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Ethel Waters (1896–1977)

Actress | Soundtrack

The child of a teenage rape victim, Ethel Waters grew up in the slums of Philadelphia and neighboring cities, seldom living anywhere for more than a few weeks at a time. "No one raised me, " she recollected, "I just ran wild." She excelled not only at looking after herself, but also at singing and dancing; she began performing at church functions... See full bio »

Born:

in Chester, Pennsylvania, USA

Died:

(age 80) in Chatsworth, California, USA
Still of Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson, Butterfly McQueen, Clinton Rosemond, Kenneth Spencer and Ethel Waters in Cabin in the Sky
4 photos | 2 videos | 26 news articles »

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Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 nomination See more awards »

Known For


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Filmography

Hide HideActress (28 titles)
1972 Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law (TV series)
Aunt Harriet
– Run, Carol, Run (1972) … Aunt Harriet
 
1970 Daniel Boone (TV series)
Rachael
– Mamma Cooper (1970) … Rachael
 
1967 Vacation Playhouse (TV series)
Carrie
– You're Only Young Twice (1967) … Carrie
 
1963 The Great Adventure (TV series)
Rit
– Go Down, Moses (1963) … Rit
 
1961 Route 66 (TV series)
Jenny Henderson
– Goodnight Sweet Blues (1961) … Jenny Henderson
 
1959 Whirlybirds (TV series)
Sarah
– The Big Lie (1959) … Sarah
 
1959 The Sound and the Fury
Dilsey
 
1958 The Heart Is a Rebel
Gladys
 
1957 Matinee Theatre (TV series)
– Sing for Me (1957)
 
1957 Carib Gold
Mom
 
1956 Saturday Spectacular: Manhattan Tower (TV movie)
Sunday School Teacher
 
1955 Playwrights '56 (TV series)
Dilsey
– The Sound and the Fury (1955) … Dilsey
 
1955 G.E. True Theater (TV series)
Mother
– Winner by Decision (1955) … Mother
 
1955 Climax! (TV series)
Aunt Kate
– The Dance (1955) … Aunt Kate
 
1955 Your Play Time (TV series)
Hannah
– Speaking to Hannah (1955) … Hannah
 
1952 The Member of the Wedding
Berenice Sadie Brown
 
1952 The Jackie Gleason Show (TV series)
Guest Jazz Vocalist
– Pickles (1952) … Guest Jazz Vocalist
– The Cold (1952) … Guest Jazz Vocalist
 
1950-1951 Beulah (TV series)
Beulah
– The Play (1951) … Beulah
– Beulah and the Stuffed Shirts (1951) … Beulah
– Beulah and the Honeymooners (1951) … Beulah
– Puppy Love (1951) … Beulah
– Beulah Meets Aunt Mildred (1951) … Beulah
See all 39 episodes »
 
1949 Pinky
Pinky's Granny
 
1943 Stage Door Canteen
Ethel Waters
 
1943 Cabin in the Sky
Petunia Jackson
 
1942 Cairo
Cleona Jones, Marcia's Maid
 
1942 Tales of Manhattan
Esther
 
1934 Gift of Gab
Ethel
 
1934 Bubbling Over (short)
Ethel Peabody
 
1933 Change Your Luck (short)
Ethel
 
1933 Rufus Jones for President (short)
Mother of Rufus
 
1929 On with the Show!
Ethel
 
Show ShowSoundtrack (36 titles)
2009 Amelia (performer: "Moonglow" 1934)
 
2008 Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1920s: The Dawn of the Hollywood Musical (video documentary) (performer: "Am I Blue?" - uncredited, "Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe" - uncredited)
 
2006 Cold Case (TV series)
– Beautiful Little Fool (2006) (performer: "True Blue Lou")
 
1997 American Masters (TV series documentary)
– Vaudeville (1997) (performer: "Am I Blue?" - uncredited)
 
1990 Mr. & Mrs. Bridge (performer: "Jeepers Creepers")
 
1988 Heart of Midnight (performer: "Baby, What Else Can I Do")
 
1976 Dinah! (TV series)
– Episode dated 16 July 1976 (1976) (performer: "Cabin in the Sky" - uncredited, "Dinah" - uncredited)
 
1976 That's Entertainment, Part II (documentary) (performer: "Taking a Chance on Love" 1940 - uncredited)
 
1976 The Mike Douglas Show (TV series)
– Episode dated 20 February 1976 (1976) (performer: "Cabin in the Sky" - uncredited)
 
1972 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (TV series)
– Episode dated 27 October 1972 (1972) (performer: "Cabin in the Sky")
 
1972 The David Frost Show (TV series)
– Episode #4.166 (1972) (writer: "Partners with God" - uncredited / performer: "Partners with God" - uncredited)
 
