Rosetta LeNoire (Mama Maybelle) Dies at 90 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TJ · 03-19-2002, 08:28 PM

Actress LeNoire Dies at 90
Tue Mar 19, 8:50 AM ET

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Actress-producer Rosetta Lenoire, who was directed by Orson Welles in a landmark, all-black version of "Macbeth" in the 1930s and who played Grandma Winslow on the television comedy "Family Matters," died on Sunday in Teaneck, N.J., after a long illness. She was 90.

Known to TV audiences for her long-running role as Grandma Winslow, LeNoire founded the Amas Repertory Theatre in New York in 1968. The nonprofit organization, dedicated to developing musicals and new talent, produced such popular shows as "Bojangles" and Tony nominee "Bubbling Brown Sugar."

She also received the National Medal of Arts in 1999.

Born in New York City, LeNoire took music lessons from legendary jazzman Eubie Blake. By age 15, she was a chorus girl working with her godfather, dancing great Bill "Bojangles" Robinson.

She made her Broadway debut in "The Hot Mikado" in 1939, going on to appear in such shows as "A Streetcar Named Desire," "The Sunshine Boys" and "Lost In The Stars."

LeNoire also co-starred in the film version of "Anna Lucasta" with Sammy Davis Jr. and Eartha Kitt and appeared in such TV series as "Search for Tomorrow," "The Guiding Light" and "Gimme a Break."

She played Grandma Winslow on "Family Matters' from 1989 to 1997.

Pitooey · 03-19-2002, 08:37 PM

For some reason I thought this lady would live to 110. How sad that she passed away. My heart goes out to her family.

Wildchats · 03-19-2002, 09:59 PM

OK...I amjust gonna cry...I thought she would live like another ten years as well! I am so sad. She was a great lady. Well...that's one less famous star I will never meet in life after I become a successo in hollywood

.

So far that makes 4 from Gimme a Break who died:

Dolf Sweet 1985

John Hoyt 1991

Howard Morton 1997

Rosetta LeNoir 2002

03-19-2002, 08:28 PM	#1
TJ Site Owner Administrator Forum Star Join Date: Feb 03, 2000 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 10,674	Rosetta LeNoire (Mama Maybelle) Dies at 90 Actress LeNoire Dies at 90 Tue Mar 19, 8:50 AM ET LOS ANGELES (AP) - Actress-producer Rosetta Lenoire, who was directed by Orson Welles in a landmark, all-black version of "Macbeth" in the 1930s and who played Grandma Winslow on the television comedy "Family Matters," died on Sunday in Teaneck, N.J., after a long illness. She was 90. Known to TV audiences for her long-running role as Grandma Winslow, LeNoire founded the Amas Repertory Theatre in New York in 1968. The nonprofit organization, dedicated to developing musicals and new talent, produced such popular shows as "Bojangles" and Tony nominee "Bubbling Brown Sugar." She also received the National Medal of Arts in 1999. Born in New York City, LeNoire took music lessons from legendary jazzman Eubie Blake. By age 15, she was a chorus girl working with her godfather, dancing great Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. She made her Broadway debut in "The Hot Mikado" in 1939, going on to appear in such shows as "A Streetcar Named Desire," "The Sunshine Boys" and "Lost In The Stars." LeNoire also co-starred in the film version of "Anna Lucasta" with Sammy Davis Jr. and Eartha Kitt and appeared in such TV series as "Search for Tomorrow," "The Guiding Light" and "Gimme a Break." She played Grandma Winslow on "Family Matters' from 1989 to 1997.

03-19-2002, 08:37 PM	#2
Pitooey Member Forum Star Join Date: Feb 15, 2001 Location: Rocking in Transylvania. Posts: 15,042	For some reason I thought this lady would live to 110. How sad that she passed away. My heart goes out to her family.
	__________________ Pitooey... AKA JennyLee - I love the Monkees all over again! *SAY NO TO DRUGS* Jesus saves...

03-19-2002, 09:59 PM	#3
Wildchats Me Senior Member Join Date: Jul 15, 2001 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,076	OK...I amjust gonna cry...I thought she would live like another ten years as well! I am so sad. She was a great lady. Well...that's one less famous star I will never meet in life after I become a successo in hollywood . So far that makes 4 from Gimme a Break who died: Dolf Sweet 1985 John Hoyt 1991 Howard Morton 1997 Rosetta LeNoir 2002
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