1. Margaret Avery was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Shug Avery in the period drama film The Color Purple.
18 Facts About Margaret Avery
1. 2.
From 2013 to 2019, Margaret Avery starred as Helen Patterson, lead character's mother, in the BET drama series Being Mary Jane.
3.
Margaret Avery grew up in San Diego and attended high school at the Point Loma High School in the city.
4.
Margaret Avery earned a degree in education in 1965 from San Francisco State University.
5.
Margaret Avery studied with Judy Davis, the vocal coach for Frank Sinatra and Barbra Streisand as well as at the American Conservatory Theater.
6.
Margaret Avery moved to Los Angeles in 1968 to pursue acting full time, while working as a substitute teacher.
7.
Margaret Avery received an NAACP Image Award for her performance in the 1976 film Louis Armstrong - Chicago Style.
8.
In 1985, Margaret Avery played the role of Shug Margaret Avery in the period drama film The Color Purple directed by Steven Spielberg.
9.
Margaret Avery was the last character to be cast in the film.
10.
Margaret Avery didn't have to be limited to a Black film; he didn't have to be married to a family, or related to somebody, like we women have to.
11.
In 1988, Margaret Avery starred in the period drama film Blueberry Hill, and the following year appeared in action film Riverbend.
12.
In 2008, Margaret Avery played Mama Jenkins in Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins, opposite Martin Lawrence and James Earl Jones, and Sarah Brown in Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns, which stars Angela Bassett.
13.
From 2013 to 2019, Margaret Avery played the role of Helen Patterson in the BET drama series, Being Mary Jane.
14.
Margaret Avery played Taraji P Henson' mother in the 2018 action film Proud Mary.
15.
Margaret Avery later guest-starred on Grey's Anatomy and Better Things.
16.
Margaret Avery holds a master's in psychology degree from the Phillips Graduate University, and worked as a psychotherapist for the Los Angeles Unified School District.
17.
Margaret Avery was interviewed by Melody Trice on The Melody Trice Show about her activism.
18.
Margaret Avery is a spokesperson for the Lupus Foundation of America.