Warm, intellegent African-American actress often seen in wise, beleaguered character roles. She received an Academy Award nomination as the self-sacrificing mother and housekeeper in IMITATION OF LIFE (1959). Other notable credits include her screen debut as an uncredited nurse in PINKY (1949), AFFAIR IN TRINIDAD (1952), WOMEN'S PRISON (1955), RANSOM! and THE GIRL CAN'T HELP IT (both 1956), TAMMY TELL ME TRUE (1961), WALK ON THE WILD SIDE (1962), PAPA'S DELICATE CONDITION (1963), THE SINGING NUN (1966), ROSIE! (1967), UP TIGHT! (1968), SKIN GAME (1971), THE MACK and FOX STYLE (both 1973), THOMASINE & BUSHROD (1974), JOEY (1977), PATERNITY (1981), O'HARA'S WIFE (1982), TWO MOON JUNCTION (1988), and Disney's THE KID (2000). Also active in TV from the 1950s, appearing most recently on "ER" (2000) and "Judging Amy" (2001).  Nominated for Supporting Actress 1959: IMITATION OF LIFE 1 nomination