Clarice Taylor was an
American stage, film and television actress died she was , 93..
(September 20, 1917 – May 30, 2011)
Biography
Born in
Buckingham County, Virginia, Taylor was best-known for her recurring role on television on
The Cosby Show as Dr. Heathcliff "Cliff" Huxtable's (
Bill Cosby) mother, Anna Huxtable. She was nominated for an
Emmy Award in
1986 for the role. She also played Harriet on
Sesame Street and appeared as Grady's cousin Emma on
Sanford and Son.
[3]
Taylor was raised in
New York City and started working in the theatre—with the American Negro Theatre—at a time when there were few opportunities for
African American actors. To support herself she followed in her father's (Leon B. Taylor, Sr.) footsteps and went to work for the U.S. Post Office. In the 1960s she got her big break that enabled her to act full time. Taylor was one of the founding members of the
Negro Ensemble Company, headquartered in the East Village on St. Marks Place.
Film work
While working with the NEC she got her first offer of a movie role in
Change of Mind. Her next film role was as "Minnie" in
Otto Preminger's
Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon. In 1971 she played Birdie in
Clint Eastwood's
Play Misty For Me. In 1973, she brought a role she had pioneered off-Broadway to film, playing Gladys Brooks in
Five on the Blackhand Side.
Stage
Taylor appeared in
The Wiz as Addaperle, the Good Witch of the North.
[1] Her most recent performance was in a touring production of her own one-woman show,
Moms, for which she won an
Obie Award. Her most recent film appearance was a small role in
Wayne Wang's film
Smoke.
Death
Clarice Taylor died at her home in
Englewood, New Jersey from congestive heart failure, aged 93.
[1] She is survived by her two sons: William and James, her daughter-in-law, Gizele, and four grandchildren: Jason, Kristen, Raul Jr. & Jared.
[2]
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