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==Career==
==Career==
She began her professional career with the [[Negro Ensemble Company]] and became a successful stage actress. She won an [[Obie Award]] in 1974 and was nominated for a [[Tony Award]] for her portrayal of Mattie Williams in ''[[The River Niger]]''.<ref name="NYT-AP Obit" /> She was a reporter on [[WNYW|WNEW-TV]] in New York in the 1970s and hosted a [[Public affairs (broadcasting)|public affairs]] show for the station known as ''Inside [[Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn|Bed-Stuy]]'', dealing with events in the Brooklyn neighborhood.<ref name="NYT-AP Obit" /> Roker portrayed [[Helen Willis]] on ''[[The Jeffersons]]''. She appeared in guest starring roles on many other United States television shows from the 1970s through the 1990s, including ''"Stone in the River"'' starring Hal Miller for NBC, ''[[Punky Brewster]]'', ''[[Hangin' with Mr. Cooper]]'', ''[[A Different World (TV series)|A Different World]]'', ''[[Murder, She Wrote]]'', ''[[The Love Boat]]'', ''[[227 (TV series)|227]]'', ''[[Beat the Clock]], [[Fantasy Island]], and [[ABC Afterschool Special|ABC Afterschool Specials]].'' She had roles in the television miniseries ''[[Roots (1977 miniseries)|Roots]]'' and in the movie ''[[Claudine (film)|Claudine]]''. Roker was also a children’s advocate who was cited by the city of [[Los Angeles]] for her community work.<ref name="NYT-AP Obit" />
She began her professional career with the [[Negro Ensemble Company]] and became a successful stage actress. She won an [[Obie Award]] in 1974 and was nominated for a [[Tony Award]] for her portrayal of Mattie Williams in ''[[The River Niger]]''.<ref name="NYT-AP Obit" /> She was a reporter on [[WNYW|WNEW-TV]] in New York in the 1970s and hosted a [[Public affairs (broadcasting)|public affairs]] show for the station known as ''Inside [[Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn|Bed-Stuy]]'', dealing with events in the Brooklyn neighborhood.<ref name="NYT-AP Obit" /> Roker portrayed [[Helen Willis]] on ''[[The Jeffersons]]'', breaking social barriers by becoming the first Caucasian-African-American married couple (along with actor [[Franklin Cover]] ) as regular cast member on prime-time TV. She appeared in guest starring roles on many other United States television shows from the 1970s through the 1990s, including ''"Stone in the River"'' starring Hal Miller for NBC, ''[[Punky Brewster]]'', ''[[Hangin' with Mr. Cooper]]'', ''[[A Different World (TV series)|A Different World]]'', ''[[Murder, She Wrote]]'', ''[[The Love Boat]]'', ''[[227 (TV series)|227]]'', ''[[Beat the Clock]], [[Fantasy Island]], and [[ABC Afterschool Special|ABC Afterschool Specials]].'' She had roles in the television miniseries ''[[Roots (1977 miniseries)|Roots]]'' and in the movie ''[[Claudine (film)|Claudine]]''. Roker was also a children’s advocate who was cited by the city of [[Los Angeles]] for her community work.<ref name="NYT-AP Obit" />


==Personal life==
==Personal life==

Revision as of 18:29, 2 December 2020

For the character on Hannah Montana, see Roxy Roker.
Roxie Roker
Roker in 1976.
Born
Roxie Albertha Roker

(1929-08-28)August 28, 1929
Miami, Florida, U.S.
DiedDecember 2, 1995(1995-12-02) (aged 66)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Alma materHoward University
Occupations
Years active1974–1995
Spouse
Sy Kravitz
​
​
(m. 1962; div. 1985)​
ChildrenLenny Kravitz
Family

Roxie Albertha Roker (August 28, 1929 – December 2, 1995) was an American actress who portrayed Helen Willis on the CBS sitcom The Jeffersons (1975–1985), half of the first interracial couple to be shown on regular prime time television.[1] Roker was the mother of rock musician Lenny Kravitz and the grandmother of actress Zoë Kravitz.

Early life

Roker was born in Miami, Florida.[citation needed] Her mother, Bessie Roker (née Mitchell), was from Georgia and worked as a domestic. Her father, Albert Roker, was a native from Andros, The Bahamas and a porter.[2] She grew up in Brooklyn, New York.[1]

Career

She began her professional career with the Negro Ensemble Company and became a successful stage actress. She won an Obie Award in 1974 and was nominated for a Tony Award for her portrayal of Mattie Williams in The River Niger.[1] She was a reporter on WNEW-TV in New York in the 1970s and hosted a public affairs show for the station known as Inside Bed-Stuy, dealing with events in the Brooklyn neighborhood.[1] Roker portrayed Helen Willis on The Jeffersons, breaking social barriers by becoming the first Caucasian-African-American married couple (along with actor Franklin Cover ) as regular cast member on prime-time TV. She appeared in guest starring roles on many other United States television shows from the 1970s through the 1990s, including "Stone in the River" starring Hal Miller for NBC, Punky Brewster, Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, A Different World, Murder, She Wrote, The Love Boat, 227, Beat the Clock, Fantasy Island, and ABC Afterschool Specials. She had roles in the television miniseries Roots and in the movie Claudine. Roker was also a children’s advocate who was cited by the city of Los Angeles for her community work.[1]

Personal life

Roker graduated from Howard University, where she was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. She was married to television producer Sy Kravitz in 1962. The couple had a son, singer-songwriter and actor Lenny Kravitz (born May 26, 1964), and divorced in 1985.[1] Weather anchor Al Roker and Roxie Roker are first cousins once removed.[3]

Death

Roker died in Los Angeles, California, on December 2, 1995, of breast cancer at the age of 66.[4]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1974 Change at 125th Street Eloise Morse TV movie
1974 Claudine Mrs. Winston
1975-1985 The Jeffersons Helen Willis
1977 Roots Malizy Episode: "Part V"
1977 Billy: Portrait of a Street Kid Mrs. Peoples TV movie
1979 The Bermuda Triangle Bohamiar Radio Operator Documentary
1982 Fantasy Island Emily Carlisle Episode: "The Kleptomaniac/Thank God, I'm a Country Girl"
1983 Making of a Male Model Madge Davis TV movie
1983-1987 ABC Afterschool Specials Phyllis Brooks / Aunt Helen 2 episodes
1987 Amazon Women on the Moon Female Republican (segment "Blacks Without Soul")
1990 Penny Ante: The Motion Picture

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Roxie Roker, 66, Who Broke Barrier In Her Marriage on TV's 'Jeffersons'". The New York Times. Associated Press. December 6, 1995. Retrieved July 3, 2010.
  2. ^ Robbins, Fred, "Roxie Roker: Her Life is Not Just the Hollywood Life", The Modesto Bee, Wednesday, December 26, 1984
  3. ^ "Al, Lenny Kravitz discuss being distant cousins". Today. September 2, 2011. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved October 21, 2014. Is Al really related to Lenny Kravitz? Yes! Their grandfathers were cousins, Al said on 'Today' this morning.
  4. ^ Santoski, Teresa (December 2, 2009). "Death anniversary of groundbreaking Bahamian American actress Roxie Roker". Nashua Telegraph. Retrieved July 3, 2010.
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