Esther Rolle Picture
STARmeter
SEE RANK
Down 1,485 this week

Esther Rolle (1920–1998)

Actress | Soundtrack

Affectionately known for the role of outspoken maid Florida Evans on the hit 70s sitcoms "Maude" and "Good Times," African-American actress Esther Rolle proved to be as spirited and iron-willed off-camera as well. The gap-toothed, rather plumpish and plain-looking actress with the gravelly voice was born in Pompano Beach... See full bio »

Born:

in Pompano Beach, Florida, USA

Died:

(age 78) in Los Angeles, California, USA
ESTHER ROLLE, C. 1979 Esther Rolle Esther Rolle and Jimmie Walker John Amos and Esther Rolle
14 photos | 9 videos | 9 news articles »

Quick Links:

Related News

Octavia Spencer Says She's "the Same, Old, Ordinary Girl" as She Takes Home Two Big Wins
12 January 2012 5:52 PM, PST | Popsugar
Octavia Spencer Says She's "the Same, Old, Ordinary Girl" as She Takes Home Two Big Wins
12 January 2012 5:52 PM, PST | BuzzSugar
Most Memorable TV Moms Then and Now
6 May 2011 5:15 PM, PDT | Momlogic
See all 9 related articles »

Watch on TV

Cape Fear
Sun. June 3 2:30 PM on MAX
IMDbTV | All TV listings »
Create a list  »

Related Lists

image of name
Memorable butlers, maids or similar of TV/film
a list of 38 people by christopherbkk created 9 months ago
 
image of name
Passengers on "The Love Boat"
a list of 556 people by raisleygordon created 7 months ago
 
image of name
So sorry that they're gone
a list of 104 people by misstheresa2009 created 9 months ago
 
image of name
Popular Black Celebrities When I Was Growing Up
a list of 171 people by GusFring118 created 10 months ago
 
image of name
In Memoriam 1998 (Notable Celebs)
a list of 13 people by raisleygordon created 11 months ago
 
See all 20 related lists »

Do you have a demo reel?

Add it to your IMDbPage

Tim Bell - SAG Stuntman -- No description provided.

Tim Bell - SAG Stuntman

David H. Lawrence, XVII - Drama -- On-camera drama reel featuring David H. Lawrence XVII, in scenes from Heroes, The Unit, LOST, and more

David H. Lawrence, XVII - Drama

Franklin Ojeda Smith - -- "...back in the day the 'barb wire' was more visible" and early on I chose baseball over acting; then academia and not baseball. Now,"...the kids are grown, the dog is dead and now that I may, I choose acting." Please take a look: 1)Boardwalk Empire - Deacon Cuffy 2)Murder Incorporated - Sam Christenson 3)Cayman Went - Aniston Turnkey 4)Letting Go -Therapist 5)Footsteps in the Sand - Jim. Thank You! Franklin

Franklin Ojeda Smith -

Francine Locke Film Reel -- Family Law (Best Actress, Gideon), Stealing Home (Best Supporting Actress-nom.) 168 Project, True Tale Monster (Albert P. Weisman Award), The Discarded (2011 Feature Release).

Francine Locke Film Reel

Melanie Molnar - Reel -- No description provided.

Melanie Molnar - Reel


Find out more at IMDbPro »

Connect with IMDb

iPhoneiPadAndroidAndroid TabletWindows Phone
Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 2 nominations See more awards »

Known For


Show Show all  | 
Show by:
Edit

Filmography

Hide HideActress (42 titles)
2000 Train Ride
Dean of Students
 
1998 Down in the Delta
Annie Sinclair
 
1998 Poltergeist: The Legacy (TV series)
Grandma Rose
– La Belle Dame Sans Merci (1998) … Grandma Rose
 
1997 Touched by an Angel (TV series)
Mary Harding
– Amazing Grace: Part 2 (1997) … Mary Harding
– Amazing Grace: Part 1 (1997) … Mary Harding
 
1997 Rosewood
Aunt Sarah
 
1996 My Fellow Americans
Rita
 
1995 How to Make an American Quilt
Aunt Pauline
 
1994 Scarlett (TV mini-series)
Mammy
– Episode #1.1 (1994) … Mammy
 
1993 To Dance with the White Dog (TV movie)
Neelie
 
1993 Message from Nam (TV movie)
Queenie/Elizabeth McQueen
 
1993 House of Cards
Adelle
 
1991 Cape Fear
Woman watching Cady get out from under the car (uncredited)
 
1991 Blackbird Fly (short)
 
1990 Singer & Sons (TV series)
Sarah Patterson
– Our's Not to Reason Why Shmy (1990) … Sarah Patterson
– Once Bitten (1990) … Sarah Patterson
– The Boxer Rebellion (1990) … Sarah Patterson
– Two Sons for Singer (1990) … Sarah Patterson
 
1990 The Kid Who Loved Christmas (TV movie)
Esther Clayton
 
1989 Age-Old Friends (TV movie)
Mrs. Baker
 
1989 Driving Miss Daisy
Idella
 
1989 The Mighty Quinn
Ubu Pearl
 
1989 American Playhouse (TV series)
Lena 'Mama' Younger
– A Raisin in the Sun (1989) … Lena 'Mama' Younger
 
1987 P.K. and the Kid
Mim
 
1985 Murder, She Wrote (TV series)
Margaret
– Reflections of the Mind (1985) … Margaret
 
1983-1985 The Love Boat (TV series)
Judge Kramer / Lillian Randolph
– Getting Started/Daughter's Dilemma/The Captain Wears Pantyhose (1985) … Lillian Randolph
– I Like to Be in America/He Ain't Heavy/Abby's Maiden Voyage (1983) … Judge Kramer
 
1985 The New Mike Hammer (TV series)
– Deadly Reunion (1985)
 
1984 Finder of Lost Loves (TV series)
Nellie
– Goodbye, Sara (1984) … Nellie
 
1983 Fantasy Island (TV series)
Mama
– Edward/The Extraordinary Miss Jones (1983) … Mama
 
1982 The New Odd Couple (TV series)
Mrs. Gibbs
– The Ides of April (1982) … Mrs. Gibbs
 
1982 Flamingo Road (TV series)
Julia
– The Harder They Fall (1982) … Julia
– The Bad and the Beautiful (1982) … Julia
– The High and the Mighty (1982) … Julia
 
1982 The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet
Nurse
 
1981 Darkroom (TV series)
Grandmother / Old Woman
– Needlepoint (1981) … Grandmother/Old Woman
 
1981 See China and Die (TV movie)
Momma Sykes
 
1979 The Incredible Hulk (TV series)
Colleen Jensen
– Behind the Wheel (1979) … Colleen Jensen
 
1974-1979 Good Times (TV series)
Florida Evans
– The End of the Rainbow (1979) … Florida Evans
– A Matter of Mothers (1979) … Florida Evans
– The Physical (1979) … Florida Evans
– J.J. and T.C. (1979) … Florida Evans (credit only)
– Where Have All the Doctor's Gone? (1979) … Florida Evans
See all 109 episodes »
 
1979 I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (TV movie)
Momma
 
1978 Summer of My German Soldier (TV movie)
Ruth
 
1972-1974 Maude (TV series)
Florida Evans
– Florida's Goodbye (1974) … Florida Evans
– The Wallet (1974) … Florida Evans
– Maude's Guest (1974) … Florida Evans
– The Office Party (1973) … Florida Evans
– Music Hath Charms (1973) … Florida Evans
See all 29 episodes »
 
1973 Cleopatra Jones
Mrs. Johnson
 
1973 Don't Play Us Cheap
Miss Maybell
 
1971 One Life to Live (TV series)
Sadie Gray #2
 
1971 Who Says I Can't Ride a Rainbow!
 
1971 The Bold Ones: The Senator (TV series)
Black Woman
– A Single Blow of a Sword (1971) … Black Woman
 
1967 Up the Down Staircase
Teacher (uncredited)
 
1964 Nothing But a Man
Church Woman
 
Show ShowSoundtrack (1 title)
1974-1978 Good Times (TV series)
– The Traveling Christmas (1978) (performer: "Steam Heat" - uncredited)
– Florida's Night Out (1976) (performer: "I Could Have Danced All Night" - uncredited)
– The Rent Party (1976) (performer: "Stop! In the Name of Love" - uncredited)
– The TV Commercial (1974) (performer: "Fly Me to the Moon" - uncredited)
 
Show ShowThanks (1 title)
1998 Down in the Delta (dedicatee)
 
Show ShowSelf (17 titles)
1998 The RuPaul Show (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 28 March 1998 (1998) … Herself
 
1995 Nobody's Girls: Five Women of the West (documentary)
Clara Brown
 
1992 Color Adjustment (documentary)
Herself
 
1990 The 11th Annual Black Achievement Awards (TV special)
Herself
 
1990 22nd NAACP Image Awards (TV special)
Herself
 
1986-1989 Ebony/Jet Showcase (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 2 June 1989 (1989) … Herself
– Episode dated 16 May 1986 (1986) … Herself
 
1986 Ethnic Notions (documentary)
Narrator
 
1985 The 37th Annual Emmy Awards (TV movie)
Herself - Performer
 
1979 The 31st Annual Emmy Awards (TV special)
Herself - Winner: Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Special
 
1978 The 1st Annual Black Achievement Awards (TV special)
Herself
 
1978 CBS: On the Air (TV mini-series documentary)
 
1976 Donny and Marie (TV series)
Herself
– Episode #1.6 (1976) … Herself
 
1975 Celebrity Sweepstakes (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 1 September 1975 (1975) … Herself
– Episode dated 21 July 1975 (1975) … Herself
 
1975 Match Game PM (TV series)
Herself
– Episode #1.12 (1975) … Herself
 
1975 Match Game 73 (TV series)
Herself - Panelist
– Episode #3.228 (1975) … Herself - Panelist
 
1974 The 28th Annual Tony Awards (TV movie)
Herself - Presenter
 
1974 The Merv Griffin Show (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 29 March 1974 (1974) … Herself
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (6 titles)
2004 TV's Greatest Sidekicks (TV special)
 
2004 TV in Black: The First Fifty Years (video documentary)
 
2000 E! True Hollywood Story (TV series documentary)
 
1999 The 71st Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Herself - Memorial Tribute
 
1999 The 51st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (TV special documentary)
Herself - Memorial Tribute
 
1994 The American Experience (TV series documentary)
 

Related Videos

The Incredible Hulk: Season 3: Episode 7 -- David helps a taxi cab company owner fight a dope smuggling operation. The Mighty Quinn -- Clip: Musical Performance Down in the Delta -- Trailer
See all 9 »
Edit

Personal Details

Other Works:

(1972) Stage: Appeared in "Don't Play Us Cheap!" on Broadway. Musical/fantasy. See more »
Edit

Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

I told them [the producers] I couldn't compound the lie that Black fathers don't care about their children. I was proud of the family life I was able to introduce to television. - ER, referring to her show "Good Times" and her insistence on having a husband and father figure See more »

Trivia:

Last film was "Train Ride", an independent feature-film written and directed by Rel Dowdell, which was shot on location at the oldest African-American college in the U.S. at Cheyney University, Cheyney, Pennsylvania. She was also in Dowdell's multi-award winning short film version of "Train Ride", done while he was a graduate student at Boston University... See more »

Star Sign:

Scorpio