Years active 1978-present Name Novella Nelson | Role Actress | |
 | ||
Born December 17, 1939 ( 1939-12-17 ) Brooklyn, New York USA Parents James Nelson, Evelyn Hines Movies A Perfect Murder, Dear Wendy, Antwone Fisher, The Devil's Advocate, A Walk Among the Tombstones Similar People Tanya Hamilton, Andrew Davis, Anna Boden, Scott Frank, Ryan Fleck | ||
Broadway vet and acclaimed actress novella nelson dies at 77
Novella Christine Nelson (December 17, 1938 – September 1, 2017) was an American actress and singer. She established her career as a singer, both on the off-Broadway and Broadway stage and in cabaret-style locales.
Contents
- Broadway vet and acclaimed actress novella nelson dies at 77
- Died at 77 american actress and singer novella nelson
- Career
- Early Life
- Death
- Filmography
- References
Died at 77 american actress and singer novella nelson
Career
Starting in 1961, Nelson had a decades-long stage career, performing, directing and producing, primarily in New York. She was a featured performer on Broadway in 1970 in the musical Purlie. In 1975, Nelson directed the play La Femme Noire at The Public Theater. Her film career began at age 39 with a small part in 1977's An Unmarried Woman, and continued for the next several decades with roles in movies and television.She may be best known for her role as Mrs. Tate in the 2002 movie Antwone Fisher.
Early Life
Nelson was born in Brooklyn, New York on December 17, 1938. Novella was born to James and Evelyn (formerly Hines) Nelson in Brooklyn New York. Her father was a pastor and a taxi driver. Her mother was an executive assistant at magazine publisher Women's Wear Daily. An African American, she attended the predominantly white Brooklyn College in the late 1950s, majoring in biochemistry. She took a speech class, which was an acting course, and was asked to perform in a play. For the play she took on the role of Berenice, the housekeeper, in "The Member of the Wedding" by Carson McCuller. After being on stage in this and other plays, she the future actress changed course becoming a theatre major.
Death
Nelson died of cancer on September 1, 2017, aged 77.
Filmography
Actress
-
Spell (post-production) as
Safi
2017
You Were Never Really Here as
Diner Woman
2015
Collar as
Fiona Taylor
2015
Sweet Kandy as
Bernice Boyd
2014
A Walk Among the Tombstones as
Librarian
2012
Bama & Fred (Short) as
Bama
2012
Somebody's Hero as
Maureen
2012
Nancy, Please as
Dr. Bannister
2011
The Inheritance as
Aunt Bee
2010
It's Kind of a Funny Story as
The Professor
2010
30 Rock (TV Series) as
Novella Nelson
- The Moms (2010) - Novella Nelson
2010
Damages (TV Series) as
Older Female Victim
- Tell Me I'm Not Racist (2010) - Older Female Victim
- Your Secrets Are Safe (2010) - Older Female Victim
2010
Night Catches Us as
Eloise
2008
Compliments of the Serpent (Video short) as
Barbara Stanton
2008
Army Wives (TV Series) as
Vivian Burton
- Transitions (2008) - Vivian Burton
- Thank You for Letting Me Share (2008) - Vivian Burton
2008
The Toe Tactic as
Victoria Hadaway
1999
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series) as
Judge / Family Court Judge / Mrs. Mosley
- Unorthodox (2008) - Judge
- Conscience (2004) - Family Court Judge
- Sophomore Jinx (1999) - Mrs. Mosley
2007
August Rush as
Social Serices Office Attendant (uncredited)
2007
The Starter Wife (TV Mini Series) as
Nana
- Hour 6 (2007) - Nana
- Hour 5 (2007) - Nana
- Hour 4 (2007) - Nana
- Hour 3 (2007) - Nana
- Hour 2 (2007) - Nana
- Hour 1 (2007) - Nana
2007
King (Short)
2007
The Ten as
Judge Sophia R. Jackson
2006
Griffin & Phoenix as
Maya Restaurant Owner
2006
Premium as
Jayme
2006
Stephanie Daley as
Dr. Peterson
2005
Preaching to the Choir as
Aunt June
2005
Dear Wendy as
Clarabelle
2004
The West Wing (TV Series) as
Gail Fitzwallace
- N.S.F. Thurmont (2004) - Gail Fitzwallace
- Gaza (2004) - Gail Fitzwallace
2004
Birth as
Lee
2003
Whoopi (TV Series) as
Nurse
- Once Bitten (2003) - Nurse
2003
Conversations with Id (Short) as
Aunt Mae
2003
Third Watch (TV Series) as
Sondra Richards
- In Confidence (2003) - Sondra Richards
2003
Head of State as
Moderator
2002
Antwone Fisher as
Mrs. Tate
2001
100 Centre Street (TV Series) as
Isabelle
- Things Change (2001) - Isabelle
2001
The Gilded Six Bits (Short) as
Mama Banks
1999
Judy Berlin as
Carol
1998
Mama Flora's Family (TV Mini Series) as
Pearl (1955-1970)
- Episode #1.2 (1998) - Pearl (1955-1970)
- Episode #1.1 (1998) - Pearl (1955-1970)
1998