1972 Johnny Carson Presents the Sun City Scandals '72 (TV movie) (performer: "Dinah", "Taking a Chance on Love")
 
1971 The Pearl Bailey Show (TV series)
– Episode #1.4 (1971) (performer: "His Eye Is on the Sparrow" - uncredited, "When the Trumpet Sounds" - uncredited, "Stormy Weather" - uncredited, "Taking a Chance on Love" - uncredited)
 
1970 The Barbara McNair Show (TV series)
– Episode dated 19 April 1970 (1970) (writer: "Partners with God" / performer: "Partners with God", "Crying Holy Unto the Lord")
 
1970 Daniel Boone (TV series)
– Mamma Cooper (1970) (performer: "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" - uncredited, "Do, Lord, Do Remember Me" - uncredited)
 
1969 The Hollywood Palace (TV series)
– Episode #6.22 (1969) (performer: "Bread and Gravy", "Supper Time")
 
1963 Hollywood and the Stars (TV series)
– The Fabulous Musicals (1963) (performer: "Am I Blue?" - uncredited)
 
1961 Route 66 (TV series)
– Goodnight Sweet Blues (1961) (performer: "Good Night, Sweet Blues")
 
1959 The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show (TV series)
– Episode #3.31 (1959) (performer: "Cabin in the Sky", "Downhearted Blues", "Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe", "St. Louis Blues")
 
1958 The Heart Is a Rebel (performer: "The Crucifixion", "His Eye Is on the Sparrow", "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child")
 
1957 Matinee Theatre (TV series)
– Sing for Me (1957) (performer: "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child")
 
1957 Carib Gold (performer: "Carib Gold")
 
1956 The Steve Allen Plymouth Show (TV series)
– Episode #2.11 (1956) (performer: "Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe", "Taking a Chance on Love")
 
1952 The Member of the Wedding (performer: "His Eye Is on the Sparrow")
 
1951 The Buick-Berle Show (TV series)
– Episode #3.24 (1951) (performer: "Heat Wave", "Memories of You", "Dinah", "Am I Blue?")
 
1950 Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall (TV series)
– Episode dated 5 February 1950 (1950) (performer: "Taking a Chance on Love" - uncredited, "Supper Time" - uncredited)
 
1949 The Ed Sullivan Show (TV series)
– Episode #3.3 (1949) (performer: "Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe", "Stormy Weather")
 
1948 Let's Sing a Song from the Movies (short) (performer: "Am I Blue?")
 
1943 Stage Door Canteen (performer: "Quick Sands" 1943)
 
1943 Cabin in the Sky (performer: "Li'l Black Sheep" 1943, "Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe" 1943, "Cabin in the Sky" 1940 - uncredited, "Taking a Chance on Love" 1940 - uncredited, "Honey in the Honeycomb" 1940 - uncredited)
 
1943 The Voice That Thrilled the World (documentary short) (performer: "Am I Blue" - uncredited)
 
1942 Cairo (performer: "Il bacio The Kiss", "Chi mi frena The Sextet" 1835, "Waiting for the Robert E. Lee" 1912, "There's No Place Like Home Home, Sweet Home" 1823, "Buds Won't Bud" 1937 / "Buds Won't Bud" 1937)
 
1934 Gift of Gab (performer: "I Ain't Gonna Sin No More")
 
1934 Bubbling Over (short) (performer: "Taking Your Time", "Darkies Never Dream")
 
1933 Rufus Jones for President (short) (performer: "Am I Blue?" - uncredited, "Underneath the Harlem Moon" - uncredited, "Lullaby" - uncredited)
 
1929 On with the Show! (performer: "Am I Blue?" - uncredited, "Birmingham Bertha" - uncredited)
 
Show ShowSelf (33 titles)
1976 Dinah! (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 16 July 1976 (1976) … Herself
 
1965-1976 The Mike Douglas Show (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 20 February 1976 (1976) … Herself
– Episode dated 8 May 1972 (1972) … Herself
– Episode dated 30 November 1965 (1965) … Herself
 
1972 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 27 October 1972 (1972) … Herself
– Episode dated 10 May 1972 (1972) … Herself
 
1972 The David Frost Show (TV series)
Herself
– Episode #4.166 (1972) … Herself
 
1972 Johnny Carson Presents the Sun City Scandals '72 (TV movie)
Herself
 
1971 The Pearl Bailey Show (TV series)
Herself
– Episode #1.4 (1971) … Herself
 
1971 This Is Your Life (TV series)
Herself
– Pearl Bailey (1971) … Herself
 
1970 The Barbara McNair Show (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 19 April 1970 (1970) … Herself
 
1969 Della (TV series)
Herself
– Episode #1.70 (1969) … Herself
– Episode #1.50 (1969) … Herself
 
1969 The Hollywood Palace (TV series)
Herself - Singer
– Episode #6.22 (1969) … Herself - Singer
 
1968 The Joey Bishop Show (TV series)
Herself
– Episode #2.149 (1968) … Herself
– Episode #2.148 (1968) … Herself
– Episode #2.147 (1968) … Herself
 
