Ernestine Jackson facts for kids

Ernestine Jackson, born on September 18, 1942, is a talented American actress and singer. She has had a long and successful career, performing in many famous plays, movies, and TV shows.

Early Life and First Steps on Stage

Ernestine Jackson was born in Corpus Christi, Texas. She loved performing from a young age. Her big break came in 1967 when she made her debut on Broadway. This is the most famous theater district in New York City. She played Irene Molloy in a special all-Black cast of the musical Hello, Dolly!. She even got to star alongside the legendary singer and actress Pearl Bailey.

A Star on Broadway

Ernestine Jackson became well-known for her amazing performances on stage. In 1973, she created the role of Ruth Younger in the musical Raisin. Her performance was so good that she won the Theatre World Award. She was also nominated for a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical. The Tony Awards are like the Oscars for theater!

More Broadway Hits

Ernestine continued to shine on Broadway. She appeared in other popular musicals like Applause and The Bacchae. In 1976, she starred in another all-Black revival of Guys and Dolls. For this role, she was nominated for two more big awards: the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical. She also performed in revivals of classic shows like Show Boat and Finian's Rainbow.

Portraying Music Legends

Ernestine Jackson is also known for playing famous musicians on stage.

• In 1997, she played Alberta Hunter in a show called Cookin' at the Cookery: The Music and Times of Alberta Hunter. This show traveled to many places, including Florida, California, and Boston.
• In 2005, she took on the role of Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill. Critics praised her performance, saying she captured Billie Holiday's spirit beautifully.
• In 2007, she played another famous entertainer, Ethel Waters, in a play called Ethel Waters: His Eye is On the Sparrow.

Ernestine Jackson on Screen

Besides her theater work, Ernestine Jackson has also appeared in movies and on television.

Film Roles

She has been in several films, including:

• The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990)
• Freedomland (2006)
• Steam (2007)
• Forged (2010)

Television Appearances

Ernestine has also made guest appearances on many popular TV shows. Some of these include:

• Roots: The Next Generations (1979)
• A Man Called Hawk (1989)
• Law & Order (1994)
• The West Wing (2002)
• Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2003)
• Gravity (2010)
• Rescue Me (2010)
• The Big C (2010)

Video Games

Interestingly, Ernestine Jackson has even lent her voice to video games! In 1983, she was in MysteryDisc: Many Roads to Murder. She also provided a voice for the game Mugen in 1999.

Ernestine Jackson's career shows her amazing talent and versatility as both an actress and a singer across many different types of entertainment.