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Frances E. Williams

Acting Born Sep 17, 1905 East Orange, New Jersey, USA 24 credits

Biography

Frances Elizabeth Williams (September 17, 1905 – January 2, 1995) was an American actress, activist, theatre producer, organizer, and community worker. Williams was the first black woman to run for the California State Assembly in 1948 on the Progressive Ticket and served on the boards of the Screen Actors Guild, Actors' Lab, and Actors Equity. She represented the World Peace Council at the first Angola Independence Celebration in 1975, and co-founded the Art Against Apartheid Movement in Los Angeles in the 1980s.

Williams began her acting career in the late 1930s, joining the cast of the play You Can't Take It with You. The company went on tour across the U.S. for two years. She appeared in two of Oscar Micheaux’s films, Lying Lips, 1939, and The Notorious Elinor Lee, 1940. Her first Hollywood film role was as Amy in Magnificent Doll (1946), followed by The Reckless Moment (1949) and Show Boat (1951). While she appeared on stage, in over forty films, on television shows in minor roles, and in commercials, Williams' biggest role to date came in 1987, when she played Miss Marie in the comedy-drama series Frank's Place starring Tim Reid. Despite being well received by many fans and critics, it was cancelled after one season (1987–1988).

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Known for

21 Jump Street

as Old Woman on Bus
Film

Four Weddings and a Funeral

1994

Frank's Place

as Miss Marie
Film

Fluke

as Old Woman in Church

Full filmography

  • 21 Jump Street (1987) as Old Woman on Bus
  • Designing Women (1986)
  • The Jerk (1979) as Grandma Johnson
  • Frank's Place (1987) as Miss Marie
  • A Woman Called Moses (1978) as Old Woman in Church
  • The Glove (1979) as Grandma Hale
  • Magnificent Doll (1946) as Amy
  • A Piece of the Action (1977) as Naomi Chamberlain
  • Three Secrets (1950) as Delia (uncredited)
  • The Reckless Moment (1949) as Sybil (uncredited)
  • Sister, Sister (1982) as Mother Bishop
  • Rented Lips (1988) as Black Grandma
  • The Family Secret (1951)
  • The Ambush Murders (1982) as Emily Tyson
  • Week-End with Father (1951) as Cleo
  • Father of Hell Town (1985) as Nora
  • Queen for a Day (1951) as Anna
  • Her Sister's Secret (1946) as Mathilda
  • A Dream for Christmas (1973) as Cassie Thomas
  • Together Brothers (1974) as Mama Wes
  • Baby Needs a New Pair of Shoes (1974) as Moma Lottie (as Frances Williams)
  • The Black Klansman (1966) as Ellie Madison
  • Midnight Ramble (1994) as Self - Actress
  • Lying Lips (1939) as Elizabeth Green