Evelyn Ellis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Evelyn Ellis
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Evelyn Ellis as Bess in Porgy (1927–30)
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| Born | February 2, 1894 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| Died | June 5, 1958 (aged 64) Saranac Lake, New York, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1919–1953 |
Evelyn Ellis (born February 2, 1894 – died June 5, 1958) was an American actress. She mostly performed in plays on stage. She also appeared in a few movies, like The Joe Louis Story and The Lady from Shanghai.
Later in her career, Evelyn Ellis also directed some theater plays. One famous play she directed was an all-black Broadway show called Tobacco Road. People who knew her described her as a "quiet and unassuming young lady with a very charming personality."
Early Life and Acting Career
Evelyn Ellis was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on February 2, 1894. We don't know much about her early life. However, she became a well-known actress in the black community from 1919 to 1955.
Ellis first acted on stage at the Lafayette Theatre in Harlem. This was in 1919, in a play called Othello. She then moved to Broadway, which is a famous theater district in New York City. Her first Broadway show was Roseanne.
Her next big Broadway role was in Porgy in 1927. She became famous for playing the character of Bess in this play. She acted alongside Rose McClendon and Frank H. Wilson. In the same year, she played a main role in Goat Alley. This play was about black life in the poor areas of Washington, D.C. Critics praised her acting in this role.
Evelyn Ellis took a break from acting for a few years. This was because of the Great Depression, a time when many people lost their jobs and money. But she soon returned to the stage and even started directing plays.
She acted in many other plays, including Deep Are the Roots in 1945. In this play, she played Bella Charles, the mother of a black war veteran. She also appeared in The Royal Family in 1952. Her next important role was in Orson Welles's original Broadway play, Native Son. She played Hannah Thomas, the mother of the main character, Bigger Thomas. She played this role again a year later in a successful new version of the play. Critics said her acting was very realistic.
Ellis continued to play many main roles while working with the Dunbar Players of Philadelphia. During this time, she also opened a drama school for young people in Long Island.
Directing Plays
Evelyn Ellis directed a play called Horse Play in 1937. Then, in 1938, she directed Little Woman with the junior group at the Negro Little Theatre.
Her most famous work as a director and actress was in the all-black production of Tobacco Road in 1950. She played a starving mother in this play. The New York Times newspaper said her acting had "truthful elements that left a lasting impression." Through directing plays for young people and starting her drama school, Ellis helped many kids get interested in acting.
Film Roles
Evelyn Ellis acted in a few movies during her career.
| Year | Title | Role | |
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| 1924 | A Son of Satan | ||
| 1947 | The Lady from Shanghai | Bessie | |
| 1952 | The Joe Louis Story | the Fighter's Mother | |
| 1955 | Interrupted Melody | Maid |
Later Years and Death
Evelyn Ellis made her last appearance on Broadway in 1953. She ended her acting career in 1955 with the movie Interrupted Melody.
Two years later, she passed away on June 5, 1958, at the age of 64. She died from a heart problem. She had been in the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital in Saranac Lake, New York, since December 1957 until her death.
See also
