Olivia Cole facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Olivia Cole
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Cole in 1977
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| Born |
Olivia Carlena Cole
November 26, 1942 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
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| Died | January 19, 2018 (aged 75) San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
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| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1969–2011 |
| Spouse(s) |
Richard Venture
(m. 1969; div. 1984) |
Olivia Carlena Cole (born November 26, 1942 – died January 19, 2018) was a talented American actress. She was most famous for winning an Emmy Award for her role in the TV miniseries Roots in 1977.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Olivia Cole was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on November 26, 1942. Her mother, Arvelia Cole, was a tennis player and teacher. Her father, William Calvin Cole, worked for a company called Grumman.
She went to Hunter College High School in Manhattan and finished in 1960. Olivia then studied drama at Bard College in New York. She also earned a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. She graduated with honors from there in 1964.
After returning to the United States, she continued her studies. In 1967, she earned a master's degree in theater arts from the University of Minnesota.
Acting Career Highlights
Olivia Cole started her acting career in 1969. Her first role was in the TV show Guiding Light. She went on to appear in more than 30 different TV shows and movies.
Winning an Emmy for Roots
Olivia Cole won an Emmy Award for her amazing acting in the 1977 TV miniseries Roots. She played the character of Matilda, who was Chicken George's wife.
This made her the first African American actress to win an Emmy Award. She won in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie.
Other Notable Roles
She was also well-known for her role as Maggie Rogers. This was in the 1979 miniseries Backstairs at the White House. For this role, she was nominated for another Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie.
Olivia Cole also starred in TV shows like Szysznyk (1977–1978) and Report to Murphy (1982). She appeared in the miniseries The Women Of Brewster Place (1990) with Oprah Winfrey. She was also in North and South, Book I (1985).
She made guest appearances on many popular shows. These included Police Woman, Family, L.A. Law, and Murder, She Wrote.
Stage and Film Work
Olivia Cole also performed on Broadway, which is a famous theater district. Some of her Broadway plays included The School for Scandal and The Merchant of Venice.
In movies, she appeared in Heroes (1977) and Coming Home (1978). She also acted in First Sunday (2008).
Personal Life and Later Years
In June 1971, Olivia Cole married actor Richard Venture. They later divorced in 1984.
She decided to retire from acting in 1995. However, she later returned to acting for a few more roles.
Olivia Cole passed away on January 19, 2018, at her home in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. She was 75 years old.
Film and Television Roles
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969-1971 | Guiding Light | Deborah Mehraen | television debut
series regular; unknown episodes |
| 1975-1976 | Police Woman | Head Nurse/Dr. Dorothy Bailey/Dr. Georgia Kimberly | 3 episodes |
| 1977 | Roots | Matilda Moore | TV Miniseries
3 episodes |
| 1977 | Rafferty | Sara Ridley | Episode: "Brothers & Sons" |
| 1977 | Heroes | Jane Adcox | film debut |
| 1977-1978 | Szysznyk | Ms. Harrison | series regular; 15 episodes |
| 1978 | Coming Home | Corrine | |
| 1978 | Family | Frances Rossmore | Episode: "Fear of Shadows" |
| 1979 | Insight | Karen Clay | Episode: "When, Jenny? When?" |
| 1979 | Backstairs at the White House | Maggie Rogers | TV Miniseries
4 episodes |
| 1979 | The Lazarus Syndrome | Pamela Quinn | Episode: "A Brutal Assault" |
| 1980 | Children of Divorce | Betty Williams | Television Movie |
| 1980 | The Sky Is Gray | Olivia | Television Movie |
| 1981 | Fly Home | Sarah Brookford | Television Movie |
| 1981 | Mistress of Paradise | Victorine | Television Movie |
| 1982 | Some Kind of Hero | Jesse | |
| 1982 | Report to Murphy | Blanche | 6 episodes |
| 1984 | Go Tell It on the Mountain | Elizabeth | |
| 1984 | Something About Amelia | Ruth Walters | |
| 1985 | American Playhouse | Elizabeth | Episode: "Go Tell It on the Mountain" |
| 1985 | North and South, Book I | Maum Sally | TV Miniseries
6 episodes |
| 1985-1995 | Murder, She Wrote | Yvette Dauphin/Melinda Coop/Callie Coleman | 3 episodes |
| 1987 | Big Shots | Mrs. Newton | |
| 1987 | The Fig Tree | Television Movie | |
| 1989 | The Women of Brewster Place | Miss Sophie | 2 episodes |
| 1989-1993 | L.A. Law | Judge Julie McFarlane | 3 episodes |
| 1990 | Brewster Place | Miss Sophie | series regular; 11 episodes |
| 1993 | Arly Hanks | Estelle | Television Movie |
| 1995 | Christy | Esther Scott | Episode: "Echoes" |
| 2008 | First Sunday | Momma T | |
| 2011 | Be Good, Be Nice | Young Girl | Short Film |
Awards and Nominations
- 1977 Primetime Emmy award, Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Comedy or Drama Series for Roots - won
- 1979 Primetime Emmy award, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Special for Backstairs at the White House - nominated
- 2007 TV Land award, Anniversary award (shared with LeVar Burton, Louis Gossett, Jr., Leslie Uggams, John Amost, Ben Vereen, Todd Bridges, Cicely Tyson, Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs, Georg Stanford Brown) for Roots
See also
In Spanish: Olivia Cole para niños
