Sneha Girap (Editor)

Theresa Harris

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Years active
  
1929–1958

Name
  
Theresa Harris


Role
  
Television actress

Theresa Harris People of Color in Classic Film September 2015

Born
  
December 31, 1906 (
1906-12-31
)
Houston, Texas, U.S.

Resting place
  
Alma mater
  
UCLA Conservatory of MusicZoellner's Conservatory of Music

Occupation
  
Actress, singer, dancer

Died
  
October 8, 1985, Inglewood, California, United States

Parents
  
Isaiah Harris, Mable Harris

Ex-spouse
  
John Marshall Robinson, Jr.

Movies
  
Baby Face, The Women, Jezebel

Similar People
  
Jacques Tourneur, Alfred E Green, Roy Webb, George Cukor, Josef von Sternberg

How Hollywood Sidelined Black Actors | NYT


Theresa Harris (December 31, 1906 – October 8, 1985) was an American television and film actress, singer and dancer.

Contents

Theresa Harris wwwnndbcompeople551000350498theresaharris1

Early life

Theresa Harris Theresa Harris was an American television and film actress singer

Harris was born on New Year's Eve 1906 (some sources indicate 1909) in Houston, Texas to Isaiah (1879–1956) and Mable (1883–1964) Harris, both of whom were former sharecroppers from Louisiana.

Theresa Harris 34 best Theresa Harris images on Pinterest Black actors Black

Harris' family relocated to Southern California when she was 11 years old. After graduating Jefferson High School, she studied at the UCLA Conservatory of Music and Zoellner's Conservatory of Music. She then joined the African American musical comedy theatre troupe, the Lafayette Players.

Career

Theresa Harris httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommons11

In 1929, she traveled to Hollywood where she embarked on an acting career. She made her film debut in Thunderbolt, singing the song "Daddy Won't You Please Come Home". As she entered the 1930s she found herself playing maids to fictitious Southern belles, socialites and female molls played by such actresses as Ginger Rogers, Bette Davis, Sylvia Sidney, Frances Dee, Myrna Loy, Jean Harlow, Esther Williams, Thelma Todd, Kay Francis, and Barbara Stanwyck. These parts, however, were sometimes uncredited. She also floated around studios doing bit-parts, usually at Warner Bros. or Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Aside from maids, she also specialized in playing blues singers, waitresses, tribal women, prostitutes, and hat check girls.

Harris had a featured role as a friend of Jean Harlow in MGM's Hold Your Man (1932), also starring Clark Gable. In 1933, she starred as Chico in the Warner Bros. Pre-code production of Baby Face, starring Barbara Stanwyck. That same year, Harris starred in a substantial role opposite Ginger Rogers in Professional Sweetheart. As Rogers' character's maid, Harris' character subs for Rogers' character as a singer on the radio. Despite the fact that Harris' character was a major point for the story's plot development, she was uncredited for the role.

Throughout the 1930s, Harris played many uncredited parts in films such as Horse Feathers (1932), Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933), Mary Stevens, M.D. (1933) and Morning Glory (1933). She also played Bette Davis's maid Zette in the film Jezebel (1938). In 1937, she appeared in the race film Bargain With Bullets opposite Ralph Cooper for Million Dollar Productions which was owned by Cooper. While doing promotion for the film, Harris spoke about her frustration over the difficulty African American actors faced in the film industry stating, "I never had the chance to rise about the role of maid in Hollywood movies. My color was against me anyway you looked at it. The fact that I was not "hot" stamped me either as uppity or relegated me to the eternal role of stooge or servant. [...] My ambition is to be an actress. Hollywood had no parts for me." She also praised Ralph Cooper for starting a production company that produced films starring African American actors. She said, "We have nothing to lose in the development of an all-colored motion picture company. The competition will make Hollywood perk up and produce better films with our people in a variety of roles." Harris continued to lobby for better parts but found few opportunities within Hollywood. In the 1939 movie, "Tell No Tales" she was credited for her part as Ruby, the wife of a murdered man. Harris played an emotional scene with Melvin Douglas at the funeral.

In addition to films, Harris also performed in many radio programs including Hollywood Hotel. Harris was often paired with Eddie Rochester Anderson, who portrayed her on-screen boyfriend. They appeared together in Buck Benny Rides Again (1940) and What's Buzzin' Cousin (1943). In Buck Benny Rides Again, Harris and Anderson performed the musical number, "My, My," where they sing and dance tap, classical, Spanish, and swing. She also appeared in several prominent roles for RKO Pictures as she was a favorite of RKO producer Val Lewton who routinely cast African American actors in non-stereotypical roles. In 1942, Lewton cast Harris as a sarcastic waitress in Cat People, followed by roles in I Walked with a Zombie (1943), Phantom Lady (1944), and Strange Illusion (1945).

