Danitra Vance

Live-wire African-American actor and comedian whose energies were primarily focused on New York's off-Broadway performance scene. With her large eyes, open features and shock of thick hair, Vance first made her mark at La Mama with performances mixing music, outlandish comedy and high-toned cultural references. Producer Lorne Michaels decided to sign her up for his long-running late night variety series, "Saturday Night Live," in 1985, but despite (very) occasional chances for the show's first black female regular to shine, Vance was not happy with what she considered the dominant white male ethos the program had always displayed, and she left after a season.