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Alfre Woodard Biography (1952-)

Born November 8, 1952, in Tulsa, OK; daughter of Marion H. (an interior designer and entrepreneur) and Constance (a homemaker) Woodard; married Roderick Spencer (a comedian, writer, and producer); children: Duncan Spencer, Mavis Spencer. Addresses: Agent: Steve Dontanville, William Morris Agency, 151El Camino Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90212.; Publicist: Melody Korenbrot, Bloch/Korenbrot Public Relations, 8271 Melrose Ave., Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90046.

Nationality

American

Gender

Male

Occupation

Actress, producer

Birth Details

November 8, 1952

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Famous Works

• CREDITS
• Television Appearances
• Series
• Marsha Fulbright, Tucker's Witch (also known as The Good Witchof Laurel Canyon), CBS, 1982-1983
• Rozalyn Dupree, Sara, NBC, 1985
• Dr. Roxanne Turner, St. Elsewhere, NBC, 1985-1987
• Miniseries
• Katie, Freedom Road, NBC, 1979
• Evelyn Evers, The Sophisticated Gents, NBC, 1981
• Voice of C. J. Walker, A Century of Women (also known as A Family of Women), TBS, 1994
• Queen of Brobdingnag, Gulliver's Travels, NBC, 1996
• Narrator, Cadillac Desert, PBS, 1997
• Mrs. Whatsit, A Wrinkle in Time (also known as Un raccourci dans le temps), ABC, 2003
• Movies
• Kariha Ellsworth, The Ambush Murders, CBS, 1982
• Precious Blood (also known as Two by South), 1982
• Esther, Go Tell It on the Mountain, 1984
• Vickie Teague, Sweet Revenge (also known as Bittersweet Revenge, Code of Honor, and Her Revenge), CBS, 1984
• Maude DeVictor, Unnatural Causes, NBC, 1986
• Winnie Mandela, Mandela, PBS, 1986
• Winnie Mandela, Mandela, HBO, 1987
• Andrea Crawford, The Child Saver (also known as The Fierce Dreams of Jackie Watson), NBC, 1988
• Jessica Filley, Blue Bayou (also known as Orleans), NBC, 1990
• Harriet Tubman, Race to Freedom: The Underground Railroad (also known as Underground Railroad, Underground to Canada, and Underground to Freedom), syndicated, 1994
• Dr. Sandlin, A Step toward Tomorrow, 1996
• Tamara O'Neil, Special Report: Journey to Mars, CBS, 1996
• Berenice Sadie Brown, The Member of the Wedding, USA Network, 1997
• Miss Eunice Evers, Miss Evers' Boys, HBO, 1997
• Clara, The Wishing Tree, Showtime, 1999
• Joyce May, Funny Valentines, Black Entertainment Television and Starz!, 1999
• Wanda, Holiday Heart, Showtime, 2000
• Mattie White, Tulia, Texas, CBS, c. 2005
• Specials
• "The Trial of the Moke," Great Performances, PBS, 1978
• for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf, PBS, 1982
• Mattie Custer, "The Killing Floor," American Playhouse, PBS, 1984
• Denise Powell, The Line, NBC, 1987
• Mary Thomas, "A Mother's Courage: The Mary Thomas Story" (also known as "The Long Shot"), The Magical World of Disney, NBC, 1989
• Narrator, "The Facts of Life," People Count, TBS, 1994
• Narrator, Frederick Douglass: When the Lion Wrote History, PBS, 1994
• Narrator, "Malcolm X: Make It Plain," The American Experience, PBS, 1994
• Berniece Charles, "The Piano Lesson," Hallmark Hall of Fame, CBS,1995
• Host, The Wizard of Oz in Concert: Dreams Comes True (also known as The Wizard of Oz in Concert), TNT, 1995
• Mrs. Marks, "Aliens for Breakfast," McDonald's Family Theatre, ABC, 1995
• Narrator, "Mandela's Fight for Freedom," Discovery Journal Special, The Discovery Channel, 1995
• Narrator, Slave Ship, The Discovery Channel, 1997
• Herself, An African American Salute to the Academy Awards, syndicated, 1998
• Host, An Evening of Stars: A Celebration of Educational Excellence Benefiting the United Negro College Fund, Black Entertainment Television andsyndicated, 1998
• Narrator, People's Century: 1900-1999 (also known as People's Century), PBS, 1998
• Host and narrator, The Underground Railroad, History Channel, 1999
• Narrator, Different Moms, Lifetime, 1999
• Olivia, Secrets, Showtime, 1999
• NetAid, VH1, 1999
• Host, Innovators: A Musical Odyssey, PBS, 2000
• Polly and narrator, John Henry, The Disney Channel, 2000
• Narrator, Eleanor Roosevelt (also known as History's Best on PBS: Eleanor Roosevelt), PBS, 2000
• Narrator, Half Past Autumn: The Life and Works of Gordon Parks, HBO, 2000
• Voice of Mary Parrish, The Tulsa Lynching of 1921: A Hidden Story,Cinemax, 2000
• An Evening of Stars: A Celebration of Educational Excellence, syndicated, 2000
• Speak Truth to Power, PBS, 2000
• Herself, John Ritter Remembered, VH1, 2003
• Presenter, Lifetime's Fourth Annual Women Rock! Songs from the Movies, Lifetime, 2003
• Reader, Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives, HBO, 2003
• Awards Presentations
• Presenter, The 20th Annual NAACP Image Awards, NBC, 1988
• The Ninth Annual ACE Awards, HBO, 1988
• The 10th Annual ACE Awards, multiple networks, 1989
• Presenter, The 65th Annual Academy Awards Presentations, ABC, 1993
• Presenter, The Essence Awards, Fox, 1994
• Presenter, The 51st Annual Golden Globe Awards, TBS, 1994
• Presenter, The Blockbuster Entertainment Awards, CBS, 1995
• Presenter, The 52nd Annual Golden Globe Awards, TBS, 1995
• Presenter, The 47th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, Fox, 1995
• Presenter, The 1996 Emmy Awards, ABC, 1996
• Presenter, The Second Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, NBC, 1996
• Host, Caribbean Music Awards, syndicated, 1997
• Presenter, The 49th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, CBS, 1997
• Presenter, The 1998 Creative Arts Emmy Awards, TV Land, 1998
• ALMA Awards, ABC, 1998
• Presenter, The 56th Annual Golden Globe Awards, NBC, 1999
• Presenter, The 30th NAACP Image Awards, Fox, 1999
• The 14th Independent Spirit Awards, Bravo and Independent Film Channel, 1999
• Presenter, The 15th Annual IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards, Bravo and Independent Film Channel, 2000
• Presenter, The 2000 Essence Awards, 2000
• Presenter, The 55th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, Fox, 2003
• Episodic
• Sandra Wilcox, "Reunion: Part 1," The White Shadow, CBS, 1980
• Enos, CBS, c. 1980
• Palmerstown, U.S.A., CBS, c. 1981
• Doris Robson, "Doris in Wonderland," Hill Street Blues, NBC, 1983
• Doris Robson, "Goodbye Mr. Scripps," Hill Street Blues, NBC, 1983
• Doris Robson, "Praise Dilaudid," Hill Street Blues, NBC, 1983
• Claudie, "Words by Heart," Wonderworks, PBS, c. 1984
• Princess Lovinia, "Puss in Boats," Faerie Tale Theater (also knownas Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theater), Showtime, 1985
• Dr. Roxanne Turner, "The Abby Singer Show," St. Elsewhere, NBC, 1988
• Voice of Edna, "The Botched Language of Cranes," Frasier, NBC, 1994
• Storytime, PBS, c. 1994
• Voice of Winoome Bear, "Goldilocks and the Three Bears," Happily EverAfter: Fairy Tales for Every Child (animated), HBO, 1995
• Storyteller, Genesis: A Living Conversation (also known as BillMoyers Genesis: A Living Conversation), PBS, c. 1996
• Voice of Harriet Tubman, "Faith," Adventures from the Book of Virtues (animated), PBS, 1997
• Dr. Roxanne Turner, "Mercy," Homicide: Life on the Street (also known as Homicide and H: LOTS), NBC, 1998
• Herself, Celebrity Profile: Danny Glover, 1998
• Guest, "Al Gore," Dennis Miller Live, HBO, 2001
• "Spike Lee," The Directors, Encore, c. 2002
• Denise Freeman, "Down the Hatch," The Practice, ABC, 2003
• Denise Freeman, "Final Judgement," The Practice, ABC, 2003
• Jean Hawkins, "Flashback," Static Shock (animated), The WB, 2003
• Pilots
• Adrienne Moore, L.A. Law, NBC, 1986
• (Uncredited) Grace, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, CBS, 1993
• Television Work
• Movies
• Executive producer, Funny Valentines, Black Entertainment Television and Starz!, 1999
• Film Appearances
• Rita, Remember My Name, Columbia, 1978
• Sally Benbow, Health (also known as H.E.A.L.T.H.), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1980
• Geechee, Cross Creek, Universal, 1983
• Patricia, Extremities, Atlantic, 1986
• Grace Cooley, Scrooged, Paramount, 1988
• Popeye Jackson, Miss Firecracker, Corsair, 1989
• Jane, Grand Canyon, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1991
• Pretty Hattie's Baby, 1991
• Ann Orkin, The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag, Buena Vista, 1992
• Chantelle, Passion Fish, Miramax, 1992
• The Colors of Love, 1992
