Mary Alice

Mary Alice

Mary Alice was born on December 3, 1936 in Indianola, Mississippi, USA to parents Ozelar Jurnakin (Smith) and Sam Smith. She was an actress, known for The Matrix Revolutions (2003), Awakenings (1990) and Malcolm X (1992). She taught in Elementary School before her acting career took off. When she was still a struggling actress doing stage plays, she made a living doing her castmate's laundry for a salary of $200 a week. She was a lifelong liberal Democrat, feminist, and civil rights activist. Was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2000. She retired from acting in 2005. She died of natural causes on July 27, 2022 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. Upon her death, she was buried with her siblings at Oak Wood Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois, in regard for her last wishes.

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Known For

Filmography

2005

Kojak
Kojak
as Joyce
TV - Released: 3/25/2005

2004

The Matrix Recalibrated
The Matrix Recalibrated
as Self
Movie - Released: 4/6/2004
The Burly Man Chronicles
The Burly Man Chronicles
Movie - Released: 12/4/2004
The Jury
The Jury
TV - Released: 6/8/2004

2003

The Matrix Revolutions
The Matrix Revolutions
as The Oracle
Movie - Released: 11/5/2003
What I Want My Words to Do to You
What I Want My Words to Do to You
as Self
Movie - Released: 12/16/2003

2002

Sunshine State
Sunshine State
as Eunice Stokes
Movie - Released: 6/21/2002

2001

The Last Brickmaker in America
The Last Brickmaker in America
as Dorothy Cobb
Movie - Released: 9/23/2001

2000

The Photographer
The Photographer
as Violet
Movie - Released: 4/15/2000
Soul Food
Soul Food
as Mrs. Pettaway
TV - Released: 6/28/2000

1999

Catfish in Black Bean Sauce
Catfish in Black Bean Sauce
as Dolores Williams
Movie - Released: 4/14/1999
The Wishing Tree
The Wishing Tree
as Mattie
Movie - Released: 1/1/1999
Providence
Providence
as Abby Franklin
TV - Released: 1/8/1999

1998

Down in the Delta
Down in the Delta
as Rosa Lynn Sinclair
Movie - Released: 12/25/1998

1997

Oz
Oz
as Eugenia Hill
TV - Released: 7/12/1997

1996

Bed of Roses
Bed of Roses
as Alice
Movie - Released: 1/26/1996
Cosby
Cosby
TV - Released: 9/16/1996

1995

Heading Home
Heading Home
as Mary Jones
Movie - Released: 4/8/1995
Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder
Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder
Movie - Released: 3/20/1995

1994

The Mother
The Mother
as Black Lady
Movie - Released: 11/19/1994
The Vernon Johns Story
The Vernon Johns Story
as Altona
Movie - Released: 1/15/1994
The Inkwell
The Inkwell
as Evelyn
Movie - Released: 4/22/1994
Touched by an Angel
Touched by an Angel
as Georgia Bishop
TV - Released: 9/21/1994

1993

A Perfect World
A Perfect World
as Lottie
Movie - Released: 11/24/1993
Life with Mikey
Life with Mikey
as Mrs. Gordon
Movie - Released: 6/4/1993
Laurel Avenue
Laurel Avenue
as Maggie Arnett
TV - Released: 7/10/1993

1992

Malcolm X
Malcolm X
as School Teacher
Movie - Released: 11/18/1992

1991

I'll Fly Away
I'll Fly Away
as Marguerite Peck
TV - Released: 10/7/1991
I'll Fly Away
I'll Fly Away
TV - Released: 10/7/1991

1990

Awakenings
Awakenings
as Nurse Margaret
Movie - Released: 12/4/1990
To Sleep with Anger
To Sleep with Anger
as Suzie
Movie - Released: 10/12/1990
The Bonfire of the Vanities
The Bonfire of the Vanities
as Annie Lamb
Movie - Released: 12/21/1990
Law & Order
Law & Order
as Virginia Bryan
TV - Released: 9/13/1990

1989

The Women of Brewster Place
The Women of Brewster Place
as Fannie Michael
Movie - Released: 3/19/1989

1987

A Different World
A Different World
as Lettie Bostic
TV - Released: 9/24/1987

1986

L.A. Law
L.A. Law
as Maxine Manley
TV - Released: 9/15/1986

1985

Charlotte Forten's Mission: Experiment in Freedom
Charlotte Forten's Mission: Experiment in Freedom
as Blind Lily
Movie - Released: 2/25/1985

1984

Teachers
Teachers
as Linda Ganz
Movie - Released: 10/5/1984
Beat Street
Beat Street
as Cora
Movie - Released: 6/8/1984
The Killing Floor
The Killing Floor
as Lilah Dean
Movie - Released: 4/10/1984

1983

The Brass Ring
The Brass Ring
as Mrs. Hauser
Movie - Released: 1/1/1983

1982

A House Divided: Denmark Vessey's Rebellion
A House Divided: Denmark Vessey's Rebellion
as Beck
Movie - Released: 2/17/1982

1980

Movie
Joshua's World
as Housekeeper
Movie - Released: 8/21/1980

1979

Lawman Without a Gun
Lawman Without a Gun
as Minnie Hayward
Movie - Released: 5/30/1979

1976

Sparkle
Sparkle
as Effie
Movie - Released: 4/7/1976
Just an Old Sweet Song
Just an Old Sweet Song
as Helen Mayfield
Movie - Released: 9/25/1976

1974

The Education of Sonny Carson
The Education of Sonny Carson
as Moms
Movie - Released: 7/17/1974
Sty of the Blind Pig
Sty of the Blind Pig
as Alberta Warren
Movie - Released: 5/29/1974
Good Times
Good Times
TV - Released: 2/8/1974
Police Woman
Police Woman
TV - Released: 9/13/1974

1972

Sanford and Son
Sanford and Son
TV - Released: 1/14/1972

1971

Great Performances
Great Performances
TV - Released: 1/28/1971

1965

Green Acres
Green Acres
TV - Released: 9/15/1965