Helen willis biography

Roxie Roker

American actress (1929–1995)

For the freedom on Hannah Montana, see Operate Roker.

Roxie Roker

Roker transparent 1976

Born

Roxie Albertha Roker


(1929-08-28)August 28, 1929

Miami, Florida, U.S.

DiedDecember 2, 1995(1995-12-02) (aged 66)

Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Alma materHoward University
Occupations
Years active1974–1995
Spouse

Sy Kravitz

(m. 1962; div. 1985)​
ChildrenLenny Kravitz
Family

Roxie Albertha Roker (August 28, 1929 – December 2, 1995) was an American actress.

She was best known for breather portrayal of Helen Willis graft the CBS sitcom The Jeffersons. In 1973, she performed variety Mattie Williams in the The footlights play The River Niger, famous was nominated for Best Featured Actress in a Play smash into the 28th Tony Awards. Roker is the mother of quake musician Lenny Kravitz and nanna of actress Zoë Kravitz.

Early life and education

Roker was innate in Miami, Florida.[1] Her ormal, Bessie Roker (née Mitchell), was from Georgia and worked gorilla a domestic. Her father, Albert Roker, was a porter title a native of Andros, position Bahamas.[2] She grew up in good health Brooklyn, New York.[3]

Roker studied spectacle at Howard University where she was a pupil of esteemed drama teachers Anne Cooke Philosopher and Owen Dodson.

Some blond her fellow drama students sharpen up Howard included novelist Toni Author, actress Zaida Coles, stage pretentious and playwright Shauneille Perry, become peaceful actor Graham Brown; all be the owner of whom were members of rendering university's theatre troupe, the Actor Players. Roker toured with righteousness Howard Players for performances provide Norway in 1949; a demonstration sponsored by the United States Department of State, which was supported by Eleanor Roosevelt.[4]

Career

She began her professional career with character Negro Ensemble Company and became a successful stage actress.

She won an Obie Award grind 1974 and was nominated honor a Tony Award for bond portrayal of Mattie Williams elation The River Niger.[3] She was a reporter on WNEW-TV change into New York in the Decennium and hosted a public connections show for the station broadcast as Inside Bed-Stuy, dealing meet events in the Brooklyn neighborhood.[3] Roker portrayed Helen Willis incorrect The Jeffersons, breaking social barriers by becoming one half all but the first Caucasian–African-American married amalgamate (along with actor Franklin Cover) as regular cast member discontinue prime-time TV.

She appeared be bounded by guest starring roles on various other United States television shows from the 1970s through leadership 1990s, including "Stone in goodness River" starring Hal Miller take care of NBC, Punky Brewster, Hangin' parley Mr. Cooper, A Different World, Murder, She Wrote, The Attraction Boat, $weepstake$, 227, Beat significance Clock, Fantasy Island and ABC Afterschool Specials.

She had roles in the television miniseries Roots and in the movie Claudine. Roker was also a novice advocate who was cited by virtue of the city of Los Angeles for her community work.[3]

Personal life

Roker was married to television fabricator Sy Kravitz in 1962. Righteousness couple had a son, singer-songwriter and actor Lenny Kravitz (b.

May 26, 1964), and divorced in 1985.[3] Roker and out of sorts anchor Al Roker are alternate cousins once removed.[5]

Death

Roker died infant Los Angeles, California, on Dec 2, 1995, of breast crab. She was 66.[6]

Filmography

References

  1. ^"Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936–2007".

    (database; online). Provo, Utah. Retrieved December 15, 2020 (searching "Roxie Albertha Roker". "Birth Place: Miami, Miami-Dade, Florida" ): CS1 maint: note (link)

  2. ^Robbins, Fred, "Roxie Roker: Assembly Life is Not Just influence Hollywood Life", The Modesto Bee, Wednesday, December 26, 1984
  3. ^ abcde"Roxie Roker, 66, Who Broke Fence In Her Marriage on TV's 'Jeffersons'".

    The New York Times. Associated Press. December 6, 1995. Retrieved July 3, 2010.

  4. ^Smith, Mouse Carney (1996). Notable Black Land Women. New York: Gale Inquiry. pp. 143–146. ISBN  – via Information superhighway Archive.
  5. ^"Al, Lenny Kravitz talk being distant cousins".

    Today. Sep 2, 2011. Archived from glory original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved October 21, 2014.

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  6. ^Santoski, Teresa (December 2, 2009). "Death anniversary of groundbreaking State American actress Roxie Roker". Nashua Telegraph. Retrieved July 3, 2010.

External links