• Penny Washington, Heart and Souls, Universal, 1993
• Rhody Poole, Rich in Love, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1993
• Rosie Mangena, Bopha!, Paramount, 1993
• Carolyn Carmichael, Crooklyn (also known as Crooklyn, N.Y.), Universal, 1994
• Lavada McRae, Blue Chips, Paramount, 1994
• Narrator, Countdown to Freedom: Ten Days that Changed South Africa(documentary; also known as Countdown to Freedom), Videovision Enterprises, 1994
• Marianna, How to Make an American Quilt (also known as An American Quilt), Universal, 1995
• Statistically Speaking, 1995
• Evey, Follow Me Home, 1996
• Judge Miriam Shoat, Primal Fear, Paramount, 1996
• Lily Sloane, Star Trek: First Contact (also known as Star Trek8), Paramount, 1996
• Loretta Sinclair, Down in the Delta, Miramax, 1998
• Brown Sugar, 1998
• Lily, Mumford, Buena Vista, 1999
• Audrey Williams, What's Cooking?, Trimark Pictures, 2000
• Camille Wright, Love & Basketball, New Line Cinema, 2000
• (Uncredited) Dr. Allen, Lost Souls, New Line Cinema, 2000
• Voice of Plio, Dinosaur (animated), Buena Vista, 2000
• Claudia Villars, K-PAX, MCA/Universal, 2001
• Narrator, American Exile, 2001
• Herself, Searching for Debra Winger, Lions Gate Films, 2002
• Rachel, Baby of the Family, DownSouth Filmworks, 2002
• Voice of Akela (cheetah mother), The Wild Thornberrys Movie (animated), Paramount, 2002
• Chief of staff, The Singing Detective, Airborne Productions/Paramount, 2003
• Narrator, Nat Turner: A Troublesome Property, California Newsreel,2003
• Principal Daniels, Radio, Columbia, 2003
• Talma Stickley, The Core (also known as Core), Paramount, 2003
• Detective Anne Pope, The Forgotten, Columbia, 2004
• Miss Josephine, Beauty Shop, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, 2005
• Mrs. Liston, Night Train, 2005
• Film Producer
• Associate producer, The Colors of Love, 1992
• (With others) Down in the Delta, Miramax, 1998
• Executive producer, Brown Sugar, 1998
• Stage Appearances
• Understudy, Me and Bessie (musical), Ambassador Theatre, New YorkCity, 1975, then Edison Theatre, New York City, 1975-1976
• Terry, So Nice, They Named It Twice, New York Shakespeare Festival, Public Theatre, Other Stage, New York City, 1976
• for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf, Center Theatre Group, Mark Taper Forum, and Huntington Theatre, both Los Angeles, 1977
• "Precious Blood," Two by South, Los Angeles Actors Theatre, Los Angeles, 1981, then at St. Clement's Theatre, New York City, 1981
• Elaine Le Fanu, A Map of the World, Public Theatre, Estelle R. Newman Theatre, New York City, 1985
• Paulina, A Winter's Tale, New York Shakespeare Festival, Public Theatre, Anspacher Theatre, New York City, 1989
• Josephine Nicholas Ark Trip, Drowning Crow, Manhattan Theatre Club, Biltmore Theatre, New York City, 2004
• Made stage debut in Horatio and Saved, Arena Stage, Washington, DC; appeared as Melissa Gardner in a production of Love Letters;also appeared in Bugs Guns, A Christmas Carol, Leander Stillwell, Split Second, and Vlast.
• Major Tours
• Toured in for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf, Australian cities.
• Stage Work
• Executive producer, East Texas Hot Links, Los Angeles production,early 1990s
• Internet Appearances
• Miniseries
• Dana Franklin, "Kindred," Seeing Ear Theatre, Sci-Fi Channel, 2001
• RECORDINGS
• Audiobooks
• Narrator, Rama II, by Arthur C. Clarke and Gentry Lee, Bantam, 1990

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

Books

• Contemporary Black Biography, Volume 9, Gale, 1995

Periodicals

• Entertainment Weekly, February 1, 1999, p. 128
• Essence, May, 1994, p. 70
• Harper's Bazaar, May, 1994, p. 82
• Jet, September 6, 1993, p. 58; February 24, 1997, p. 58; September29, 1997, p. 63; December 8, 1997, p. 62; February 9, 1998, p. 36; January 11, 1999, p. 62; May 24, 1999, p. 41
• Movieline, May, 1994
• People Weekly, February 17, 1997, p. 16
• Starlog, January, 1997
• Star Trek Communicator, May, 1997, pp. 20-22
• Variety, February 17, 1997, p. 49

Electronic

• Playbill Online, http://www.playbill.com, February 26, 2004
• Theatermania.com, http://www.theatermania.com, February 17, 2004