Full Name Rosanna Rolle Role Television actress Name Rosanna Carter | Years active 1974–1997 Occupation Actress Ex-spouse John Carter | |
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Relatives Estelle EvansEsther Rolle (sisters) Parents Elizabeth Rolle, Jonathan Rolle Similar People Estelle Evans, Esther Rolle, John Sayles, Volker Schlondorff, Joshua Brand | ||
Rosanna Rolle Carter (September 20, 1918 – December 30, 2016) was an Bahamian American television, stage and film actress, who was born in Nassau, Bahamas to two Bahamian parents, and the sister of Esther Rolle and Estelle Evans, one of 18 children. During the Harlem Renaissance, she acted at New Lafayette Theater as one of the Lafayette Players. She acted in The Brother from Another Planet, a well-reviewed 1984 film described as a science fiction fairy tale with a slavery plot.
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Career
In the 1970s, Carter was a member of the Negro Ensemble Company theatrical group. Her Broadway credits include Inacent Black (1980), The American Clock (1980), and My Sister, My Sister (1973).
She starred in many movies, including Night of the Juggler (1980), and The Brother from Another Planet (1984).
Carter also guest starred on many television shows. In 1974, she made a guest appearance on her sister, Esther Rolle's sitcom Good Times as Cora. In 1985, she guest starred as Mrs. McNeill on television's Tales from the Darkside. In 1992, she guest starred as Rosanna on television's The Cosby Show. Also, she guest starred on the television show I'll Fly Away in 1993. Her last guest star appearance was on television's Law & Order in 1997 as Mrs. Hemmerick in the season eight première. She appeared on Law & Order twice before; first in 1990 as Mrs. Jackson and a small extra role in 1994 as an old woman.
Personal life
In 1974, Carter was injured when a police car struck her automobile from behind, forcing it to hit a parked bus. Seven years later, a Bronx Supreme Court jury awarded her $1 million for her injuries, impairment of earning capacity, and lost wages.
Awards
Carter received an AUDELCO award in 1977 for her work as a supporting actress in the play, Unfinished Women. She was nominated for an Emmy Award as Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series in I'll Fly Away in 1993, losing to Elaine Stritch who performed in Law & Order.