Sex and the City (TV Series) as
Madame Lordes
- Oh Come All Ye Faithful (1998) - Madame Lordes
1995
New York Undercover (TV Series) as
Malcolm's Mother / Prof. Cortez
- Capital Punishment (1998) - Malcolm's Mother
- Olde Tyme Religion (1995) - Prof. Cortez
1998
A Perfect Murder as
Ambassador Alice Wills
1997
1999 as
Rufus' Shrink
1997
The Devil's Advocate as
Botanica Woman
1997
Dellaventura (TV Series) as
Aretha Jefferson
- Music of the Night (1997) - Aretha Jefferson
1983
One Life to Live (TV Series) as
Judge Barbara Fitzwater / Obedia
- Episode dated 11 September 1997 (1997) - Judge Barbara Fitzwater
- Episode #1.6998 (1995) - Judge Barbara Fitzwater
- Episode #1.3814 (1983) - Obedia
- Episode dated 17 May 1983 (1983) - Obedia
1997
Oz (TV Series) as
Loretta Smith
- Plan B (1997) - Loretta Smith
1997
White Lies as
Leon's Mother
1996
Harambee! (TV Movie) as
Queenesther
1996
The Summer of Ben Tyler (TV Movie) as
Rosetta Tyler
1996
Girl 6 as
Angela's Aunt
1996
Manny & Lo as
Georgine
1990
Law & Order (TV Series) as
Mrs. Washington / Judge Gloria Crutcher
- Humiliation (1995) - Mrs. Washington
- Out of the Half-Light (1990) - Judge Gloria Crutcher
1995
Mercy as
Angela
1995
New York News (TV Series) as
Evelyn Gates
- New York News (1995) - Evelyn Gates
1995
The Keeper as
Mrs. Lemont, Mother
1995
ABC Afterschool Specials (TV Series) as
Shirley
- Notes for My Daughter (1995) - Shirley
1994
Dead Funny as
Frances
1993
Weekend at Bernie's II as
Mobu
1993
Daybreak (TV Movie) as
Mrs. Chaney
1992
Citizen Cohn (TV Movie) as
Second Annie Lee Moss
1991
Strictly Business as
Olivia
1990
Green Card as
Marriage Celebrant
1990
The Bonfire of the Vanities as
Media Jackal
1990
Privilege as
Yvonne Washington
1989
The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd (TV Series) as
Jazz Singer
- Here's Why You Should Always Make Your Bed in the Morning (1989) - Jazz Singer
1989
The Littlest Victims (TV Movie) as
Mrs. Munson
1989
A Man Called Hawk (TV Series) as
Mrs. Webster
- Never My Love (1989) - Mrs. Webster
1986
As the World Turns (TV Series) as
Sarah Franklin
- Episode #1.8637 (1989) - Sarah Franklin
- Episode dated 26 September 1988 (1988) - Sarah Franklin
- Episode dated 1 September 1988 (1988) - Sarah Franklin
- Episode dated 29 July 1988 (1988) - Sarah Franklin
- Episode dated 25 April 1986 (1986) - Sarah Franklin (uncredited)
1988
Hothouse (TV Series) as
Olivia
- The Subject of Sex (1988) - Olivia
1987
Orphans as
Mattie
1987
Kojak: The Price of Justice (TV Movie) as
Pearl
1986
The Equalizer (TV Series) as
Miriam Blain
- The Line (1986) - Miriam Blain
1984
The Flamingo Kid as
Lizzy the Housekeeper
1984
He's Fired, She's Hired (TV Movie) as
Serena Cole
1984
The Cotton Club as
Madame St. Clair
1984
A Doctor's Story (TV Movie) as
Mrs. Thornton
1983
Chiefs (TV Mini Series) as
Nellie Cole
- Part 3 (1983) - Nellie Cole
- Part 1 (1983) - Nellie Cole
1983
Abuse as
Street Interviewee
1980
The Torture of Mothers
1979
The Seduction of Joe Tynan as
Carla Willis
1978
Watch Your Mouth (TV Series) as
Mrs. King
- Chicago Red and Mugger - Part 2 (1978) - Mrs. King
1978
An Unmarried Woman as
Jean
1974
John Mercer Langston (TV Movie) as
Lucky
Soundtrack
2010
30 Rock (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode)
- The Moms (2010) - (performer: "Don't Go to Bed With a Frown" - uncredited)
1989
The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode)
- Here's Why You Should Always Make Your Bed in the Morning (1989) - (performer: "Don't Get Around Much Anymore")
1971
Some of My Best Friends Are... (performer: "The Bar")
Self
2023
Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project (Documentary) as
Self
2018
Mr. Soul! (Documentary) as
Self
2008
Pure Jazz '08 (Documentary short) as
Musician
2002
Taboo (TV Series documentary) as
Self - Narrator
- Rites of Passage (2003) - Self - Narrator
- After Death (2003) - Self - Narrator
- Tests of Faith (2002) - Self - Narrator
- Death (2002) - Self - Narrator (voice)
- Sexuality (2002) - Self - Narrator
- Marriage (2002) - Self - Narrator
1972
VD Blues (TV Special) as
Self
1972
Camera Three (TV Series) as
Self
- Novella Nelson: Excerpts From My Life (1972) - Self
1968
Soul! (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 22 March 1972 (1972) - Self
- Episode dated 7 January 1971 (1971) - Self
- Episode dated 28 May 1970 (1970) - Self
- Episode dated 12 September 1968 (1968) - Self
References
Novella Nelson Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA