1. Esther Rolle is best known for her role as Florida Evans, on the CBS television sitcom Maude, for two seasons, and its spin-off series Good Times, for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Television Series Musical or Comedy in 1976.
In 1979, Rolle won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Special for the television film Summer of My German Soldier.
Esther Rolle was born on November 8,1920, in Pompano Beach, Florida to Bahamian immigrants Jonathan Rolle, a farmer, and Elizabeth Iris Rolle.
Esther Rolle's parents were both born and raised in Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas and moved to Florida some time after their marriage.
Esther Rolle graduated from Blanche Ely High School in Pompano Beach.
Esther Rolle initially studied at Spelman College in Atlanta, before moving to New York City.
For many years, Esther Rolle worked in a traditional day job in New York City's garment district.
Esther Rolle was a member of Asadata Dafora's dance troupe, Shogolo Oloba.
Esther Rolle was often cast in plays produced by Robert Hooks and the Negro Ensemble Company.
Esther Rolle appeared in productions of The Crucible and Blues for Mr Charlie.
In 1977, Esther Rolle portrayed Lady Macbeth in Orson Welles' Haitian-influenced version of William Shakespeare's Macbeth at the Henry Street New Federal Theater in Manhattan.
Esther Rolle is best known for her television role as Florida Evans, the character she played on two 1970s sitcoms.
Esther Rolle was 19 years older than the actor who played her husband James Evans.
The James Evans character was only added after Esther Rolle fought hard for a father figure and husband to be added to the show.
Esther Rolle had fought for the father character on the show, more relevant themes and scripts and was unhappy with the success of Jimmie Walker's character, JJ Evans, which she believed took the show in a frivolous direction.
Later on, in a stand-off with Good Times producer Norman Lear, Esther Rolle quit when her contract ended.
Esther Rolle appeared in a series of psychic hotline TV commercials in the 1990s.
Esther Rolle released an album of music titled The Garden of My Mind in 1975.
Esther Rolle's first screen appearance is a small, uncredited role in To Kill a Mockingbird, and she later appeared in Gordon Parks' The Learning Tree.
Esther Rolle appeared early in her career in the film Nothing But a Man.
Esther Rolle had a major role in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings based on Maya Angelou's memoir of the same name, and has the distinction of having won the first Emmy Award for the category Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie, in 1979, for her work in the television movie Summer of My German Soldier.
Esther Rolle is credited for her role in the film The Mighty Quinn, starring Denzel Washington and Sheryl Lee Ralph, and featuring Robert Townsend.
Esther Rolle was married to Oscar Robinson from 1955 until their divorce in 1975.
Esther Rolle died on November 17,1998, in Culver City, California, from complications of diabetes, at the age of 78.
Esther Rolle is buried in Westview Community Cemetery in Pompano Beach.
Esther Rolle's family donated over 100 items of hers to the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.