Actress Marilyn Coleman (Violet Bookman) 1934-2013 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 08-14-2013, 04:23 AM

Link

Marilyn B. Coleman was a writer and award-winning actress on Broadway, television and film.

She died on Tuesday, June 25, 2013. She was 79.

She was born March 23, 1934 to the late Estella and Fred Bonaparte in Philadelphia.

Coleman grew up in Philadelphia and graduated from Roxborough High School.

One of her early highlights was entering local talent contests with her brother Fred, who accompanied her on the piano. In one competition, she won the Marion Anderson Award by signing the theme from Madam Butterfly in fluent Italian.

Coleman embarked on an acting career at the Theatre of Living Arts under the direction of Andre Gregory. There she met and worked with Roger Robinson, Sherman Hemsley of The Jeffersons and longtime friend Dolores Gaskins.

PBS made a two hour documentary film of Coleman walking through the streets of Philadelphia talking to the community and dealing with the various gangs as they highlighted her singing. The documentary titled “Marilyn Coleman’s North Philadelphia” won the Silver Medallion Award.

With the encouragement and the firm persistence of actor and cofounder of the Negro Ensemble Company, Robert Hooks and Hemsley, Coleman ventured into New York City to further her career. Thus she studied theatre with renowned director, the late Lloyd Richards and made her New York Debut at the American Place Theatre in Five On The Black Hand Side and The Fabulous Marie.

In 1966 Andre Gregory requested that she come to L.A. where she received critical acclaim for her portrayal of ‘Dorrine’ in Tartuufe. From that time on, Coleman became a full time actress traveling to and from the east and west coasts as well as abroad in a career that spanned more than 45 years on stage, film and television.

Her Broadway credits include: Melvin Van Peebles’, Ain’t Supposed to Die A Natural Death; Ron Milner’s, What The Wine Sellers Buy, Don’t Get God Started and Langston Hughes, Mule Bone. Off Broadway she was among the early works of the Legendary Negro Ensemble Company in Ododo, The New Federal Theatre in For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf and many others.

An award winning actress, Coleman received the L.A. Critics and Dramalogue Awards for her work in Steve Carter’s, Eden. At the arena stage, in Washington, DC she won the Helen Hayes Award for Best supporting actress in Jar The Floor which toured in the U.S. and London.

A few of her film and television credits include Looking For Mr. Good Bar, Meteor Man; The Five Heartbeats; CB-4, Menace II Society Willie Dynamite, White Shadow, The Love Boat, Vice Squad, and Designing Women.

Despite her success, Coleman never forgot the community and she became active writing, directing and teaching theater arts to the youth in schools, workshops, and churches. A scholarship fund was established in her name at Bloomsburg University for children of color, studying in the performing arts.

She had her first child with percussionist husband, George Allen. She later married ballad singer, Earl Coleman. That union produced two children.

“Marilyn’s versatility touched lives in countless ways. As a singer she brought tears to your eyes; an actress, who made you believe her characters; a director, poet, writer and teacher, who expressed her thoughts genuinely; an activist who stood for fairness and a down to earth Christian who fulfilled her God given purpose with integrity,” her family said.

She is survived by her brothers; Fred and Sylvester Bonaparte; children, Marcia ‘Kia’ Koutsialis, Kevin Coleman, and Dana Davis, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

A celebration of her life will be held Aug. 10 at 11 a.m. at Mother African Zoar United Methodist Church, 1204 Melon St.

Marvo301 · 08-14-2013, 01:44 PM

Marilyn Coleman

hatwink · 09-10-2013, 11:55 AM

I was wondering what happened to her, she also played James Hayward's mother in the White Shadow for a few episodes.Damn good talent.

ThomasE · 09-19-2013, 03:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hatwink

I was wondering what happened to her, she also played James Hayward's mother in the White Shadow for a few episodes.Damn good talent.

Ah, man. I am sad to hear that. She will be missed. I truly enjoyed her work.

