14 Facts About Ernestine Wade

Ernestine Wade was best known for playing the role of Sapphire Stevens on both the radio and TV versions of The Amos 'n' Andy Show.

Ernestine Wade's family had a strong connection to the theater.

Ernestine Wade grew up in Los Angeles and started her acting career at age four.

In 1935, Ernestine Wade was a member of the Four Hot Chocolates singing group.

Ernestine Wade appeared in bit parts in films and did the voice performance of a butterfly in the 1946 Walt Disney production Song of the South.

Ernestine Wade enjoyed the highest level of prominence on Amos 'n Andy by playing the shrewish, demanding and manipulative wife of George "Kingfish" Stevens.

Ernestine Wade began playing Sapphire Stevens in 1939, but originally came to the Amos 'n' Andy radio show in the role of Valada Green, a lady who believed she had married Andy.

Ernestine Wade played the radio roles of The Widow Armbruster, Sara Fletcher, and Mrs Van Porter.

Ernestine Wade defended her character against criticism of being a negative stereotype of African American women.

Ernestine Wade was among them, and she continued her defense of the show and those with roles in it.

Ernestine Wade believed that the roles she and her colleagues played made it possible for African-American actors who came later to be cast in a wider variety of roles.

Ernestine Wade considered the early typecast roles, where women most often were cast as maids, not to be damaging, seeing them in the sense of someone being either given the role of the hero or the part of the villain.

Ernestine Wade appeared in a 1967 episode of TV's Family Affair as a maid working for a stage actress played by Joan Blondell.

Ernestine Wade is buried in Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.