Madame Sul-Te-Wan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Madame Sul-Te-Wan (born Nellie Crawford; March 7, 1873 – February 1, 1959) was the first African-American actress to sign a film contract and be a featured performer. She was an American stage, film and television actress for over 50 years. The daughter of former slaves, she began her career in entertainment touring the East Coast with various theatrical companies and moved to California to become a member of the fledgling film community. She became known as a character actress, appeared in high-profile films such as The Birth of a Nation (1915) and Intolerance (1916), and easily navigated the transition to the sound films. In 1986, she was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame.
Cast

The Narrow Street
Easter

Black Moon
Ruva

Who's Your Father?
Black Mother (uncredited)

The Pagan Lady
Carla the Servant

Tarzan of the Apes
Esmeralda - Jane's Maid (uncredited)

In Old Chicago
Hattie

Uncle Tom's Cabin
Slave at Wedding (uncredited)

Manslaughter
Prison Inmate (uncredited)

The Thoroughbred
Sacharine

The Affairs of Annabel
Benzedrina (uncredited)

Tell No Tales
Jim Alley's Mother (uncredited)

Heaven on Earth
Voodoo Sue

Tarzan and the Trappers
Witch Woman

Revenge of the Zombies
Beulah

Kentucky
Lily

Thunderbolt
Bit Role

Maid of Salem
Tituba

Sarah and Son
Belloc's Maid (Uncredited)

Torchy Blane... Playing with Dynamite
Ruby (uncredited)

College
Cook (uncredited)

Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
Girl at the Marriage Market (uncredited)

Old Wives for New
Viola's Maid (uncredited)

Love Thy Neighbor
Lady McBeth

Maryland
Naomi

Safari
Native Woman

Thank Your Lucky Stars
Bit in "Ice Cold Katie" Number (uncredited)

Island in the Sky
Scrubwoman (Uncredited)

San Francisco
Earthquake Survivor (Uncredited)

So Red the Rose
Slave (Uncredited)

Operator 13
Slave at Medicine Show ( Uncredited)

A Modern Hero
Mme. Azais' Neighbor ( Uncredited)

King Kong
Native Handmaiden (uncredited)

Ladies They Talk About
Mustard (uncredited)

Jungle Mystery
Native Woman in Stockade (Uncredited)

The Carnation Kid
The Maid (Uncredited)

Queen Kelly
Kali Sana - Aunt's Cook (uncredited)

The Golden Bed
Boarding House Maid (Uncredited)

Why Change Your Wife?
Sally's Maid (Uncredited)
Stage Struck
Uncredited

The Children Pay
Uncredited
The Cause of It All
Mary - The Hotel Cook

His Musical Sneeze
Maid (uncredited)
Squirrel Food
Flirt

The Story of Seabiscuit
Libby

The Buccaneer
Good Luck Charm Vendor

Band of Angels
Flower Vendor (Uncredited)

Something of Value
Midwife (Uncredited)

Carmen Jones
Hagar – Carmen's Grandmother (Uncredited)

Mighty Joe Young
Young Family Servant (Uncredited)

Mokey
Miss Cully (uncredited)

Sullivan's Travels
Church Harmonium Player (Uncredited)

The Toy Wife
Eve, a Black Servant (Uncredited)

King of the Zombies
Tahama

The Birth of a Nation
Black Woman (uncredited)

Hoodoo Ann
Black Cindy

The Lightning Rider
Mammy

Imitation of Life
Cook (uncredited)

The Show
Maid (uncredited)