TVFactFan · 09-21-2013, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThomasE

Ah, man. I am sad to hear that. She will be missed. I truly enjoyed her work.

Found out she was from North Philly and when I was looking at clips of her walking around in the old hood I never once thought of the Mrs Bookman character. That means she was a really good actress

08-14-2013, 04:23 AM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,512	Actress Marilyn Coleman (Violet Bookman) 1934-2013 Link Marilyn B. Coleman was a writer and award-winning actress on Broadway, television and film. She died on Tuesday, June 25, 2013. She was 79. She was born March 23, 1934 to the late Estella and Fred Bonaparte in Philadelphia. Coleman grew up in Philadelphia and graduated from Roxborough High School. One of her early highlights was entering local talent contests with her brother Fred, who accompanied her on the piano. In one competition, she won the Marion Anderson Award by signing the theme from Madam Butterfly in fluent Italian. Coleman embarked on an acting career at the Theatre of Living Arts under the direction of Andre Gregory. There she met and worked with Roger Robinson, Sherman Hemsley of The Jeffersons and longtime friend Dolores Gaskins. PBS made a two hour documentary film of Coleman walking through the streets of Philadelphia talking to the community and dealing with the various gangs as they highlighted her singing. The documentary titled “Marilyn Coleman’s North Philadelphia” won the Silver Medallion Award. With the encouragement and the firm persistence of actor and cofounder of the Negro Ensemble Company, Robert Hooks and Hemsley, Coleman ventured into New York City to further her career. Thus she studied theatre with renowned director, the late Lloyd Richards and made her New York Debut at the American Place Theatre in Five On The Black Hand Side and The Fabulous Marie. In 1966 Andre Gregory requested that she come to L.A. where she received critical acclaim for her portrayal of ‘Dorrine’ in Tartuufe. From that time on, Coleman became a full time actress traveling to and from the east and west coasts as well as abroad in a career that spanned more than 45 years on stage, film and television. Her Broadway credits include: Melvin Van Peebles’, Ain’t Supposed to Die A Natural Death; Ron Milner’s, What The Wine Sellers Buy, Don’t Get God Started and Langston Hughes, Mule Bone. Off Broadway she was among the early works of the Legendary Negro Ensemble Company in Ododo, The New Federal Theatre in For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf and many others. An award winning actress, Coleman received the L.A. Critics and Dramalogue Awards for her work in Steve Carter’s, Eden. At the arena stage, in Washington, DC she won the Helen Hayes Award for Best supporting actress in Jar The Floor which toured in the U.S. and London. A few of her film and television credits include Looking For Mr. Good Bar, Meteor Man; The Five Heartbeats; CB-4, Menace II Society Willie Dynamite, White Shadow, The Love Boat, Vice Squad, and Designing Women. Despite her success, Coleman never forgot the community and she became active writing, directing and teaching theater arts to the youth in schools, workshops, and churches. A scholarship fund was established in her name at Bloomsburg University for children of color, studying in the performing arts. She had her first child with percussionist husband, George Allen. She later married ballad singer, Earl Coleman. That union produced two children. “Marilyn’s versatility touched lives in countless ways. As a singer she brought tears to your eyes; an actress, who made you believe her characters; a director, poet, writer and teacher, who expressed her thoughts genuinely; an activist who stood for fairness and a down to earth Christian who fulfilled her God given purpose with integrity,” her family said. She is survived by her brothers; Fred and Sylvester Bonaparte; children, Marcia ‘Kia’ Koutsialis, Kevin Coleman, and Dana Davis, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. A celebration of her life will be held Aug. 10 at 11 a.m. at Mother African Zoar United Methodist Church, 1204 Melon St.
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

08-14-2013, 01:44 PM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,461	Marilyn Coleman
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

09-10-2013, 11:55 AM	#3
hatwink Member Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 19, 2004 Posts: 773	I was wondering what happened to her, she also played James Hayward's mother in the White Shadow for a few episodes.Damn good talent.