From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Madame Sul-Te-Wan (born Nellie Crawford; March 7, 1873 – February 1, 1959) was the first African-American actress to sign a film contract and be a featured performer. She was an American stage, film and television actress for over 50 years. The daughter of former slaves, she began her career in entertainment touring the East Coast with various theatrical companies and moved to California to become a member of the fledgling film community. She became known as a character actress, appeared in high-profile films such as The Birth of a Nation (1915) and Intolerance (1916), and easily navigated the transition to the sound films. In 1986, she was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame.
57 movies
The Buccaneer
1958·6.5
Tarzan and the Trappers
1958·4.2
Band of Angels
1957·6.3
Something of Value
1957·5.5
Carmen Jones
1954·6.2
The Story of Seabiscuit
1949·6.0
Mighty Joe Young
1949·6.4
Thank Your Lucky Stars
1943·6.2
Revenge of the Zombies
1943·5.4
Mokey
1942·6.7
Sullivan's Travels
1941·7.4
King of the Zombies
1941·5.2
Love Thy Neighbor
1940·7.3
Maryland
1940·6.5
Safari
1940·6.5
Torchy Blane... Playing with Dynamite
1939·6.8
Tell No Tales
1939·5.4
Kentucky
1938·6.1
The Affairs of Annabel
1938·5.4
The Toy Wife
1938·5.0
In Old Chicago
1938·6.7
Island in the Sky
1938·7.0
Maid of Salem
1937·6.2
San Francisco
1936·6.6
So Red the Rose
1935·7.7
Imitation of Life
1934·7.0
Black Moon
1934·5.5
Operator 13
1934·5.9
A Modern Hero
1934·7.0
King Kong
1933·7.6
Ladies They Talk About
1933·6.1
Jungle Mystery
1932·7.0
Heaven on Earth
1931·5.3
The Pagan Lady
1931·4.0
The Thoroughbred
1930·5.4
Sarah and Son
1930·5.5
Queen Kelly
1929·6.5
Thunderbolt
1929·5.7
The Carnation Kid
1929·10.0
Uncle Tom's Cabin
1927·6.8
College
1927·6.7
The Golden Bed
1925·4.0
The Narrow Street
1925·8.0
The Lightning Rider
1924·9.0
Manslaughter
1922·5.5
The Show
1922·7.0
Why Change Your Wife?
1920·5.6
His Musical Sneeze
1919·6.3
Who's Your Father?
1918·0.0
Old Wives for New
1918·6.4
Tarzan of the Apes
1918·5.3
Stage Struck
1917·9.0
The Children Pay
1916·0.0
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
1916·7.1
Hoodoo Ann
1916·5.6
The Birth of a Nation
1915·5.9
The Cause of It All
1915·0.0