Teresa Graves facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Teresa Graves
Graves in Get Christie Love!, 1974
Born	Terresa M. Graves (1948-01-10)January 10, 1948 Houston, Texas, U.S.
Died	October 10, 2002(2002-10-10) (aged 54) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other names	Theresa Graves Tressa Graves
Occupation	Actress singer
Years active	1966–1983
Known for	Det. Christie Love – Get Christie Love!
Spouse(s)	William D. Reddick ​ ​ (m. 1977; div. 1983)​

Teresa Graves (born January 10, 1948 – died October 10, 2002) was an American actress and singer. She is best known for playing the main character, Christie Love, in the TV show Get Christie Love! (1974–1975). In this show, she played an undercover police detective. Teresa Graves made history as the second African-American woman to star in her own hour-long TV series. She was also the first to star in a drama series.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Teresa Graves was born in Houston, Texas on January 10, 1948. She was one of three children. After finishing high school in 1966, Teresa started her career as a singer. She sang with a group called The Doodletown Pipers. In 1970, she also released her own music album.

Becoming an Actress

Soon after, Teresa Graves began acting. She appeared regularly on two variety TV shows: Our Place (1967) and Turn-On (1969). In 1969, she traveled with Bob Hope's USO tour to entertain troops in Southeast Asia.

Teresa then got more acting roles. She became a regular on the popular comedy show Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In during its third season. She also acted in several movies. In the 1973 film That Man Bolt, she played a character named Samantha Nightingale.

Starring in Get Christie Love!

Teresa Graves got a very important role in 1974. She starred in the TV movie and later series called Get Christie Love!. In this show, she played Christie Love, a tough and smart police detective. Her supervisors were Lieutenants Reardon and Ryan, played by Charles Cioffi and Jack Kelly.

When the show was created, Teresa Graves was noted for being a pioneer. She was the second African-American woman to star in her own hour-long TV series. The first was Diahann Carroll in Julia, which aired six years earlier. A magazine article from 1974 described Teresa Graves as "television's most delightful detective." It said she was a strong lady cop who was also very feminine. In 1983, Teresa Graves decided to stop acting to focus on her faith.

Personal Life and Faith

On June 25, 1977, Teresa Graves married William D. Reddick in Los Angeles, California. Their marriage later ended in 1983.

In 1974, Teresa became a Jehovah's Witness. She quickly started using her fame to help others. She wanted to bring attention to the unfair treatment of Jehovah's Witnesses in Malawi. This was happening under the leader Hastings Kamuzu Banda. She worked to make people around the world aware of this issue.

Teresa Graves lived in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. She cared for her mother there. Sadly, on October 10, 2002, a fire started in her home because of a space heater. Teresa was found unconscious and was taken to the hospital, where she passed away. She was 54 years old.

Acting Roles

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Teresa Graves para niños