Suzzanne Douglas

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Suzzanne Douglas
Born(1957-04-12)April 12, 1957
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedJuly 6, 2021(2021-07-06) (aged 64)
Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, U.S.
EducationIllinois State University (BA)
Manhattan School of Music (MM)
OccupationActress
Years active1978–2021
Known forJerri Peterson – The Parent 'Hood
Amy Simms – Tap
Spouse
Roy J. Cobb
(m. 1989)
[1]
Children1
AwardsNAACP Image Award – (1989) Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture (Tap)

Suzzanne Douglas (April 12, 1957 – July 6, 2021) was an American actress.

the legendary Sammy Davis Jr., for which she won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
.

In addition to Tap, Douglas starred in several other motion pictures, among them

Harpo Films
.

Early life and education

Douglas was born in Chicago, Illinois on April 12, 1957.[3] She was one of four children born to Lois Mae Thompson and Donald Douglas, Sr. Reared by a single mother, Douglas grew up in the Altgeld Gardens Homes public housing complex on the city's far south side.[4] She became interested in the arts as a child, citing 1965's The Sound of Music as her inspiration for acting.[5] Douglas attended Thornton Township High School, graduating in 1975.[6] After high school, she studied at Illinois State University; graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She later earned a Master's degree in music specializing in Jazz Vocals at the prestigious Manhattan School of Music.[7]

Career

Douglas made numerous television guest star appearances on shows such as

The Good Wife.[8] She also appeared on The Parkers,[8] The Cosby Show, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, NYPD Blue,[9] and Touched by an Angel.[8] On stage, Douglas performed the role of Jenny Diver in The Threepenny Opera starring Sting and Dr. Bearing in Wit, where she was the first African American to perform the role.[3][10] Douglas was a two-time NAACP Image Award winner, and also won the Black Oscar, a Reel Award,[11] and the Mary Martin Award.[12] Douglas appeared in the Rel Dowdell film Changing the Game in 2011.[8]

Other

Douglas was a honorary member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority where she served on its national executive board as the Honorary Co-chair of the Arts and Letters Commission for thirteen years. In the community, she was a lifetime member of Girl Scouts of the USA, The National Council of Negro Women, Sigma Alpha Lambda (a national leadership and honors organization), and Jack and Jill of America.[11]

Personal life and death

In February 1989, Douglas married neuro-radiologist Roy Jonathan Cobb, to whom she was still married at the time of her death. Together, Douglas and Cobb had one daughter.[3][13]

Douglas died on July 6, 2021, at age 64, at her home in Martha's Vineyard after a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer.[3][14]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1981 Purlie[3] Television film
1989 Tap[8][15] Amy Simms
1990 The Knife and Gun Club[16] Ginny Ducette Television film
1992 Chain of Desire[8][17] Angie
1992 Condition: Critical[9] Dr. Bailey Wallace Television film
1994 I'll Do Anything[9] Rainbow House Star
1994 The Inkwell[8][15] Brenda Tate
1994 Search for Grace[17][9] Margaret / Melody Television film
1994 Jason's Lyric[8][17] Gloria Alexander
1998 The Last Weekend[11][18] Mrs. Fisher Short film
1998 How Stella Got Her Groove Back[8][15] Angela
2003 Sounder[8][16] The Mother Television film
2003 School of Rock[17][9] Tomika's Mother
2004 Sunday on the Rocks[8][17] Jessica
2012 Changing the Game[8][9] Mrs. Davis
2015 Whitney[8][9] Cissy Houston Television film
2016 Happy Yummy Chicken[8][9] Sarah Del Casserole
2020 Really Love[19] Ann Richmond

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1989 A Man Called Hawk[18] Lorna Wells Episode: "Vendetta"
1990 The Cosby Show[9] Rebecca Shorter Episode: "Live and Learn"
1990–1991 Against the Law[18] Yvette Carruthers 17 episodes
1991 Great Performances Lady In Plaid / The Girl Episode: "The Colored Museum"[16]
1991
ABC Afterschool Specials
Sammy Episode: "In the Shadows of Love: A Teen AIDS Story"[17]
1992 I'll Fly Away[9] Ruth 3 episodes
1993 American Playhouse Eunice Perry Episode: "Hallelujah"[16]
1995–1999 The Parent 'Hood[8][17] Geraldine "Jerri" Peterson 90 episodes
1996–1999 Touched by an Angel[8][17] Dr. Rebecca Dixon / Brianna 2 episodes
1996 NYPD Blue[8][9] Mrs. Torrence Episode: "Where's 'Swaldo"
1997–1998 Promised Land[8][9] Dr. Rebecca Dixon 4 episodes
1999–2000 The Parkers[8] Constance West-McFarland 2 episodes
2001 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Principal Episode: "Secrets"
2004 Law & Order: Criminal Intent[9] Karen Watkins Episode: "Mad Hops"
2010 The Good Wife[8][9] Judge Keely Farmer Episode: "Infamy"
2011 Are We There Yet? Melissa Episode: "The Parent Teacher Trap Episode"
2016 Bones[8][9] Elizabeth Burkhart Episode: "The Monster in the Closet"
2016 Bull[8] Betty Everton Episode: "Just Tell the Truth"
2019 When They See Us[3] Grace Cuffe Miniseries

Theatre

[20]

Year Title Role Notes
1983 The Tap Dance Kid Little Rio Dancer/New Yorker

Ginnie (Understudy)

Broadway
1987-89 Into the Woods Witch, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty (Understudy) Broadway
1989
Threepenny Opera
Jenny Diver Broadway

References

  1. ^ JET Magazine - People Are Talking About... - February 27, 1989
  2. ^ a b "Suzzanne Douglas". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2016. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Taylor, Derrick Bryson (July 7, 2021). "Suzzanne Douglas, Star of 'The Parent 'Hood,' Dies at 64". The New York Times. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  4. ^ Kiro7, ‘The Parent ’Hood’ star Suzzanne Douglas dead at 64, July 7, 2021
  5. ^ Mendoza, M. F. (May 10, 1994). "No More 'Dodging Bullets' for Actress Suzzanne Douglas – FAST TRACK: Up and Comers in Arts and Entertainment; One in a Series". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  6. ^ "1974 Thornton Township High School Yearbook (Harvey, Illinois)". Classmates.com. 1974. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  7. ^ Baltimore Times (Online) – An Interview with Suzzanne Douglas - January 13, 2017
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v "Suzzanne Douglas". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Suzzanne Douglas List of Movies and TV Shows". TV Guide. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  10. ^ Perez, Lexy (July 7, 2021). "Suzzanne Douglas, 'The Parent 'Hood' Actress, Dies at 64". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  11. ^ a b c "IJS Concert Series – Suzzanne Douglas". Rutgers University. 2018. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  12. ^ "Suzzanne Douglas Scholarship". Illinois State University. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  13. ^ Randolph, Laura B. (October 1995). "How He (She) Proposed". Ebony Magazine. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  14. ^ Victorian, Brande (July 7, 2021). "Actress Suzzanne Douglas Dead At 64". Essence. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  15. ^ a b c "Suzzanne Douglas". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  16. ^ a b c d "Suzzanne Douglas – Filmography". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h "Suzanne Douglas". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on May 28, 2018. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  18. ^ a b c Evans, Greg (July 7, 2021). "Suzzanne Douglas Dies: 'The Parent 'Hood', 'When They See Us' Actress Was 64". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  19. ^ "Really Love". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  20. ^ "Suzzanne Douglas (Performer)". Playbill.

External links