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Theresa Merritt

Highest Rated: 95% The Great Santini (1979)

Lowest Rated: 40% Billy Madison (1995)

Birthday: Sep 24, 1922

Birthplace: Emporia, Virginia, USA

Theresa Merritt was an actress who was no stranger to being featured in numerous film roles throughout her Hollywood career. She portrayed the legendary blues singer Ma Rainey in August Wilson's award-winning "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom." In 1973, she portrayed Mammy in the stage musical "Gone With the Wind." In 1972, she was in the cast of Melvin Van Peebles' "Don't Play Us Cheap." Merritt's acting career began mostly with her roles in various films, such as the comedy adaptation "They Might Be Giants" (1971) with George C Scott, the Richard Dreyfuss comedy "The Goodbye Girl" (1977) and the musical "The Wiz" (1978) with Diana Ross. She also appeared in the adaptation "All That Jazz" (1979) with Roy Scheider and the drama "The Great Santini" (1979) with Robert Duvall. She had an early role on the television special "J.T." (CBS, 1969-1970). She worked in television in her early acting career as well, including a part on "That's My Mama" (ABC, 1974-76). Her work around this time also included a part on the TV movie "Miracle at Beekman's Place" (NBC, 1988-89). She also contributed to a variety of television specials, including "Concealed Enemies" (PBS, 1983-84) and "My Man Bovanne" (PBS, 1986-87). She also worked in television around this time, including a part on "13 East" (NBC, 1988-1990). She also had roles in film during these years, including roles in "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" (1982) and "Astonished" (1988). Merritt took on film roles in more recent years, appearing in the Bill Pullman thriller "The Serpent and the Rainbow" (1988), the Jami Gertz drama "Silence Like Glass" (1990) and the Adam Sandler comedy "Billy Madison" (1995). Additionally, she appeared on the television special "Driving Miss Daisy" (CBS, 1991-92). She also worked in television during these years, including roles in "NYPD Blue" (1993-2005) and "Cosby" (CBS, 1996-2000). Merritt last acted in the Drew Barrymore comedy "Home Fries" (1998). Merritt's husband was Benjamin Hines and Merritt had four children. Merritt passed away in June 1998 at the age of 76.

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Highest rated movies

95% 75% The Great Santini
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80% 85% The Goodbye Girl
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62% 57% The Serpent and the Rainbow
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61% 74% They Might Be Giants
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50% 68% The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
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47% 65% The Wiz
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40% 79% Billy Madison
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J.T.
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60% Voodoo Dawn
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Miracle at Beekman's Place
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Filmography

Movies

Credit
No Score Yet No Score Yet Dangerous Proposition Grace (Character) - 1998
40% 79% Billy Madison Juanita (Character) $25.6M 1995
No Score Yet 60% Voodoo Dawn Madame Daslay (Character) - 1990
No Score Yet 67% Silence Like Glass Nurse Wilson (Character) - 1989
62% 57% The Serpent and the Rainbow Simone (Character) $19.0M 1988
No Score Yet No Score Yet Miracle at Beekman's Place Sarag Coleman (Character) - 1988
No Score Yet No Score Yet Astonished Ida (Character) - 1988
50% 68% The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Jewel (Character) - 1982
95% 75% The Great Santini Arrabella Smalls (Character) - 1979
47% 65% The Wiz Aunt Em (Character) - 1978
80% 85% The Goodbye Girl Mrs. Crosby (Character) - 1977
61% 74% They Might Be Giants Peggy (Character) - 1971
No Score Yet No Score Yet J.T. Mama Meley (Character) - 1969

TV

Credit
No Score Yet No Score Yet Cosby Unknown (Guest Star) 1998
83% 95% NYPD Blue Bernice (Guest Star) 1998
No Score Yet 83% Law & Order Unknown (Guest Star) 1997
No Score Yet No Score Yet That's My Mama! "Mama" Eloise Curtis (Character) 1974-1975
No Score Yet No Score Yet Tattletales Guest 1975