1. Theatre, Film, and Television Biographies
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Novella Nelson Biography (1939-)

Born December 17, 1939, in Brooklyn, NY; daughter of James Nelson and EvelynHines; children: Alesa Novella Blanchard-Nelson. Addresses: Office: DBA, 10 East 44th St., New York, NY 10012.

Nationality

American

Gender

Female

Occupation

Actress, director, producer, singer

Birth Details

December 17, 1939

Brooklyn, New York, United States

Famous Works

• CREDITS
• Film Appearances
• (Film debut) Jean Starret, An Unmarried Woman, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1977
• Carla Willis, The Seduction of Joe Tynan, Universal, 1978
• Lizzie, Sweet Ginger Brown, 1983
• Stephanie St. Clair, The Cotton Club, Orion, 1984
• Lizzy, the housekeeper, The Flamingo Kid, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1984
• Mattie, Orphans, 1987
• Yvonne Washington, Privilege, Zeitgeist Films, 1990
• Media jackal, The Bonfire of the Vanities, Warner Bros., 1990
• Marriage celebrant, Green Card, Buena Vista, 1990
• Olivia, Strictly Business, Warner Bros., 1991
• Mobu, Weekend at Bernie's II, TriStar, 1993
• Frances, Dead Funny, A-Pix Entertainment, 1994
• Mrs. Lemont, The Keeper, 1995
• Angela's aunt, Girl 6, Fox Searchlight Pictures, 1996
• White Lies, 1996
• Georgine, Manny & Lo, Sony Pictures Classics, 1996
• Angela, Mercy, Unapix Entertainment, 1996
• Botanica woman, The Devil's Advocate (also known as Im Auftragdes Teufels), Warner Bros., 1997
• Rufus' shrink, 1999 (also known as Girls & Boys), R.A.M.M. Entertainment, 1998
• Ambassador Alice Wills, A Perfect Murder, Warner Bros., 1998
• Carol, Judy Berlin, The Shooting Gallery, 1999
• The Gilded Six Bits (short), 2001
• Mrs. Tate, Antwone Fisher, Twentieth Century-Fox, 2002
• Moderator, Head of State, DreamWorks Distribution LLC, 2003
• Aunt Mae, Conversations with Id, 2003
• Lee, Birth, Fine Line Features, 2004
• Clarabelle, Dear Wendy, 2004
• Aunt June, On the One, 2004
• Television Appearances
• Series
• Judge Barbara "Fitzy" Fitzwater, One Life to Live, ABC, 1993-
• Miniseries
• Nellie Cole, Chiefs, CBS, 1983
• Pearl (1955-70), Mama Flora's Family, CBS, 1998
• Movies
• Mrs. Thornton, A Doctor's Story, NBC, 1984
• Serena Cole, He's Fired, She's Hired, CBS, 1984
• Pearl, Kojak: The Price of Justice, CBS, 1987
• Mrs. Munson, The Littlest Victims, CBS, 1989
• Second Annie Lee Moss, Citizen Cohn, HBO, 1992
• Mrs. Chaney, Daybreak, HBO, 1993
• Rosetta Tyler, The Summer of Ben Tyler, CBS, 1996
• Specials
• Voices & Visions (documentary), PBS, 1988
• Miss Queenesther, Harambee!, WNET (New York), 1996
• The Ark of the Spirit with Avery Brooks, TBS, 1996
• The Gilded Six Bits, Showtime, 2001
• Episodic
• "The Line," The Equalizer, 1986
• Mrs. Webster, "Never My Love," A Man Called Hawk, ABC, 1989
• "Here's Why You Should Always Make Your Bed in the Morning," The Daysand Nights of Molly Dodd, Lifetime, 1989
• Judge Gloria Crutcher, "Out of the Half-Light," Law & Order, NBC, 1990
• Professor Cortez, "Olde Tyme Religion," New York Undercover, Fox,1995
• Evelyn Gates, "New York News," New York News, CBS, 1995
• Mrs. Washington, "Humiliation," Law & Order, NBC, 1995
• Loretta Smith, "Plan B," Oz, HBO, 1997
• Malcolm's mother, "Capital Punishment," New York Undercover, Fox,1998
• Madame Lordes, "Oh Come All Ye Faithful," Sex and the City, HBO, 1998
• Mrs. Mosley, "Sophomore Jinx," Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, NBC, 1999
