Mabel King facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mabel King
Born	Mabel Elizabeth Washington (1932-12-25)December 25, 1932 Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
Died	November 9, 1999(1999-11-09) (aged 66) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress singer
Years active	1964–1990
Known for	Mabel "Mama" Thomas – What's Happening!! Evillene – The Wiz
Spouse(s)	Melvin King ​ ​ (m. 1967; div. 1989)​
Children	1

Mabel Elizabeth King (born Washington; December 25, 1932 – November 9, 1999) was a talented American actress and singer. Many people remember her best as Mabel "Mama" Thomas on the popular TV show What's Happening!!. She played this role from 1976 to 1978. Mabel King was also famous for playing Evillene the Witch in the musical The Wiz. She first played this role on stage and then again in the 1978 movie version. She also recorded music for Rama Records and Amy Records.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Mabel Elizabeth Washington was born on Christmas Day in 1932. Her birthplace was Charleston, South Carolina. Her parents were Rosalie and Joseph Washington. She grew up in Harlem, New York. In Harlem, she became a gospel and nightclub singer.

Mabel King's Acting Career

Mabel King started acting when she was in her mid-thirties. Her first acting role was in 1966. She played Maria in the play Porgy and Bess. This play toured around the country.

Broadway and Stage Roles

In 1967, Mabel King acted in the Broadway musical Hello, Dolly!. She played the character Ernestina. Later, in 1972, she was in the musical film Don't Play Us Cheap. This movie was first a stage play on Broadway.

A very important role for her was in January 1975. She played Evillene, the Wicked Witch of the West. This was in the Broadway musical The Wiz. The cast was all African-American. Her performance earned her a nomination for a Drama Desk Award. This award is for outstanding featured actresses in a musical.

Her role in The Wiz brought her a lot of attention. Soon after, she got roles in two films. These were The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings and Scott Joplin. She acted alongside famous actors like Billy Dee Williams and James Earl Jones. In 1980, she returned to Broadway in It's So Nice to Be Civilized. However, this show did not last long.

Television and Film Appearances

In 1976, Mabel King was offered a role on TV. She became Mabel Thomas on the sitcom What's Happening!!. Her character often said "This is true" to her children. She used this phrase to make a point. King played this role from 1976 to 1978. She left the show after two seasons due to disagreements.

In 1978, she played Evillene again. This time it was for the movie version of The Wiz. It was her second time acting in a movie after being in its stage version. The first was Don't Play Us Cheap. The next year, she appeared in the movie The Jerk. She played the mother of Steve Martin's character.

Mabel King also had many guest roles on TV shows. These included Fantasy Island, The Jeffersons, Amazing Stories, and Tales from the Darkside. She also played Mama Johnson in the TV movie The Jerk, Too (1984). Her last two movie roles were Scrooged (1988) and Dead Men Don't Die (1990).

Mabel King's Personal Life

Mabel King was married to Melvin King. They were married from June 1967 to September 1989. They had one son named Larry King. Mabel King was a strong supporter of the Republican Party. She especially supported President Ronald Reagan.

Later Years and Passing

Mabel King had diabetes. In 1986, she had a toe removed because of the disease. In 1990, she had a stroke. After this, she moved to a special hospital for actors. In 1991, her left leg was amputated due to diabetes. In 1994, her right leg was also amputated. She also lost one of her arms to diabetes. Her son, Larry, passed away in 1996. Mabel King died on November 9, 1999, when she was 66 years old.

Filmography

Recordings

• "Alabama Rock'n'Roll" (RAMA Records, 1956)
• "Mabel King With The Royal Sita Chorus – Symbol Of Love / Second Hand Love" (RAMA Records, 1956)
• "Go Back Home Young Fella/Lefty" (Amy Records, 1962)
• "When We Get The Word / Love" (Amy Records, 1962)

See also

In Spanish: Mabel King para niños