Biography for
Roxie Roker More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

28 August 1929, Miami, Florida, USA

Date of Death

2 December 1995, Los Angeles, California, USA (breast cancer)

Birth Name

Roxie Albertha Roker

Spouse

Sy Kravitz

(1962 - 1985) (divorced) 1 child

Trivia

Mother of rock star Lenny Kravitz

She won an Obie in 1970 for "The River Niger"

When she auditioned for her role in "The Jeffersons" (1975), the producer mentioned to her that he wasn't sure she looked believable as a African-American woman married to a white man. In response, she produced a family picture with her husband who was white. As a result, she was immediately cast.

A children's advocate, her service included being a board member of the Inter Agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect. She earned two citations from the Los Angeles City Council for her work.

Born in Miami and raised in Brooklyn, her father was a emigre from the Bahamas.

Received her BFA from Howard University and was an active member in the Howard Players. She later became a member of the Negro Ensemble Company in New York.

As wife "Helen Willis" on "The Jeffersons" (1975), she and white actor Franklin Cover broke barriers by becoming the first Caucasian-African-American married couple on prime-time TV.

Roxie once hosted a local community television show in the late 60s

Was nominated for Broadway's 1974 Tony Award as Best Supporting or Featured Actress (Dramatic) for "The River Niger."

Grandmother of Zoë Kravitz who was born to Lenny Kravitz and Lisa Bonet on December 1, 1988.

Was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Roxie Roker died on December 2, 1995, only a day after her granddaughter Zoë Kravitz's birthday. The family worried about when Roxie would finally be at peace because they did not want to celebrate Zoe's birthday on the same day as the funeral for her grandmother.

Grandmother of Zoë Kravitz.

Cousin of Al Roker.

Son Lenny Kravitz wrote the song "Thinking of You" after her departure. In the video, he was singing behind a photo of the mother, when young.

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