Ernestine Jackson (born September 18, 1942) is an American actress and singer.
Early life Born in Corpus Christi, Texas, Jackson made her Broadway debut in 1967 as Irene Molloy in the all-black cast of Hello, Dolly! starring Pearl Bailey.
Career In 1973, Jackson originated the role of Ruth Younger in Raisin, her performance winning her the Theatre World Award and a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical. Additional Broadway credits include Applause, The Bacchae, and the 1976 all-black revival of Guys and Dolls, for which she was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical. She also appeared in the 1966 revival of Show Boat at the New York State Theater and the 1967 revival of Finian's Rainbow at New York City Center.
Jackson portrayed Alberta Hunter in Cookin' at the Cookery: The Music and Times of Alberta Hunter, a revue that originated at the Hippodrome State Theatre in Gainesville, Florida in 1997 and then played in various venues in the United States, such as the Lyceum Stage, San Diego, California in March and April 2003.Braunagel, Don. "Lady sings blues in 'Cookery'" Los Angeles Times, March 31, 2003 Jackson appeared in the revue at the Boston University Theatre, presented by the Huntington Theatre Company, in June 2003.Cragin, Sally. "The Huntington heats up for 'Cookin’" Boston Phoenix, Issue Date: June 13–19, 2003
She portrayed Billie Holiday in the 2005 Long Wharf Theatre (Connecticut) production of Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill. In reviewing her performance, Frank Rizzo of Variety said she "nicely suggests rather than mimics the famous Holiday" and added, "Jackson handles the gliding jazz minimalism beautifully. She makes Holiday's fleeting happiness a joy and her suffering an art."Rizzo, Frank. "Review" Variety, November 6, 2005 In 2007 she portrayed entertainer Ethel Waters in Ethel Waters: His Eye is On the Sparrow at the Bristol Riverside Theatre in Bristol, Pennsylvania.Lipton, Brian. "Ernestine Jackson" TheaterMania.com, January 2, 2007 Jackson's feature films include The Bonfire of the Vanities, Freedomland, Steam, and Forged, scheduled for release in 2010. On television she has appeared in Roots: The Next Generations, A Man Called Hawk, Law & Order, The West Wing, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.
Filmography
Film +YearTitleRoleNotes1975Aaron Loves AngelaCleo1982HomeworkCookie's Mother1990The Bonfire of the VanitiesMedia Jackal1996Girls TownNikki's Mom2006FreedomlandNurse2007SteamNurse2010ForgedOld WomanTBAFinding HomeGrandmother
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1979Roots: The Next GenerationsLadyEpisode: "Part IV (1918-1921)"1989A Man Called HawkMrs. CarverEpisode: "Choice of Chance"1994Law & OrderVanessa PetrieEpisode: "Wager"1996Swift JusticeMama EmEpisode: "Takin' Back the Street"2000D.C.Audra FreemanEpisode: "Justice"200210,000 Black Men Named GeorgeMrs. RandolphTelevision film2002The West WingFiona, Diner OwnerEpisode: "20 Hours in America"2003Law & Order: Criminal IntentAgnes BatesEpisode: "Stray"2010GravityMiddle Aged WomanEpisode: "Damn Skippy"2010Rescue MeElderly Black WomanEpisode: "Cowboy"2010The Big CChurch MomEpisode: "Divine Intervention"
Stage + Year Title Role Notes 1966 Show Boat Female Singer O'Keefe Centre for the Performing Arts 1966 New York State Theatre, Off-Broadway 1967 Finian's Rainbow Singer New York City Center, Off-Broadway 1967 Hello, Dolly! Irene Molloy (Replacement) St. James Theatre, Broadway 1970 Applause Singer Palace Theatre, Broadway 1971 Jesus Christ Superstar Ensemble National Tour 1973 Tricks Ernestina Alvin Theatre, Broadway 1973 Raisin Ruth Younger 46th Street Theatre, Broadway 1976 Guys and Dolls Adelaide Broadway Theatre, Broadway 1980 The Bacchae Chorus of Bacchae Circle in the Square Theatre, Broadway 1981 Louis Lil Hardin New Federal Theatre, Off-Broadway 1984 Rap Master Ronnie Performer Village Gate Upstairs, Off-Broadway 1985 Jack and Jill Jill Donovan Riverwest Theatre 1986 Black Girl Mama Rosie Second Stage Theater, Off-Broadway 1986 Brownstone Mary Roundabout Theatre Company, Off-Broadway 1988 Joe Turner's Come and Gone Bertha Holly (Standby) Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway 1992 Into the Woods Jack's Mother Walnut Street Playhouse 1994 Aladdin The Astrologer Asian Tour 1994 South Pacific Bloody Mary North Shore Music Theatre 1996 A Grand Night for Singing Ernestine North Shore Music Theatre 1998 Woody Guthrie's American Song Performer Melting Pot Theatre 2001 Storyville Countess Dolly Shores Theater of Performing Arts 2003 Cookin' at the Cookery: The Music and Times of Alberta Hunter Alberta Hunter National Tour 2005 Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill Billie Holiday Long Wharf Theatre 2007 Ethel Waters: His Eye is On the Sparrow Ethel Waters Bristol Riverside Theatre 2008 Carousel Dr. Seldon/Starkeeper/Nettie Fowler Long Wharf Theatre 2012 Lost in the Stars Grace Kumalo Glimmerglass Festival 2014 Me and Caesar Lee Lorraine The Midtown International Theatre Festival
Video games +YearTitleRole1983MysteryDisc: Many Roads to MurderJuna Jamael1999MugenVoice
References
External links