Hattie McDaniel

@Black Actresses, Timeline and Family ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Hattie McDaniel was an African American actress, singer and radio performer Kansas African American Actress Black Actresses American Film & Theater Personalities Actresses Gemini Celebrities Hattie McDaniel was an African American actress, singer and radio performer. She had the distinction of becoming the first African American actor to receive an Oscar for her supporting character as “Mammy” in the movie “Gone with the Wind” in 1940. Her singing talents were discovered early, and she started to sing and perform professionally while she was in school. Later she joined her elder brother’s troupe and worked with George Morrison’s orchestra. Her work with the vaudeville troupes earned her a position to work with the radio station in Denver. Even after establishing herself as a blues artist, it was difficult for Hattie to sustain herself. Persuaded by her siblings she moved to Los Angles in the lure of the tinsel town. Hattie landed with minor roles in movies, as it was difficult for African-Americans to get good roles in movies. But, Hattie had the acting prowess and soon she started getting meatier roles, eventually landing in the epic saga ‘Gone with the Wind’. In her later career, she faced criticism about featuring in stereotypical roles meant for the colored people like servants and slaves. But, Hattie defended her choice stating that the roles were much more than what meets the eye, and used her talent as an actor and singer to break the racial stereotypes rather than criticizing them.

Personal Details

Birthday: June 10, 1895 Died on: October 26, 1952 Nationality: American Famous: African American Actress, Black Actresses, Film & Theater Personalities, Actresses City/State: Kansas Spouses: George Langford, Howard Hickman, James Lloyd Crawford, Larry Williams, Nym Lankfard Siblings: Etta McDaniel, Orlena McDaniel, Otis McDaniel, Sam McDaniel Information Detail Birthday June 10, 1895 Died on October 26, 1952 Nationality American Famous African American Actress, Black Actresses, Film & Theater Personalities, Actresses City/State Kansas Spouses George Langford, Howard Hickman, James Lloyd Crawford, Larry Williams, Nym Lankfard Siblings Etta McDaniel, Orlena McDaniel, Otis McDaniel, Sam McDaniel Known as Hi-Hat Hattie, Mamie, The Colored Sophie Tucker, Hattie McDaniels Universities East High School Birth Place Wichita Religion Baptists Gender Female Father Henry McDaniel Mother Susan Holbert Sun Sign Gemini Born in Wichita Famous as Actress Died at Age 57

Wichita

Hattie McDaniel born at Unsplash Birth Place

Hattie McDaniel married several times. Her first marriage was with George Langford in 1922. Langford died in the same year. Unsplash Personal Life

In 1938, Hattie McDaniel got married to Howard Hickman but the couple divorced in the same year. Unsplash Personal Life

The actress married her third husband James Lloyd Crawford who was a real estate salesman in the year 1941. She divorced Crawford in 1945 after she suffered a false pregnancy and fell into a depression. Unsplash Personal Life

Hattie McDaniel was born on 10 June 1895, in Wichita, Kansas to Henry McDaniel and Susan Holbert. Both her parents were former slaves. Her father was a soldier and had fought in the Americal Civil War. Hattie was the youngest child in the family and had 12 siblings. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

Her family moved to Colorado in 1900, first staying in Fort Collins and thereafter in Denver and Hattie completed her graduation from a school called Denver East High School. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

Hattie McDaniel’s brother Sam McDaniel acted as a butler in a short film titled “Heavenly Daze” that was released in 1948; actor Etta McDaniel was Hattie’s sibling too. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

Hattie McDaniel commenced her career in professional dancing, singing and performing skits in various shows while she was still in school. Eventually, in 1909, Hattie made up her mind to drop out of her school so that she could have her entire focus on career while performing with her brother’s own troupe. Unsplash Career

During the 1920s, Hattie collaborated with the orchestra of Professor George Morrison and toured with his troops for five years from thereon. Eventually, by the middle of the same decade, invitations were sent to her for performing on KOA radio station of Denver. Unsplash Career

During this time, she was quite popular in the vaudeville circuit as a blues artist. Despite her talent, she found it difficult to find work and had to take up odd jobs to support herself. Unsplash Career

Hattie’s siblings who were already in Los Angeles and were working in minor roles asked her to come to Hollywood. Her brother who was part of the radio show called ‘The Optimistic Do-Nuts’ asked Hattie to do a segment in his program. Hattie was quite a hit among the listeners. Unsplash Career

She got her first brief role in a Hollywood musical in 1931 as an extra. She featured as a housekeeper in 1932 in a movie titled ‘The Golden West’. Unsplash Career

Her role as Mammy in ‘Gone with the Wind’ is probably the most celebrated work of her career. She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her stupendous portrayal of a brave and upfront servant in a rich white household in a war-torn Southern state. Unsplash Major Works

Information	Detail
Birthday	June 10, 1895
Died on	October 26, 1952
Nationality	American
Famous	African American Actress, Black Actresses, Film & Theater Personalities, Actresses
City/State	Kansas
Spouses	George Langford, Howard Hickman, James Lloyd Crawford, Larry Williams, Nym Lankfard
Siblings	Etta McDaniel, Orlena McDaniel, Otis McDaniel, Sam McDaniel
Known as	Hi-Hat Hattie, Mamie, The Colored Sophie Tucker, Hattie McDaniels
Universities	East High School
Birth Place	Wichita
Religion	Baptists
Gender	Female
Father	Henry McDaniel
Mother	Susan Holbert
Sun Sign	Gemini
Born in	Wichita
Famous as	Actress
Died at Age	57

Hattie McDaniel

American

Jun 10, 1895

Biography

Personal Details

Wichita