Novella Christine Nelson (December 17, 1939 – August 31, 2017) was an American actress and singer. She established her career as a singer, both on the off-Broadway and Broadway stage and in cabaret-style locales.
Early life Nelson was born on December 17, 1939, in Brooklyn, New York, to James and Evelyn (formerly Hines) Nelson. Her father was a pastor and a taxi driver. Her mother was an executive assistant at magazine publisher Women's Wear Daily.
An African American, she attended the predominantly white Brooklyn College in the late 1950s, majoring in biochemistry. She took a speech class, which was an acting course, and was asked to perform in a play. For the play she took on the role of Berenice, the housekeeper, in The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers. After being on stage in this and other plays, the future actress changed course becoming a theatre major.
Career Starting in 1961, Nelson had a decades-long stage career, performing, directing and producing, primarily in New York. She was a featured performer on Broadway in 1970 in the musical Purlie. In 1975, Nelson directed the play La Femme Noire at The Public Theater. Her film career began at age 39 with a small part in 1977's An Unmarried Woman, and continued for the next several decades with roles in movies and television.
She may be best known for her role as Mrs. Tate in the 2002 movie Antwone Fisher.
Death Nelson died of cancer on August 31, 2017, aged 77, in her native Brooklyn, New York.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1978Jean Starret1979Carla Willis1980The Torture of Mothers1984Madame St. Clair1984Lizzy1987OrphansMattie1990PrivilegeYvonne Washington1990The Bonfire of the VanitiesMedia Jackal1990Green CardMarriage Celebrant1991Strictly BusinessOlivia1993Weekend at Bernie's IIMobu1994Dead FunnyFrances1995Mrs. Lemont1995MercyAngela1996Manny & LoGeorgine1996Girl 6Angela's Aunt1997White LiesLeon's Mother1997The Devil's AdvocateBotanica Woman19981999Rufus' Shrink1998Ambassador Alice Wills1999Judy BerlinCarol2001Mama BanksShort2002Antwone FisherMrs. Tate2003Head of StateModerator2003Conversations with IdAunt MaeShort2004BirthLee2004Dear WendyClarabelle2005Preaching to the ChoirAunt June2006Stephanie DaleyDr. Peterson2006PremiumJayme2006Griffin & PhoenixMaya Restaurant Owner2007Judge Sophia R. Jackson2007August RushSocial Services Office AttendantUncredited2008Victoria Hadaway2008Compliments of the SerpentBarbara StantonVideo short2010It's Kind of a Funny StoryThe Professor2011Aunt Bee2011Somebody's HeroMaureen2012Nancy, PleaseDr. Bannister2012Bama & FredBamaShort2014A Walk Among the TombstonesLibrarian2015Sweet KandyBernice Boyd2017CollarFiona Taylor2017You Were Never Really HereDiner Woman2017SpellSafi
Television Year Title Role Notes1978Watch Your MouthMrs. King"Chicago Red and Mugger – Part 2"1983ChiefsNellie ColeTV miniseries1984Mrs. ThorntonTV film1984He's Fired, She's HiredSerena ColeTV film1986Miriam Blain Episode: "The Line"1987Kojak: The Price of JusticePearlTV film1988HothouseOlivia"The Subject of Sex"1989Mrs. Webster"Never My Love"1989Mrs. MunsonTV film1989As the World TurnsSarah Franklin"1.8637"1990Law & OrderJudge Gloria Crutcher"Out of the Half-Light"1992Citizen CohnSecond Annie Lee MossTV film1993DaybreakMrs. ChaneyTV film1993-2004One Life to LiveJudge Barbara Fitzwatervarious episodes1995New York NewsEvelyn Gates"New York News"1995Law & OrderMrs. Washington"Humiliation"1995New York UndercoverProf. Cortez"Old Tyme Religion"1996Harambee!QueenestherTV film1996Rosetta TylerTV film1997OzLoretta Smith"Plan B"1997DellaventuraAretha Jefferson"Music of the Night"1998Mama Flora's FamilyPearl (1955–1970)TV miniseries1998Sex and the CityMadame Lordes"Oh Come All Ye Faithful"1999Law & Order: Special Victims UnitMrs. Mosley"Sophomore Jinx"2001100 Centre StreetIsabelle"Things Change"2003Third WatchSondra Richards"In Confidence"2004Gail Fitzwallace"Gaza", "NSF Thurmont"2007Nana VeraTV miniseries2008Army WivesVivian Burton"Thank You for Letting Me Share", "Transitions"201030 RockNovella Nelson"The Moms"
Discography
References
External links
New York Times obituary Novella Nelson papers, 1949-2017, held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts