)

San Francisco

1936

San Francisco

as

Earthquake Survivor (Uncredited)

Island in the Sky

1938

Island in the Sky

as

Scrubwoman (Uncredited)

So Red the Rose

1935

So Red the Rose

as

Slave (Uncredited)

Jungle Mystery

1932

Jungle Mystery

as

Native Woman in Stockade (Uncredited)

A Modern Hero

1934

A Modern Hero

as

Mme. Azais' Neighbor ( Uncredited)

Operator 13

1934

Operator 13

as

Slave at Medicine Show ( Uncredited)

King Kong

1933

King Kong

as

Native Handmaiden (uncredited)

Ladies They Talk About

1933

Ladies They Talk About

as

Mustard (uncredited)

The Cause of It All

1915

The Cause of It All

as

Mary - The Hotel Cook

The Children Pay

1916

The Children Pay

as

Uncredited

Stage Struck

1917

Stage Struck

as

Uncredited

Why Change Your Wife?

1920

Why Change Your Wife?

as

Sally's Maid (Uncredited)

The Carnation Kid

1929

The Carnation Kid

as

The Maid (Uncredited)

Queen Kelly

1932

Queen Kelly

as

Kali Sana – Aunt's Cook (Uncredited)

The Golden Bed

1925

The Golden Bed

as

Boarding House Maid (Uncredited)

His Musical Sneeze

1919

His Musical Sneeze

as

Maid (uncredited)

Squirrel Food

Squirrel Food

as

Flirt

The Story of Seabiscuit

1949

The Story of Seabiscuit

as

Libby

Mighty Joe Young

1949

Mighty Joe Young

as

Young Family Servant (Uncredited)

The Toy Wife

1938

The Toy Wife

as

Eve, a Black Servant (Uncredited)

The Buccaneer

1958

The Buccaneer

as

Good Luck Charm Vendor

Band of Angels

1957

Band of Angels

as

Flower Vendor (Uncredited)

Mokey

1942

Mokey

as

Miss Cully, Old Black Woman (Uncredited)

Something of Value

1957

Something of Value

as

Midwife (Uncredited)

Carmen Jones

1954

Carmen Jones

as

Hagar – Carmen's Grandmother (Uncredited)

Sullivan's Travels

1941

Sullivan's Travels

as

Church Harmonium Player (Uncredited)

King of the Zombies

1941

King of the Zombies

as

Tahama

The Birth of a Nation

1915

The Birth of a Nation

as

Black Woman (uncredited)

Hoodoo Ann

1916

Hoodoo Ann

as

Black Cindy

The Lightning Rider

1924

The Lightning Rider

as

Mammy

Imitation of Life

1934

Imitation of Life

as

Cook (uncredited)

The Show

1922

The Show

as

Maid (uncredited)

Production

Crew

Directing