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{{Short description|American actress (1922–1998)}}
[[Image:ThatsMyMama.jpg|thumb|'''Theresa Merritt''' (right), with [[Clifton Davis]] (left) and [[Theodore Wilson]]]]'''Theresa Merritt Hines''', ([[September 24]], [[1924]] in Emporia, VA, USA - [[June 12]], [[1998]] in Bronx, NY, USA), was a prolific American stage actress and singer. She appeared in many theatrical productions but gained fame later in life when she starred in [[Ma Rainey's Black Bottom]] ([[Tony Award]] nomination) and [[The Wiz]] (she replaced [[Mabel King]] as Evelline, and although the demanding role was a highly visible one for her she left it, citing its deleterious effect on her voice) and the television series ''[[That's My Mama]]''.
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Theresa Merritt
| image = <!-- filename only, no "File:" or "Image:" prefix, and no enclosing [[brackets]] -->
| alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->
| caption =
| birth_name = <!-- only use if different from name -->
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1922|9|24}}
| birth_place = [[Emporia, Virginia]], U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1998|6|12|1922|9|24}}
| death_place = [[The Bronx, New York]], U.S.
| occupation = Actress, singer
| years_active = 1969&ndash;1998
| spouse =
| children =
}}
'''Theresa Merritt Hines''' (September 24, 1922 {{spaced ndash}}June 12, 1998), known professionally as '''Theresa Merritt''', was an American actress. She is known for her role in ''[[That's My Mama]]'' (1974–1975) and for her film roles in ''[[The Wiz (film)|The Wiz]]'' (1978) and ''[[Billy Madison]]'' (1995).


==Career==
Her most notable film roles were Aunt Em in [[1978]] film version of [[The Wiz]], Mrs. Crosby in the 1977 film adaptation of Neil Simon's [[The Goodbye Girl]] and Juanita in the [[Adam Sandler]] comedy [[Billy Madison]]. She also appeared alongside [[Burt Reynolds]] and [[Dolly Parton]] in the film adaptation of [[The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas]].
Born in [[Emporia, Virginia]], Merritt appeared in many theatrical productions but gained fame later in life when she starred as [[Ma Rainey]] in ''[[Ma Rainey's Black Bottom]]'', for which she earned a [[Tony Award]] nomination,<ref>{{cite web |title=("Theresa Merritt" search results) |url=https://www.tonyawards.com/nominees/?q=Theresa%20Merritt |website=Tony Awards |publisher=Tony Award Productions |accessdate=June 4, 2019}}</ref> and ''[[The Wiz]]'', in which she replaced [[Mabel King]] as [[Wicked Witch of the West|Evillene]]. She left ''The Wiz'', citing the role's harmful effect on her voice. She then starred in the television [[situation comedy|sitcom]] ''[[That's My Mama]]''.<ref name="etvs">{{cite book|last1=Terrace|first1=Vincent|title=Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010|date=2011|publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers|location=Jefferson, N.C.|isbn=978-0-7864-6477-7|page=1067|edition=2nd}}</ref>


Merritt's other Broadway credits included ''[[Mule Bone]]'' (1991), ''Division Street'' (1980), ''Don't Play Us Cheap!'' (1972), ''[[The Crucible]]'' (1972), ''Trumpets of the Lord'' (1969), '' [[Golden Boy (musical)|Golden Boy]]'' (1964), ''[[Tambourines to Glory]]'' (1963), and ''[[Carmen Jones]]'' (1943, 1945, 1947).<ref>{{cite web |title=Theresa Merritt |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/theresa-merritt-52861 |website=Internet Broadway Database |publisher=The Broadway League |accessdate=June 4, 2019 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20190604015204/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/theresa-merritt-52861 |archivedate=June 4, 2019}}</ref> She also toured with road companies of ''[[Funny Girl (musical)|Funny Girl]]'', ''[[Show Boat]]'', and ''[[South Pacific (musical)|South Pacific]]''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Theresa Merritt |url=https://variety.com/1998/scene/people-news/theresa-merritt-1117882378/ |accessdate=June 4, 2019 |work=Variety |date=June 22, 1998 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20190604020539/https://variety.com/1998/scene/people-news/theresa-merritt-1117882378/ |archivedate=June 4, 2019}}</ref>
She was married to Benjamin Hines; they had four children.
She is an Honorary member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.