Later life and death

During the 1950s, Harris appeared several times on television on such shows as Lux Video Theatre, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and Letter to Loretta. She made her last film appearance in an uncredited role in The Gift of Love in 1958. Harris later married a doctor and retired from acting, living comfortably after having carefully invested the money she made during her career in the movies.

On October 8, 1985, Harris (then known as Theresa Robinson) died of undisclosed causes in Inglewood, California. She was buried in Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.

Legacy

The title character in Lynn Nottage's play By the Way, Meet Vera Stark is based in part on Theresa Harris.

Filmography

Actress
1958
The Gift of Love as
Dora - Sam's Wife (uncredited)
1957
How to Marry a Millionaire (TV Series) as
Irene
- Loco the Heiress (1957) - Irene
1957
Spoilers of the Forest as
Nancy the Maid (uncredited)
1956
Back from Eternity as
Mamie (uncredited)
1956
Chevron Hall of Stars (TV Series) as
Cora
- Reverse English (1956) - Cora
1956
Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV Series) as
Elsie the Servant
- Back for Christmas (1956) - Elsie the Servant
1955
The Amos 'n Andy Show (TV Series) as
Gloretta
- The Girl at the Station (1955) - Gloretta (uncredited)
1954
The Loretta Young Show (TV Series) as
Lulu
- The New York Story (1954) - Lulu
1954
Lux Video Theatre (TV Series)
- A Place in the Sun (1954)
1953
The French Line as
Clara, Mame's Maid (uncredited)
1953
Here Come the Girls as
Josie - Irene's Maid (uncredited)
1953
Your Jeweler's Showcase (TV Series)
- Heart's Desire (1953)
1953
Small Town Girl as
Backstage Maid (uncredited)
1952
Angel Face as
Nurse Theresa (uncredited)
1951
The Company She Keeps as
Lilly Johnson (uncredited)
1951
Al Jennings of Oklahoma as
Terese
1951
Grounds for Marriage as
Stella
1949
And Baby Makes Three as
Wanda's Maid (uncredited)
1949
Tension as
Woman in Drugstore (uncredited)
1949
The File on Thelma Jordon as
Esther
1949
The Doctor and the Girl as
Crying Patient (uncredited)
1949
Neptune's Daughter as
Matilda the Maid (uncredited)
1949
Alias Nick Beal as
Opal - Donna's Maid (uncredited)
1948
The Velvet Touch as
Nancy
1948
The Big Clock as
Daisy - Strouds' Maid (uncredited)
1947
The Lady from Shanghai as
Spectator in Courtroom (uncredited)
1947
Out of the Past as
Eunice Leonard (uncredited)
1947
Merton of the Movies as
Beulah's Maid (uncredited)
1947
Miracle on 34th Street as
Cleo (uncredited)
1947
Hit Parade of 1947 as
Maid (uncredited)
1946
Swingtime Jamboree
1946
Three Little Girls in Blue as
Maid (uncredited)
1946
Smooth as Silk as
Louise
1946
Miss Susie Slagle's as
Maid (uncredited)
1945
The Dolly Sisters as
Ellabelle (uncredited)
1945
Men in Her Diary as
Violet (uncredited)
1945
Strange Illusion as
Maid (uncredited)
1943
What's Buzzin', Cousin? as
Blossom (uncredited)
1943
I Walked with a Zombie as
Alma (as Teresa Harris)
1942
Cat People as
Minnie (uncredited)
1942
Tough As They Come as
Bessie Mae
1942
Sing Your Worries Away as
Hat Check Girl (uncredited)
1941
Here Comes Mr. Jordan as
Mother Listening to Hurdy-gurdy (uncredited)
1941
Our Wife as
Hattie
1941
Blossoms in the Dust as
Cleo
1941
The Flame of New Orleans as
Clementine
1941
Sis Hopkins as
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
1940
Love Thy Neighbor as
Josephine
1940
Santa Fe Trail as
Maid (uncredited)
1940
Buck Benny Rides Again as
Josephine
1940
City of Chance as
Beulah - Powder Room Attendant (uncredited)
1939
One Hour to Live as
