Beah Richards facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Beah Richards
Richards on The Bill Cosby Show (1970)
Born	Beulah Elizabeth Richardson (1920-07-12)July 12, 1920 Vicksburg, Mississippi, U.S.
Died	September 14, 2000(2000-09-14) (aged 80) Vicksburg, Mississippi, U.S.
Alma mater	Dillard University
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1955–2000
Notable work	Guess Who's Coming to Dinner Roots: The Next Generations
Spouse(s)	Hugh Harrell Jr. (divorced)

Beah Richards (born Beulah Elizabeth Richardson; July 12, 1920 – September 14, 2000) was a talented American actress. She was also a poet, writer, and activist. Beah Richards was known for her strong performances on stage, in movies, and on TV.

She was nominated for an Oscar for her role in the movie Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. She also won two Emmy Awards for her guest roles on TV shows. These were for Frank's Place in 1988 and The Practice in 2000. She was also nominated for a Tony Award for her work in the play The Amen Corner.

Early Life and Education

Beah Richards was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Her mother worked as a seamstress, making clothes. Her father was a Baptist minister.

In 1948, she finished her studies at Dillard University in New Orleans. Two years later, she moved to New York City to start her career.

Acting Career

Beah Richards began her acting career in 1955. Her first role was playing an 84-year-old grandmother. This was in an off-Broadway show called Take a Giant Step. She often played roles as a mother or grandmother throughout her life.

She performed in many famous Broadway plays. These included Purlie Victorious, The Miracle Worker, and A Raisin in the Sun.

Beah Richards also appeared in many well-known movies. Some of these films include Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967) and In the Heat of the Night (1967). She was also in Beloved (1998). She played Cynthia Murray Palmer in the TV series Roots: The Next Generations. Cynthia was the grandmother of Alex Haley, the author.

She made many guest appearances on popular television shows. These include The Bill Cosby Show, Sanford and Son, and ER. She won an Emmy Award in 1988 for Frank's Place. She won another Emmy in 2000 for her role in The Practice.

Writing and Activism

Beyond acting, Beah Richards was also a talented writer. She wrote a collection of 14 poems called A Black Woman Speaks. This work explored important social issues.

She also wrote a play called One Is a Crowd in 1951. This play was about a Black singer. It was produced many years later.

Beah Richards was also an activist. She worked to support important causes. She believed in fairness and equality for all people.

Awards and Recognition

Beah Richards received many honors for her work.

• In 1965, she was nominated for a Tony Award. This was for her performance in James Baldwin's play The Amen Corner.
• She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. This was for her role as Mrs. Prentice in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967).
• She won two Emmy Awards for her television work.

Later Life and Legacy

Beah Richards passed away in her hometown of Vicksburg, Mississippi. She was 80 years old. She died just four days after winning her second Emmy Award.

In her last year, a documentary was made about her life. It was called Beah: A Black Woman Speaks. Actress Lisa Gay Hamilton created this film. It was based on many hours of their conversations. The documentary won a major award at the AFI Film Festival.

Filmography

Images for kids

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  Beah Richards on The Bill Cosby Show in 1970.

See also

In Spanish: Beah Richards para niños