Esther Rolle

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaEsther RolleNovember 8, 1920Pompano Beach, Florida, U.S.Died November 17, 1998 (aged 78)Culver City, California, U.S.Cause of death DiabetesResting place Westview Community Cemetery, Pompano Beach, FL.Education Blanche Ely High SchoolSpelman College (attended)Occupation ActressYears active 1964–1998Known for Florida Evans – Good TimesSpouse(s) Oscar Robinson(m. 1955; div. 1975)Parent(s) Jonathan RolleElizabeth RolleRelatives Estelle Evans (sister)Rosanna Carter (sister)Awards 1979 Primetime Emmy Award: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a SpecialSummer of My German SoldierOn Good Times (1974), L-R: Ralph Carter, BernNadette Stanis, Jimmie Walker, Esther Rolle, and John Amos.Esther Elizabeth Rolle (November 8, 1920 – November 17, 1998) was a Bahamian American actress. Rolle is best known for her role as Florida Evans, on the CBS television sitcom Maude, for two seasons (1972–1974), and its spin-off series Good Times, for five seasons (1974–77, 1978–79), for which Rolle was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Television Series Musical or Comedy in 1976.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 Findlays housekeeper on Maude, and was spun off in the shows second season into Good Times, a show about Floridas 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 Walkers character, J.J. Evans, took the show in a frivolous direction. John Amos agreed with Rolle about Walkers character and was fired from the show after the third season ended. Later on, in a stand-off with Good Times producer Norman Lear, Rolle also quit when her contract ended. Although the show continued without her for the fifth season, she returned for the shows final season. In 1979 she won an Emmy for her role in Summer of My German Soldier, a made-for-television movie.Among her guest star roles was one on The Incredible Hulk in an episode entitled Behind the Wheel where she played a taxicab business owner. In the 1990s, Rolle was a surprise guest on RuPauls VH-1 talk show. Her Maude co-star Bea Arthur was the guest, and Rolle was brought out to surprise Arthur. The two had not seen each other in years, Arthur said, and embraced warmly. Rolle also appeared in a series of psychic hotline TV commercials in the 1990s. Tell them Esther sent you, was her trademark line.

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