Willa Pearl Curtis

Willa Pearl Curtis (March 21, 1896 – December 19, 1970) was an American actress in film and television. She was active in the Negro Motion Picture Players Association in Los Angeles.

Curtis started as a performer in theater and music in Texas.^[1] When Curtis first arrived in Los Angeles, she worked as a maid to a stage actress.^[1] Like many black actresses of her generation, Curtis was often cast as a maid or cook, often uncredited bit parts,^[2] in films during the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s.^[3] Her credited appearances included roles in The Wages of Sin (1938), Second Chorus (1940), Mom and Dad (1945),^[4] The Lawton Story (1949),^[5] Native Son (1951),^[6] Oiltown USA (1953), and Queen Bee (1955).^[7] Among her many uncredited roles, she appeared with Our Gang in Unexpected Riches (1942) and Tale of a Dog (1944), and clowned with Shemp Howard in Pick a Peck of Plumbers (1944).^[8]

On television, Curtis appeared in episodes of

Curtis was active in the Negro Motion Picture Players Association in Los Angeles.^[11] She also worked as a singer with fellow Amos 'n Andy performer Jester Hairston,^[12] and headed the concert committee of the historic First A. M. E. Church in Los Angeles.^[13]

Curtis died in Los Angeles in 1970, aged 74 years. Her gravesite is in Lincoln Memorial Park in Carson, California.^[14]

Selected Filmography

• The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
  (1963) (Season 1 Episode 23: "The Lonely Hours") as Katie (credited as Hassie)

References