Madame 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.
58 acting credits
Acting · 58
King Kong
1933
Operator 13
1934
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
1916
The Birth of a Nation
1915
Sullivan's Travels
1941
San Francisco
1936
Mighty Joe Young
1949
The Buccaneer
1958
Band of Angels
1957
Imitation of Life
1934
Carmen Jones
1954
College
1927
In Old Chicago
1938
Black Moon
1934
Thank Your Lucky Stars
1943
Safari
1940
Hoodoo Ann
1916
Ladies They Talk About
1933
Love Thy Neighbor
1940
Thunderbolt
1929
Torchy Blane... Playing with Dynamite
1939
Tarzan and the Trappers
1958
Maid of Salem
1937
Something of Value
1957
The Story of Seabiscuit
1949
Uncle Tom's Cabin
1927
The Affairs of Annabel
1938
Mokey
1942
Kentucky
1938
Tarzan of the Apes
1918
Queen Kelly
1929
King of the Zombies
1941
Maryland
1940
So Red the Rose
1935
Heaven on Earth
1931
Manslaughter
1922
Tell No Tales
1939
The Toy Wife
1938
Jungle Mystery
1932
A Modern Hero
1934
Old Wives for New
1918
The Show
1922
The Lightning Rider
1924
Why Change Your Wife?
1920
Island in the Sky
1938
Squirrel Food
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The Thoroughbred
1930
Sarah and Son
1930
The Golden Bed
1925
The Children Pay
1916
Revenge of the Zombies
1943
His Musical Sneeze
1919
Stage Struck
1917
The Narrow Street
1925
The Cause of It All
1915
The Pagan Lady
1931
The Carnation Kid
1929
Who's Your Father?
1918