1962 The New Steve Allen Show (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 13 September 1962 (1962) … Herself
 
1962 The Linkletter Show (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 14 June 1962 (1962) … Herself
 
1961 Project XX (TV series documentary)
Herself
– The World of Billy Graham (1961) … Herself
 
1959 The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show (TV series)
Herself
– Episode #3.31 (1959) … Herself
 
1959 The Mike Wallace Interview (TV series)
Herself
– Ethel Waters (1959) … Herself
 
1957 Hold That Note (TV series)
Herself - Contestant
– Episode #1.1 (1957) … Herself - Contestant
 
1957 Break the $250,000 Bank (TV series)
Herself - Contestant
– Episode dated 15 January 1957 (1957) … Herself - Contestant
– Episode dated 8 January 1957 (1957) … Herself - Contestant
 
1956 The Steve Allen Plymouth Show (TV series)
Herself - Singer
– Episode #2.11 (1956) … Herself - Singer
 
1956 Home (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 28 February 1956 (1956) … Herself
 
1953-1954 The Dave Garroway Show (TV series)
Herself
– Episode #1.39 (1954) … Herself
– Episode #1.4 (1953) … Herself
 
1954 Person to Person (TV series documentary)
Herself - Singer
– Episode #1.15 (1954) … Herself - Singer
 
1953 American Inventory (TV series)
Herself
– American Song (1953) … Herself
 
1950-1952 This Is Show Business (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 7 December 1952 (1952) … Herself
– Episode dated 11 March 1951 (1951) … Herself
– Episode dated 11 June 1950 (1950) … Herself
– Episode dated 28 May 1950 (1950) … Herself
– Episode dated 5 March 1950 (1950) … Herself
 
1951 General Electric Guest House (TV series)
Herself
– Episode #1.9 (1951) … Herself
– Episode #1.6 (1951) … Herself
– Episode #1.4 (1951) … Herself
 
1951 What's My Line? (TV series)
Herself - Mystery Guest
– Episode dated 12 August 1951 (1951) … Herself - Mystery Guest
 
1951 Songs for Sale (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 21 July 1951 (1951) … Herself
 
1951 The Buick-Berle Show (TV series)
Herself - Singer
– Episode #3.24 (1951) … Herself - Singer
 
1950 Showtime, U.S.A. (TV series)
Herself
– Episode #1.6 (1950) … Herself
 
1949-1950 The Ed Sullivan Show (TV series)
Herself / Herself - Singer
– Episode #4.4 (1950) … Herself
– Episode #3.3 (1949) … Herself - Singer
 
1950 Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 5 February 1950 (1950) … Herself
 
1947 The Borden Show (TV series)
Herself
– Ethel's Cabin (1947) … Herself
 
1939 Let My People Live (documentary short)
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (21 titles)
2006 Bicentennial Nigger (short)
 
2004 Broadway: The American Musical (TV series documentary)
 
2003 Great Performances (TV series)
 
2001 Biography (TV series documentary)
 
2001 The Nightclub Years (TV special documentary)
Herself
 
1999 Blues Masters (video documentary)
 
1998 Small Steps, Big Strides: The Black Experience in Hollywood (TV documentary)
Herself
 
1998 Classified X (TV documentary)
Herself
 
1997 American Masters (TV series documentary)
 
1990 Entertainment Tonight (TV series)
 
1990 That's Black Entertainment (documentary)
Herself
 
1989 The Ladies Sing the Blues
Herself
 
1985 That's Dancing! (documentary)
Herself (clip from "Rufus Jones for President")
 
1977 The Mike Douglas Show (TV series)
 
1976 That's Entertainment, Part II (documentary)
Clip from 'Cabin in the Sky'
 
1975 Brother Can You Spare a Dime (documentary)
Herself
 
1975 Black Shadows on the Silver Screen (TV documentary)
Herself (uncredited)
 
1958-1963 The Ed Sullivan Show (TV series)
 
1948 Let's Sing a Song from the Movies (short)
 
1947 New Orleans
(clip: 'Radio Jones for President') (uncredited)
 
1943 The Voice That Thrilled the World (documentary short)
Herself (segment "On with the Show!") (uncredited)
 

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Personal Details

Other Works:

(10/22/33-2/25/34) Radio: Appeared on "The American Revue" on CBS Radio. See more »

Publicity Listings:

7 Print Biographies  | See more »
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Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

I guess singing is the traditional outlet for the colored people. The very thing that is paramount in my mind I can find expression for in just humming a song. But, of course, there is solid prayer for other things in my mind. Oh, I can get angry and curse a little (of course, the Lord look the other way)... See more »

Trivia:

Singer Crystal Waters is her great-niece. See more »

Nickname:

Sweet Mama Stringbean See more »

Star Sign:

Scorpio