High Yaller Girl
1939
The Women as
Olive (uncredited)
1939
Tell No Tales as
Ruby
1938
Passport Husband as
Maid (uncredited)
1938
The Toy Wife as
'Pick'
1938
Jezebel as
Zette
1937
Big Town Girl as
Maid (uncredited)
1937
Gangsters on the Loose as
Grace Foster
1937
The Lady Escapes as
Maid (uncredited)
1937
Charlie Chan at the Olympics as
Black US Team Member On Sidelines Rooting for Jesse Owens (uncredited)
1936
Banjo on My Knee as
Black Blues Singer (uncredited)
1936
15 Maiden Lane as
Ladies Room Maid (uncredited)
1936
The Green Pastures as
Angel (uncredited)
1936
Strike Me Pink as
Dancer / Singer in 'First You Have Me High (Then You Have Me Low)' (uncredited)
1935
In Person as
Carol's Maid (uncredited)
1935
Broadway Melody of 1936 as
Theresa (uncredited)
1935
Go Into Your Dance as
Luana's Maid (uncredited)
1934
Desirable as
Ladies Room Maid at Party (uncredited)
1934
Black Moon as
Sacrificed Girl (uncredited)
1934
Operator 13 as
Slave at Medicine Show (uncredited)
1934
A Duke for a Day (Short) as
Jessie (Gloria's Maid) (uncredited)
1934
Drums o' Voodoo
1934
Finishing School as
Evelyn - Mrs Radcliff's Maid (uncredited)
1934
Sleepers East as
Gloria Washington (uncredited)
1934
A Modern Hero as
Leah's Maid (uncredited)
1934
Success at Any Price as
Marie - Agnes' Maid (uncredited)
1933
Flying Down to Rio as
Dancer (uncredited)
1933
Roman Scandals as
Handmaiden (uncredited)
1933
The Worst Woman in Paris? as
Lily - the Maid
1933
Blood Money as
Jessica (uncredited)
1933
Broadway Thru a Keyhole as
Joan's Maid (uncredited)
1933
Penthouse as
Lili - Mimi's Maid (uncredited)
1933
Morning Glory as
Minor Role (uncredited)
1933
Mary Stevens, M.D. as
Alice - Andrews' Maid (uncredited)
1933
Baby Face as
Chico
1933
Hold Your Man as
Lily Mae Crippen (uncredited)
1933
Private Detective 62 as
Janet's Maid (uncredited)
1933
Professional Sweetheart as
Vera - Glory's Maid (uncredited)
1933
Gold Diggers of 1933 as
Black Woman in 'Pettin' in the Park' Number (uncredited)
1933
42nd Street as
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
1933
Grand Slam as
Ladies' Room Attendant (uncredited)
1932
The Half-Naked Truth as
Emily - Teresita's Maid (uncredited)
1932
The Sport Parade as
Nightclub Dancer (uncredited)
1932
Night After Night as
Ladies' Room Attendant (uncredited)
1932
Faithless as
Amanda (uncredited)
1932
Free Wheeling (Short) as
Maid
1932
Horse Feathers as
Laura - Connie's Maid (uncredited)
1932
Week Ends Only as
Chloë (uncredited)
1932
Merrily We Go to Hell as
Powder Room Attendant (uncredited)
1932
Union Depot as
Black Woman (uncredited)
1931
Arrowsmith as
Native Mother (uncredited)
1931
The Road to Reno as
Maid at Dude Ranch (uncredited)
1930
Morocco as
Camp Follower (uncredited)
1929
Thunderbolt as
Black Cat Cafe Singer (uncredited)
Soundtrack
1953
The French Line (performer: "WELL! I'LL BE SWITCHED" - uncredited)
1943
What's Buzzin', Cousin? (performer: "Ain't That Just Like a Man" - uncredited)
1940
Buck Benny Rides Again (performer: "MY! MY!" (1940) - uncredited)
1936
Banjo on My Knee (performer: "St. Louis Blues" (1914) - uncredited)
1933
Baby Face (performer: "St. Louis Blues" (1914) - uncredited)
1933
Professional Sweetheart (performer: "My Imaginary Sweetheart" - uncredited)
1929
Thunderbolt (performer: "Daddy, Won't You Please Come Home" - uncredited)
Self
1939
RCA Television Exhibit at New York Worlds Fair (TV Movie) as
Self - Miss Television
Archive Footage
2011
These Amazing Shadows (Documentary) as
Chico (clip from Baby Face (1933)) (uncredited)

References

Theresa Harris Wikipedia


Similar Topics