Madge Sinclair facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Madge Sinclair CD
Sinclair in 1979
Born	Madge Dorita Walters (1938-04-28)April 28, 1938 Kingston, Colony of Jamaica
Died	December 20, 1995(1995-12-20) (aged 57) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1972–1995
Known for	Leona Hamilton – Cornbread, Earl and Me Belle Reynolds – Roots Queen Aoleon – Coming to America Voice of Sarabi – The Lion King Widow Woman – Convoy
Spouse(s)	Royston Sinclair ​ ​ (m. 1956; div. 1969)​ Dean Compton ​ (m. 1982)​
Children	2

Madge Dorita Sinclair was a famous actress from Jamaica. She was born on April 28, 1938, and passed away on December 20, 1995. Madge Sinclair was well-known for her roles in many movies and TV shows.

Some of her most famous parts include the TV miniseries Roots and the movie Coming to America. She also lent her voice to Sarabi, the mother of Simba, in Disney's animated film The Lion King. Madge Sinclair was nominated for an Emmy Award five times. She won an Emmy in 1991 for her role as Empress Josephine in the TV show Gabriel's Fire.

Madge Sinclair's Early Life

Madge Dorita Walters was born in Kingston, Jamaica. Her parents were Herbert and Jemima Walters. She went to Shortwood College for Women to study.

After finishing college, Madge worked as a teacher in Jamaica. In 1966, she moved to New York City to become an actress. She started her acting journey with Joseph Papp's Public Theatre. In 1971, she played Clytemnestra in a play called The Wedding of Iphigenia.

Madge Sinclair's Acting Career

Madge Sinclair's first movie role was in Conrack (1974). She played Mrs. Scott alongside actor Jon Voight. This role earned her a nomination for an NAACP Image Award.

Her next big success was playing Bell in the 1977 TV miniseries Roots. For this role, she received her first Primetime Emmy Award nomination. After Roots, she appeared in the 1978 film Convoy as the Widow Woman. She also played Leona Hamilton in Cornbread, Earl and Me.

In the 1980s, Madge Sinclair had a long-running role as nurse Ernestine Shoop. This was on the TV series Trapper John, M.D.. She received three Emmy nominations for her work on this show.

In 1988, Madge Sinclair played Queen Aoleon in the comedy movie Coming to America. She acted alongside James Earl Jones, who played King Jaffe Joffer. This movie brought her back together with John Amos, who played her husband in Roots.

Later, Madge Sinclair and James Earl Jones worked together again. They voiced the characters of Sarabi and Mufasa in Disney's animated film The Lion King (1994). Sarabi and Mufasa were Simba’s parents. The Lion King became a huge hit and one of the best-selling movies on home video. This was Madge Sinclair's last film role.

Madge Sinclair and James Earl Jones also worked on the TV series Gabriel's Fire. In 1991, Madge won an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Dramatic Series for her role in this show.

In 1991, she played Lally in the TV miniseries The Orchid House. She also received praise for her role in the 1992 TV movie Jonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted. In 1993, Madge Sinclair performed on stage in London in a play called The Lion. In 1994, she had a supporting role in the TV show Me and the Boys.

Madge Sinclair also appeared in the Star Trek universe. She was the captain of the USS Saratoga in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. She was one of the first female Starfleet starship captains shown in Star Trek. Later, she played Geordi La Forge's mother, Captain Silva La Forge, in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Her very last acting role was in an episode of the TV show Dream On. This episode aired just one month before she passed away.

Madge Sinclair's Personal Life and Legacy

Madge Sinclair was married to Royston Sinclair, a police officer, from 1956 to 1969. They had two sons together. In 1982, she married actor Dean Compton. They were still married when she died.

Madge Sinclair passed away on December 20, 1995. She had been battling leukemia, a type of cancer, for 13 years. Her remains were cremated, and her ashes were scattered in her hometown in Jamaica.

In October 2000, Madge Sinclair was honored by the prime minister of Jamaica. She was given the Order of Distinction, a special award for her great work in the performing arts.

Madge Sinclair's Movies and TV Shows

Film Roles

Television Film Roles

Television Series Roles

See also

In Spanish: Madge Sinclair para niños