Born in Wichita, Kansas. The daughter of a Baptist preacher and his spiritual-singer wife, she won a drama medal at 15 and began her professional career as a band vocalist. She was the first black woman to sing on American radio and after many performances on such programs as "Amos 'n' Andy" and the "Eddie Cantor Show," starred in "Beulah," both on radio and on TV. McDaniel debuted as a maid in THE GOLDEN WEST (1932). Her maid-mammy characters became steadily more assertive, showing up first in JUDGE PRIEST (1934) and becoming pronounced in ALICE ADAMS (1935). In this one, directed by George Stevens and aided and abetted by star Katharine Hepburn, she makes it clear she has little use for her employers' pretentious status seeking. By THE MAD MISS MANTON (1938) she actually tells off her socialite employer Barbara Stanwyck and her snooty friends. This path extends into the greatest role of her career, Mammy in GONE WITH THE WIND (1939). Here she is, in a number of ways, superior to most of the white folk surrounding her. She won an Oscar® as best supporting actress for her performance, becoming the first black person to win an Academy Award. From that point, however, her roles unfortunately descended, with her characters becoming more and more menial. Visit the Internet Movie Database for a full listing of her film and television credits.  Supporting Actress 1939: GONE WITH THE WIND 1 nomination, 1 Award