Clarice Taylor, American actress (Sesame Street, The Cosby Show) died she was , 93.

 Clarice Taylor was an American stage, film and television actress died she was , 93..

(September 20, 1917 – May 30, 2011)

Biography

Born in Buckingham County, Virginia, Taylor was best-known for her recurring role on television on The Cosby Show as Dr. Heathcliff "Cliff" Huxtable's (Bill Cosby) mother, Anna Huxtable. She was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1986 for the role. She also played Harriet on Sesame Street and appeared as Grady's cousin Emma on Sanford and Son.^[3]
Taylor was raised in New York City and started working in the theatre—with the American Negro Theatre—at a time when there were few opportunities for African American actors. To support herself she followed in her father's (Leon B. Taylor, Sr.) footsteps and went to work for the U.S. Post Office. In the 1960s she got her big break that enabled her to act full time. Taylor was one of the founding members of the Negro Ensemble Company, headquartered in the East Village on St. Marks Place.

Film work

While working with the NEC she got her first offer of a movie role in Change of Mind. Her next film role was as "Minnie" in Otto Preminger's Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon. In 1971 she played Birdie in Clint Eastwood's Play Misty For Me. In 1973, she brought a role she had pioneered off-Broadway to film, playing Gladys Brooks in Five on the Blackhand Side.

Stage

Taylor appeared in The Wiz as Addaperle, the Good Witch of the North.^[1] Her most recent performance was in a touring production of her own one-woman show, Moms, for which she won an Obie Award. Her most recent film appearance was a small role in Wayne Wang's film Smoke.

Death

Clarice Taylor died at her home in Englewood, New Jersey from congestive heart failure, aged 93.^[1] She is survived by her two sons: William and James, her daughter-in-law, Gizele, and four grandchildren: Jason, Kristen, Raul Jr. & Jared.^[2]

 

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