One of most accomplished and talented African-American actresses of her generation, Alfre Woodard earned an Oscar nomination and multiple Emmy wins in a prolific film and TV career that spanned over three decades. Woodard worked primarily in drama, where she was celebrated for her grounding force in “Crooklyn” (1994) and “Down in the Delta” (1998), though she occasionally offered up her uninhibited wit in “Beauty Shop” (2005) and “Desperate Housewives” (ABC, 2004-). Among Woodard’s most praised performances were TV movies that explored the African-American experience, including James Baldwin’s
