Margaret Avery
Margaret Avery was an American actress born in Mangum, Oklahoma on January 20, 1944. Graduating from San Francisco State University with an education degree in 1965, she began acting in stage productions while working as a substitute teacher. Avery made her debut in the TV movie "Something Evil" (1972), directed by Steven Spielberg. That same year, she made her film debut in "Cool Breeze" (1972), a sign of her prolific work in so-called "Blaxploitation" films to come. Throughout the '70s and early '80s, Avery continued to build up supporting TV and film role credits, such as a one episode appearance on "Sanford and Son" (NBC, 1972-77) in 1975. In 1985, Avery landed her biggest and most widely praised role to date as Shug in "The Color Purple" (1985). After Tina Turner turned down the role, director Spielberg cast Avery after working with her 13 years prior on "Something Evil." She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for the role, but nevertheless lost after she placed an ad in a trade publication, waging a campaign in order to receive the award. Since "The Color Purple," Avery's roles have been brief appearances in TV shows, mostly, including roles on "The Cosby Show" (NBC, 1984-92) in 1992 and "Walker, Texas Ranger" (CBS, 1993-2001) in 1997. Recently, however, she has received success and praise for her main cast role on the drama "Being Mary Jane" (BET, 2013- ).
Photos
Margaret Avery
Filmography
Movies
Credit | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Nana Project | Unknown (Character) | - | 2023 |
100% |
|
Is That Black Enough for You?!? | Self | - | 2022 |
No Score Yet |
|
Block Party |
Janice (Character), Executive Producer |
- | 2022 |
No Score Yet |
|
Grand-Daddy Day Care | Unknown (Character) | - | 2019 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Holly Day | Unknown (Character) | - | 2018 |
25% |
|
Proud Mary | Mina (Character) | $20.2M | 2018 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Being Mary Jane | Helen Patterson (Character) | - | 2013 |
23% |
|
Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins | Mamma Jenkins (Character) | $42.2M | 2008 |
33% |
|
Meet the Browns | Sarah (Character) | $41.9M | 2008 |
No Score Yet |
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Lord Help Us | Dorinda Thomas (Character) | - | 2007 |
No Score Yet |
|
Second to Die | Insurance Agent (Character) | - | 2002 |
No Score Yet |
|
Waitin' to Live | Pearline Loggins (Character) | - | 2002 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Set Up | Olivia Dubois (Character) | - | 1995 |
24% |
|
White Man's Burden | Megan Thomas (Character) | $3.6M | 1995 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Lightning in a Bottle | Dr. Sierheed (Character) | - | 1994 |
No Score Yet |
|
Mardi Gras for the Devil | Miss Sadie (Character) | - | 1993 |
No Score Yet |
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The Return of Superfly | Francine (Character) | - | 1990 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Heat Wave | Roxie Turpin (Character) | - | 1990 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Riverbend | Bell Coleman (Character) | - | 1989 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Blueberry Hill | Hattie Cale (Character) | $31.7K | 1988 |
73% |
|
The Color Purple | Shug Avery (Character) | $93.4M | 1985 |
No Score Yet |
|
For Us, the Living: The Medgar Evers Story | Dottie (Character) | - | 1983 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Sky Is Gray | Rosemary (Character) | - | 1980 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Lathe of Heaven | Heather LeLache (Character) | - | 1980 |
No Score Yet |
|
Scott Joplin | Belle Joplin (Character) | - | 1977 |
20% |
|
Which Way Is Up? | Annie Mae (Character) | - | 1977 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Louis Armstrong: Chicago Style | Alma Rae (Character) | - | 1975 |
22% |
|
Hell up in Harlem | Sister Jennifer (Character) | - | 1973 |
No Score Yet |
|
Terror House | Edwina (Character) | - | 1972 |
No Score Yet |
|
Cool Breeze | Lark (Character) | - | 1972 |
No Score Yet |
|
Something Evil | Irene (Character) | - | 1971 |
TV
Credit | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
No Score Yet | 73% | The Neighborhood | Aunt Desiray (Guest Star) | 2021 |
No Score Yet | 77% | Being Mary Jane | Helen Patterson (Character) | 2014-2015 2017 2019 |
89% | 88% | The Quest | Eleanor Darnell (Guest Star) | 2017 |
87% | 92% | The Carmichael Show | Janet (Guest Star) | 2017 |
90% | 83% | Bones | Ivy Gillespie (Guest Star) | 2005 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | JAG | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2005 |
9% | No Score Yet | 10-8: Officers on Duty | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2003 |
17% | No Score Yet | 413 Hope St. | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1997 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Walker, Texas Ranger | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1997 |
40% | No Score Yet | Time Trax | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1993 |
No Score Yet | 68% | The Cosby Show | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1992 |
No Score Yet | 70% | MacGyver | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1991 |
71% | 89% | Miami Vice | Sally Cordoba (Guest Star) | 1987 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Harry O | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1974-1976 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Rookies | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1972 1975 |
100% | 84% | Kolchak: The Night Stalker | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1975 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Sanford and Son | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1975 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Kojak | Lula (Guest Star) | 1974 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The New Dick Van Dyke Show | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1973 |