Rosetta LeNoire facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rosetta LeNoire
Born	Rosetta Olive Burton (1911-08-08)August 8, 1911 New York City, U.S.
Died	March 17, 2002(2002-03-17) (aged 90) Teaneck, New Jersey, U.S.
Resting place	Cypress Hills National Cemetery
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1939–1998
Spouse(s)	William LeNoire ​ ​ (m. 1929; div. 1943)​ Egbert Brown ​ ​ (m. 1948; died 1974)​
Children	1
Awards	National Medal of Arts (1999)

Rosetta LeNoire (born Rosetta Olive Burton; August 8, 1911 – March 17, 2002) was a talented American actress. She performed in plays, movies, and on TV. Many people today remember her from popular TV shows like Gimme a Break! and Amen. She is probably best known for playing Estelle "Mother" Winslow on the hit show Family Matters. In 1999, she received a special award called the National Medal of Arts for her amazing work.

Early Life and Acting Beginnings

Rosetta LeNoire was born in Harlem, a neighborhood in New York City. She was the oldest of five children. Her father was from Dominica, and her mother was from Jamaica in the West Indies.

When Rosetta was a young girl, she had a health problem called rickets. This condition can make bones weak. Her godfather, the famous dancer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, helped her get stronger. He taught her how to dance, which helped her overcome the illness.

Rosetta loved theater from a young age. She acted in a play called Bassa Moona and was a witch in Orson Welles' 1936 play Macbeth. In 1939, she performed in The Hot Mikado with Bill Robinson. She also appeared in many other plays, mostly as a singer and dancer.

Founding the Amas Repertory Theater

Rosetta LeNoire worked for more than 70 years to make things fair for all races. Her efforts greatly changed the theater world in New York. In 1968, she used her own money to start the AMAS Repertory Theatre Company.

This theater company was special because it brought together actors of all backgrounds. It focused on creating plays with people from different ethnic groups in New York City. Rosetta wanted a place where everyone's talents were recognized, no matter their race, beliefs, or origin. She became a very successful and groundbreaking producer on Broadway.

The Actors' Equity Association, a group for actors, gave her the first award for helping make theater casting more diverse. In 1988, they even named the award after her: the Rosetta LeNoire Award.

Amas Repertory Theatre was a supportive place for actors. It also served as a community arts center. Many of its plays received good reviews in The New York Times newspaper. The theater's first small office was in East Harlem. Today, the theater is called Amas Musical Theatre. It is now located in midtown Manhattan and continues Rosetta's dream of diversity in theater. Since it started, Amas has produced over 60 new musicals. Some of these even went on to Broadway, like Bubbling Brown Sugar, which was nominated for a Tony Award in 1976.

Voice Acting Roles

Rosetta LeNoire also used her voice for animated characters. She was the voice of Big Bertha in Ralph Bakshi's animated movie Fritz the Cat in 1972.

Later Life and Passing

Rosetta LeNoire passed away on March 17, 2002. She was 90 years old. She died at Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck, New Jersey. She had complications from diabetes. She lived at the Lillian Booth Actors Home in Englewood, New Jersey. Her funeral was held at St. Frances of Rome Catholic Church in the Bronx.

Rosetta LeNoire's Lasting Legacy

An award called the Rosie Award is named after Rosetta LeNoire. This award is given to people who show amazing talent and dedication in theater. It also honors companies that help create opportunities and diversity in the arts. Past winners include famous actors like Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee, and many other talented individuals.

Filmography