Her most notable film roles were [[Aunt Em]] in the 1978 film version of ''[[The Wiz (film)|The Wiz]]'', Mrs. Crosby in the 1977 film adaptation of Neil Simon's ''[[The Goodbye Girl]]'', and Juanita in the [[Adam Sandler]] comedy ''[[Billy Madison]]''. She also appeared alongside [[Burt Reynolds]] and [[Dolly Parton]] in the [[The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (film)|film adaptation]] of ''[[The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas]]''.
{{US-singer-stub}}
{{US-theat-actor-stub}}


==Personal life and death==
[[Category:1924 births|Merritt, Theresa]]
Merritt died of [[skin cancer]] on June 12, 1998, in the New York City borough of [[The Bronx]].<ref name=nytobit>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/06/21/nyregion/theresa-merritt-75-praised-in-role-of-ma-rainey-is-dead.html|title=Theresa Merritt, 75, Praised In Role of Ma Rainey, Is Dead|last=Lyman|first=Rick|date=June 21, 1998|newspaper=The New York Times|accessdate=June 10, 2009}}</ref>
[[Category:1998 deaths|Merritt, Theresa]]
[[Category:African-American actors|Merritt, Theresa]]
[[Category:People from Virginia|Merritt, Theresa]]
[[Category:Delta Sigma Theta sisters|Merritt, Theresa]]
[[Category:Law & Order actors|Merritt, Theresa]]


==Filmography==
[[fr:Theresa Merritt]]
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="4" style="background: LightSteelBlue;" | Film
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1971
| ''[[They Might Be Giants (film)|They Might Be Giants]]''
| Peggy
|
|-
| rowspan=2|1977
| ''Proof of the Man''
| Maria
|
|-
| ''[[The Goodbye Girl]]''
| Mrs. Crosby
|
|-
| 1978
| ''[[The Wiz (film)|The Wiz]]''
| [[Aunt Em]]
|
|-
| rowspan=2|1979
| ''[[The Great Santini]]''
| Arrabella Smalls
| Alternative titles: ''The Ace''<br>''The Gift of Fury''
|-
| ''[[All That Jazz (film)|All That Jazz]]''
| Cast of NY / LA #4
|
|-
| 1982
| ''[[The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (film)|The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas]]''
| Jewel
|
|-
| rowspan=2|1988
| ''Astonished''
| Ida
|
|-
| ''[[The Serpent and the Rainbow (film)|The Serpent and the Rainbow]]''
| Simone
|
|-
| 1989
| ''[[Zwei Frauen]]''
| Nurse Wilson
| Alternative title: ''Silence Like Glass''
|-
| 1991
| ''[[Voodoo Dawn]]''
| Madame Daslay
| Alternative title: ''Strange Turf''
|-
| 1995
| ''[[Billy Madison]]''
| Juanita
|
|-
| rowspan=2|1998
| ''Dangerous Proposition''
| Grace
|
|-
| ''[[Home Fries]]''
| Mrs. Vaughan
| Final film role released posthumously
|-
|-
! colspan="4" style="background: LightSteelBlue;" | Television
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1969
| ''J.T.''
| Mama Meley
| Television movie
|-
| 1973
| ''The Furst Family of Washington''
| Eloise "Mama" Furst
| Television movie
|-
| 1974–1975
| ''[[That's My Mama]]''
| Eloise "Mama" Curtis
| 39 episodes
|-
| 1975
| ''[[Police Story (1973 TV series)|Police Story]]''
| Mrs. Johnson
| 1 episode
|-
| 1980
| ''[[After school special|NBC Special Treat]]''
|
| 1 episode
|-
| 1983
| ''[[The Love Boat]]''
| Faye Pillips
| 1 episode
|-
| 1984
| ''[[Concealed Enemies]]''
| Clytie Catlett
| Television movie
|-
| 1988
| ''Miracle at Beekman's Place''
| Sarag Coleman
| Television movie
|-
| 1997
| ''[[Law & Order]]''
| Ruth Titus
| 1 episode
|-
| 1997
| ''[[Sesame Street]]''
| [[The Robinson family (Sesame Street)|Grandma Sarah]]
| 1 episode
|-
| rowspan=2|1998
| ''[[NYPD Blue]]''
| Bernice
| 1 episode
|-
| ''[[Cosby (TV series)|Cosby]]''
| Edna Stone
| 1 episode
|}

==Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Award
! Category
! Work
! Result
! Ref.
|-
| [[39th Tony Awards|1985]]
| [[Tony Awards|Tony Award]]
| [[Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play|Best Featured Actress in a Play]]
| ''[[Ma Rainey's Black Bottom]]''
| {{nom}}
| align="center"| <ref name=nytobit/>
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0581449}}
* {{tcmdb name|id=130337|name=Theresa Merritt}}
* {{IBDB name}}
* {{iobdb name|13062}}
* {{Find a Grave|22373}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Merritt, Theresa}}
[[Category:1922 births]]
[[Category:1998 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Emporia, Virginia]]
[[Category:Actresses from Virginia]]
[[Category:American stage actresses]]
[[Category:American television actresses]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Deaths from skin cancer in the United States]]
[[Category:American film actresses]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American actresses]]
[[Category:20th-century American actresses]]
[[Category:20th-century American singers]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American women singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American women singers]]


{{US-singer-stub}}
{{US-screen-actor-1920s-stub}}
{{US-theat-actor-1920s-stub}}

Latest revision as of 22:56, 6 December 2024

Theresa Merritt
Born(1922-09-24)September 24, 1922
Emporia, Virginia, U.S.
DiedJune 12, 1998(1998-06-12) (aged 75)
The Bronx, New York, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actress, singer
Years active1969–1998

Theresa Merritt Hines (September 24, 1922  – June 12, 1998), known professionally as Theresa Merritt, was an American actress. She is known for her role in That's My Mama (1974–1975) and for her film roles in The Wiz (1978) and Billy Madison (1995).

Career

[edit]

Born in Emporia, Virginia, Merritt appeared in many theatrical productions but gained fame later in life when she starred as Ma Rainey in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, for which she earned a Tony Award nomination,[1] and The Wiz, in which she replaced Mabel King as Evillene. She left The Wiz, citing the role's harmful effect on her voice. She then starred in the television sitcom That's My Mama.[2]

Merritt's other Broadway credits included Mule Bone (1991), Division Street (1980), Don't Play Us Cheap! (1972), The Crucible (1972), Trumpets of the Lord (1969), Golden Boy (1964), Tambourines to Glory (1963), and Carmen Jones (1943, 1945, 1947).[3] She also toured with road companies of Funny Girl, Show Boat, and South Pacific.[4]

Her most notable film roles were Aunt Em in the 1978 film version of The Wiz, Mrs. Crosby in the 1977 film adaptation of Neil Simon's The Goodbye Girl, and Juanita in the Adam Sandler comedy Billy Madison. She also appeared alongside Burt Reynolds and Dolly Parton in the film adaptation of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.

Personal life and death

[edit]

Merritt died of skin cancer on June 12, 1998, in the New York City borough of The Bronx.[5]

Filmography

[edit]
Film
Year Title Role Notes
1971 They Might Be Giants Peggy
1977 Proof of the Man Maria
The Goodbye Girl Mrs. Crosby
1978 The Wiz Aunt Em
1979 The Great Santini Arrabella Smalls Alternative titles: The Ace
The Gift of Fury
All That Jazz Cast of NY / LA #4
1982 The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Jewel
1988 Astonished Ida
The Serpent and the Rainbow Simone
1989 Zwei Frauen Nurse Wilson Alternative title: Silence Like Glass
1991 Voodoo Dawn Madame Daslay Alternative title: Strange Turf
1995 Billy Madison Juanita
1998 Dangerous Proposition Grace
Home Fries Mrs. Vaughan Final film role released posthumously
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1969 J.T. Mama Meley Television movie
1973 The Furst Family of Washington Eloise "Mama" Furst Television movie
1974–1975 That's My Mama Eloise "Mama" Curtis 39 episodes
1975 Police Story Mrs. Johnson 1 episode
1980 NBC Special Treat 1 episode
1983 The Love Boat Faye Pillips 1 episode
1984 Concealed Enemies Clytie Catlett Television movie
1988 Miracle at Beekman's Place Sarag Coleman Television movie
1997 Law & Order Ruth Titus 1 episode
1997 Sesame Street Grandma Sarah 1 episode
1998 NYPD Blue Bernice 1 episode
Cosby Edna Stone 1 episode

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
1985 Tony Award Best Featured Actress in a Play Ma Rainey's Black Bottom Nominated [5]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "("Theresa Merritt" search results)". Tony Awards. Tony Award Productions. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  2. ^ Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 1067. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  3. ^ "Theresa Merritt". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on June 4, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  4. ^ "Theresa Merritt". Variety. June 22, 1998. Archived from the original on June 4, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  5. ^ a b Lyman, Rick (June 21, 1998). "Theresa Merritt, 75, Praised In Role of Ma Rainey, Is Dead". The New York Times. Retrieved June 10, 2009.
[edit]


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