The first black woman to sing on the radio in the USA, Hattie McDaniel was also much in demand to play benevolent maid/housekeeper types in Hollywood films of the 1930s and 40s. She was also the first African-American performer to win an Academy Award--for her memorable supporting role as Mammy in "Gone With the Wind" (1939)--and later went on to play the title role in the early 50s sitcom, "Beulah".
Family
FATHER: Henry McDaniel. Banjo player, Baptist preacher. Former slave; headlined his own minstrel show in the early 1900s; retired from performing in 1916.
MOTHER: Susan McDaniel. Singer.
SISTER: Etta McDaniel. Actor.
Companion
HUSBAND: J Lloyd Crawford.
HUSBAND: Larry C Williams.
Milestone
1901: Family moved to Denver, Colorado from Kansas
1908: Joined a local black minstrel show in Denver (date approximate)
1910: Won gold medal at an elocution contest sponsored by the Woman's Christian Temperance Union for reciting poem "Convict Joe" (date approximate); dropped out of school and toured with minstrel shows, including one featuring members of her family (date approximate)
1920: Joined the Melody Hounds, a musical ensemble led by George Morrison; toured USA appearing in vaudeville houses operated by the Theater Owners Booking Association (TOBA)
1924: Made radio debut singing with Morrison's group in Denver
1929: After TOBA went bankrupt, left stranded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Worked as a ladies' room attendent at Sam Pick's Suburban Inn in Milwaukee; when owner heard her sing, gave her headliner spot
1931: Moved to L.A. to pursue acting career in films; worked as a dishwasher to support herself
Appeared on radio as 'Hi-Hat Hattie', a bossy maid who often "forgets her place"
1932: First film appearance, "The Golden West"
1932: Appeared alongside Marlene Dietrich in "Blonde Venus"
1933: Played the maid to Mae West in "I'm No Angel"
1934: Had small role in "Imitation of Life"
1934: First garnered attention as the washerwoman Aunt Dilsey in "Judge Priest", directed by John Ford; performed duet with Will Rogers in film
1935: Appeared in "Alice Adams" and "The Littlest Colonel"
1936: Reprised her stage part of Queenie in film version of "Show Boat"
1937: Had featured role in "Nothing Sacred", starring Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray
1939: Was briefly glimpsed as a maid in "The Women"
1939: Cast in most famous role of Mammy in "Gone With the Wind"; barred from attending the film's premiere in Atlanta because of racial segregation in the South; became first black performer to win an Academy Award
During 1940s, criticized by NAACP for perpetuating the stereotype of a subservient domestic
1941: Appeared in the Western "They Died with Their Boots on"
During WWII, organized entertainments for black soldiers and sailors serving in the military
1942: Once again played a domestic in "In This Our Life", starring Bette Davis and directed by John Huston; character confronts racial issues as her law student son is wrongly accused of manslaughter
1944: Acted in "Since You Went Away"
1946: Co-starred in the Disney film "Song of the South"
Cast in title role of the radio comedy "Beulah"
1948: Last film appearances, "Mickey" and "Family Honeymoon"
1952: Starred in the CBS sitcom version of "Beulah"; only appeared in a handful of episodes before suffering a heart attack that caused her to withdraw
Bibliography
"Hattie: The Life of Hattie McDaniel" Carlton Jackson 1990
When McDaniel was criticized in the 1940s by the NAACP for her penchant for playing servants in films, she reportedly replied: "I'd rather play a maid on film than be force to work as one in real life." (Another version of her response: "I'd rather play a maid and make $700 a week than be a maid and make $7.")
At the time of her death in 1952, McDaniel could not be buried in the cemetary of her choice -- Hollywood Memorial Park -- because of racial segregation. Her second choice, Rosedale Cemetary also had a similar policy, but it was waived and the actress became the first African-American buried there. In October 1999, the new owners of the burial grounds, now renamed Hollywood Memorial Park, unveiled a granite monument in her honor.
Upcoming Titles Playing on TCM for Hattie McDaniel
Jeanie
Ground breaker
Hattie McDaniels paved the way for all African-American actors and actresses. Without her, there would be no Denzel Washingtons ...
More>>
Debbie Crawford
Powerfully Funny Actress
Hattie was by far one of the greats, she didnt mind playing a maid, she said, and I quote, I ...
More>>
Tcm.com is part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network.