Raised in Chicago, Illinois

Taught grammar school in Chicago

Made stage debut in Chicago production of "Purlie Victorious"

Moved to New York and trained for the stage with Lloyd Richards at the Negro Ensemble Company

Made Off-Broadway debut in "Trials of Jero" and "The Strong Breed"

Broadway debut, "No Place to Be Somebody"

Film debut, "The Education of Sonny Carson"

TV debut, "The Sty of the Blind Pit" on PBS' "Hollywood Television Theatre"

Had regular role on the CBS soap opera "Edge of Night"

Appeared in memorable episode of "Sanford and Son" as Fred's sister-in-law

Made TV-movie debut in "Just an Old Sweet Song" (CBS)

Performed in Australian production of "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf"

Considered retiring from acting and returning to teaching in the 1980s

Starred on Broadway and on tour in "Fences"; won Tony Award

Was regular on the NBC sitcom "A Different World"

Played mother to Oprah Winfrey in miniseries "The Women of Brewster Place" (ABC)

Starred in film "To Sleep With Anger"

Played memorable role on "I'll Fly Away" (NBC)

Starred in HBO limited series "Laurel Avenue"

Starred on Broadway in "Having Our Say: The Delaney Sisters' First 100 Years"

Co-starred as the adoptive mother of a pair of Vietnamese orphans in "Catfish and Black Bean Sauce"