Mary Alice
Biography
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.
Movie Appearances
The Matrix Revolutions
as The Oracle
2003
Awakenings
as Nurse Margaret
1990
Bed of Roses
as Alice
1996
Sparkle
as Effie
1976
A Perfect World
as Lottie
1993
The Mother
as Black Lady
1994
The Education of Sonny Carson
as Moms
1974
Down in the Delta
as Rosa Lynn Sinclair
1998
The Women of Brewster Place
as Fannie Michael
1989
The Matrix Recalibrated
as Self
2004
The Vernon Johns Story
as Altona
1994
To Sleep with Anger
as Suzie
1990
A House Divided: Denmark Vesey's Rebellion
as Beck
1982
What I Want My Words to Do to You
as Self
2003
The Brass Ring
as Mrs. Hauser
1983
Teachers
as Linda Ganz
1984
The Photographer
as Violet
2000
Charlotte Forten's Mission: Experiment in Freedom
as Blind Lily
1985
Malcolm X
as School Teacher
1992
The Inkwell
as Evelyn
1994
TV Appearances
A Different World
as Lettie Bostic
1987
Good Times
1974
Law & Order
as Virginia Bryan
1990
Green Acres
1965
L.A. Law
as Maxine Manley
1986
Providence
as Abby Franklin
1999
Touched by an Angel
as Georgia Bishop
1994
Oz
as Eugenia Hill
1997
Soul Food
as Mrs. Pettaway
2000
Sanford and Son
1972
I'll Fly Away
as Marguerite Peck
1991
I'll Fly Away
1991