• Isabelle, "Things Change," 100 Centre Street, Arts and Entertainment, 2001
• Sondra Richards, "In Confidence," Third Watch, NBC, 2003
• Nurse, "Once Bitten," Whoopi, NBC, 2003
• Also appeared as Aretha Jackson, Dellaventura, CBS.
• Other
• Appeared as Briana, UN, Briana; Mrs. Jones, Watch Your Mouth/Chicago Red; Harriet Tubman, You Are There; and in Camera Three, Soul, VD Blues, Women Alive, Inside Bed Stuy,and Like It Is.
• Stage Appearances
• (Stage debut) Essie, To Follow the Phoenix, Schubert Theatre, Chicago, IL, 1961
• (New York debut) In White America, Circle in the Square Theatre, 1964-1965
• Understudy for Mrs. Dolly Gallagher Levi, Hello, Dolly!, St. JamesTheatre, New York City, c. 1964
• Madame Tongo, House of Flowers, Theatre de Lys, New York City, 1967
• Vandy, Horseman Pass By, Theatre de Lys, 1969
• Missy, Purlie, Broadway Theatre, New York City, 1970-1971
• Madame Tango, Les Femmes Noires, Joseph Papp Public Theatre, New York City, 1974
• Ftatateeta, Caesar and Cleopatra, Palace Theatre, New York City, 1977
• Understudy for Volumnia, Coriolanus, Delacorte Theatre, New York City, 1979
• Addie, The Little Foxes, Martin Beck Theatre, New York City, 1981,then (London debut) Victoria Palace, 1982
• Breaking the Prairie Wolf Code, American Place Theatre, New York City, 1985
• Mrs. Antrobus, The Skin of Our Teeth, CSC Theatre, New York City,1986
• Division Street, McGinn-Cazale Theatre, New York City, 1987
• Storyteller, woman cook, mon oncle, and servant, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Joseph Papp Public Theater/Martinson Hall, New York City, 1990
• Steele, A Piece of My Heart, Union Square Theatre, New York City,1991
• Standby for Dr. Bessie Delany, Having Our Say, Booth Theatre, NewYork City, 1995
• Gram, Digging Eleven, Hartford Stage Company, Hartford, CT, 1999
• Woman in brown, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When theRainbow Is Enuf, American Place Theatre, 2000
• Priest, Oedipus the King, Hartford, CT, 2001
• Wounded woman, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, Michael SchimmelCenter for the Arts, Pace University, New York City, 2002
• The Odyssey, Theatre at St. Clement's, New York City, 2002
• promises.com, CUNY Graduate Center, New York City, 2003
• Also appeared as Calpurnia, Julius Caesar, New York Public Theatre, New York City; Vicky, Passing Game, American Place Theatre; counselor, A Subject of Childhood; and in Trio, In New England Winter, South Pacific, Widows, Mecuba, and Ladies.
• Stage Director
• Les Femmes Noires, Joseph Papp Public Theatre, New York City, 1974
• Directed Runners, Pilgrim Playhouse; Black Visions, New York Public Theatre, New York City; Sweet Talk, New York Shakespeare Festival; Nigger Nightmare, Manhattan Theatre Club, then New York Public Theatre; Where We At, Negro Ensemble Company, New York City; Perfection in Black, Negro Ensemble Company; Black Visions; Sister Sonjii; and Bailey's Cafe.
• Stage Associate Director
• Mule Bone, Ethel Barrymore Theatre, New York City, 1991
• Stage Producer
• Produced There's Still Free Music, Central Park, New York City; and Music and Poetry at Reno's.
• Stage Consultant to Producer
• That Championship Season, Booth Theatre, New York City, 1972-1974
• The Au Pair Man, Vivian Beaumont Theatre, New York City, 1973-1974
• What the Wine-Sellers Buy, Vivian Beaumont Theatre, 1974
• A Doll's House, Vivian Beaumont Theatre, 1975
• A Chorus Line, Shubert Theatre, New York City, 1975-1990
• RECORDINGS
• Albums
• Recorded Novella Nelson.