Born in Mangum, OK. Attractive character actress who earned an Oscar® nomination for her role as Danny Glover's singer-mistress Shug Avery, in THE COLOR PURPLE (1985), a role she was cast in just after Tina Turner turned it down and because Steven Spielberg remembered her from a commercial he had once directed. She entered American film and television in 1972. Other notable credits include SCOTT JOPLIN (1977), THE FISH THAT SAVED PITTSBURGH (1979), THE RETURN OF SUPERFLY (1990), LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE (1993), WHITE MAN'S BURDEN (1995), LOVE KILLS (1998), SECOND TO DIE and WAITIN' TO LIVE (both 2002), and THE BETTER MAN and MEET THE BROWNS (both 2008). She has appeared frequently on television as a guest star in TV series and made-for-TV movies.  Nominated for Supporting Actress 1985: THE COLOR PURPLE 1 nomination