Mary Alice facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary Alice
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Alice at the 45th Emmy Awards Governor's Ball, 1993
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Mary Alice Smith
December 3, 1936 Indianola, Mississippi, U.S.
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| Died | July 27, 2022 (aged 85) Manhattan, New York, U.S.
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| Education | Chicago Teacher's College |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1969–2005 |
| Known for | Effie Williams – Sparkle Leticia "Lettie" Bostic – A Different World |
Mary Alice Smith (born December 3, 1936 – died July 27, 2022), known as Mary Alice, was a talented American actress. She worked in television, movies, and on stage. Mary Alice was famous for playing Leticia "Lettie" Bostic in the TV show A Different World from 1987 to 1989. She also played Effie Williams in the 1976 movie Sparkle.
She won an Emmy Award for her role in the TV series I'll Fly Away. Mary Alice also won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for her amazing performance in the 1987 play Fences.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Mary Alice Smith was born in Indianola, Mississippi. Her parents were Ozelar and Sam Smith. From a young age, she showed a natural talent for acting. She started her acting journey in her hometown.
When she was two years old, her family moved to Chicago. Mary Alice later graduated from Chicago Teacher's College. This school is now known as Chicago State University. Before becoming a full-time actress, she worked as an elementary school teacher.
Acting Career Highlights
Mary Alice returned to acting in the mid-1960s. She started in community theater. She performed in several plays by Douglas Turner Ward. She also acted in New York City in the late 1960s and early 1970s. She was part of many shows at the La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club.
First Screen Roles
Mary Alice made her first movie appearance in 1974. It was in the film The Education of Sonny Carson. After that, she appeared in popular TV shows like Police Woman and Sanford and Son. She also played Ellie Grant Hubbard on the soap opera All My Children.
Famous TV and Movie Roles
From 1987 to 1989, Mary Alice starred as Leticia 'Lettie' Bostic in A Different World. This role made her very well-known. In 1993, she won an Emmy Award for her role in I'll Fly Away.
She also appeared in several other important films. These include Malcolm X (1992), The Inkwell (1994), and Down in the Delta (1998).
Later Career and Retirement
In 2000, Mary Alice was honored by being added to the American Theatre Hall of Fame. She took over the role of the Oracle in the movie The Matrix Revolutions (2003). She also voiced the character in the video game Enter the Matrix (2003). The original actress, Gloria Foster, had passed away. Mary Alice stopped acting in 2005.
Personal Life and Death
Mary Alice never got married and did not have any children. She passed away on July 27, 2022. She was 85 years old. Her death happened at her home in Manhattan due to natural causes.
Filmography
Film Roles
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | The Education of Sonny Carson | Moms | |
| 1976 | Sparkle | Effie Williams | |
| 1981 | The Color of Friendship | Mrs. Garth | |
| 1984 | Beat Street | Cora Kirkland | |
| Concealed Enemies | Edith Murray | ||
| Teachers | Linda Ganz | ||
| 1990 | To Sleep with Anger | Suzie | Nominated — Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead |
| The Bonfire of the Vanities | Annie Lamb | ||
| Awakenings | Nurse Margaret | ||
| 1992 | Malcolm X | School Teacher | |
| 1993 | A Perfect World | Lottie | |
| Life with Mikey | Mrs. Gordon | ||
| 1994 | The Inkwell | Evelyn | |
| 1996 | Bed of Roses | Alice | |
| 1998 | Down in the Delta | Rosa Lynn Sinclair | |
| 1999 | Catfish in Black Bean Sauce | Dolores Williams | |
| 2000 | The Photographer | Violet | |
| 2002 | Sunshine State | Mrs. Eunice Stokes | |
| 2003 | The Matrix Revolutions | The Oracle | Nominated — Black Reel Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress |
Television Roles
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Police Woman | Marnie | 1 episode |
| 1975 | Sanford and Son | Frances Victor | 2 episodes |
| 1975 | Good Times | Loretta Simpson | 1 episode |
| 1975 | The Family Holvak | Samantha Wilson | 1 episode |
| 1976 | Insight | Karen Fuller | 1 episode |
| 1976 | Just an Old Sweet Song | Helen Mayfield | Television movie |
| 1976 | Serpico | Angel | 1 episode |
| 1976 | Visions | Evelyn Burrell | 1 episode |
| 1979 | Lawman Without a Gun | Minnie Hayward | Television film |
| 1980 | All My Children | Ellie Grant Hubbard | unknown episode(s) |
| 1987–1989 | A Different World | Leticia "Lettie" Bostic | Main role, 25 episodes |
| 1989 | The Women of Brewster Place | Fannie Michael | 2 episodes |
| 1990 | L.A. Law | Maxine Manley | 1 episode |
| 1992 | I'll Fly Away | Marguerite Peck | Recurring role, 7 episodes Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series |
| 1993 | Laurel Avenue | Maggie Arnett | Television film Nominated — CableACE Award for Best Actress in a Movie or Miniseries |
| 1993 | Law & Order | Virginia Bryan | 1 episode |
| 1994 | Great Performances | 1 episode | |
| 1997 | Orleans | Ella Clark | 1 episode |
| 1999 | Cosby | Loretta | 4 episodes |
| 2000 | Touched by an Angel | Georgia Bishop | 1 episode |
| 2000 | Providence | Abby Franklin | 1 episode |
| 2001 | Soul Food | Mrs. Pettaway | 1 episode |
| 2002 | Oz | Eugenia Hill | 1 episode |
| 2004 | Line of Fire | Jackie Simon | 1 episode |
| 2004 | The Jury | Elaine Nebatoff | 1 episode |
| 2005 | Kojak | Joyce | 1 episode |
Theatre Roles
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969–1971 | No Place to Be Somebody | Cora Beasley | |
| 1981 | A Full-Length Portrait of America | Emma | |
| 1987–1988 | Fences | Rose | Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play; Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play |
| 1994–1995 | The Shadow Box | Maggie | |
| 1995 | Having Our Say | Dr. Bessie Delaney | Nominated — Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play; Nominated — Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play |
Video Game Roles
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Enter the Matrix | The Oracle |
Awards and Nominations
Mary Alice received many awards and nominations for her acting. Here are some of her notable achievements:
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Tony Awards | Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play | Fences | Won |
| 1987 | Drama Desk Award | Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play | Fences | Won |
| 1990 | Independent Spirit Awards | Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead | To Sleep with Anger | Nominated |
| 1992 | Emmy Awards | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | I'll Fly Away | Nominated |
| 1993 | Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | I'll Fly Away | Won |
| 1994 | CableACE Award | Best Actress in a Movie or Miniseries | Laurel Avenue | Nominated |
| 1995 | Tony Awards | Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play | Having Our Say | Nominated |
| 1995 | Drama Desk Awards | Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play | Having Our Say | Nominated |
| 2004 | Black Reel Awards | Black Reel Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress | The Matrix Revolutions | Nominated |
See also
In Spanish: Mary Alice para niños
