Ella Mitchell (September 14, 1935 – July 2, 2024) was an American soul singer and actress. Mitchell is most recognized for playing the comic role as Hattie Mae Pierce (Big Momma) in the 2000 comedy film Big Momma's House and the evil witch Evillene in the Broadway theatre revival production of the musical The Wiz.[1]
Ella Mitchell | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 14, 1935 Ahoskie, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | July 2, 2024 (aged 88) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Soul singer, actress |
| Notable work | Hattie Mae Pierce (Big Momma) in Big Momma's House |
Life and career
editMitchell was born in Ahoskie, North Carolina, on September 14, 1935.[2]
Mitchell appeared in the 1975 film Lord Shango. She assumed the role of Evillene when The Wiz revived on Broadway in 1984.[3][4] She reprised the role again when the show was on tour in 1992.[5][6]
Mitchell was a member of The Gospel All Stars and The Bradford Singers, and performed with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater for 30 years.[1]
In September 2000, Mitchell was one of a "multicultural" array of artists—including Jojo Mayer, Hyung-ki Joo, Luoyong Wang, Gilles Chiasson, and Angela Covington—performing at Madison Square Garden's Paramount Theatre as part of the "Peace, Health and Prosperity Concert" that concluded the United Nations Millennium Summit.[7]
Mitchell died in New York City on July 2, 2024, at the age of 88.[2][8]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Sesame Street | Herself | 2 episodes |
| 1975 | Lord Shango | Lead singer | Uncredited |
| 2000 | Big Momma's House | Hattie Mae Pierce (Big Momma) | Final film role |
References
edit- ^ a b "LEONARD LOPATE AT THE NEWARK MUSEUM". WNYC. March 29, 2011. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
- ^ a b "Ella Mitchell Holt". Legacy. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ Rich, Frank (May 25, 1984). "STAGE: 'THE WIZ' BACK ON BROADWAY". The New York Times. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
- ^ Simon, John (June 4, 1984). "The Wiz is as slapdash and soporific as ever. Miss Firecracker is formula Henley—some wit among the bizarreness". New York. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
- ^ Nelson, Nels (October 22, 1992). "Moving Down The Road Again 'The Wiz' Comes To Town For Another Visit That's All Too Brief". Philadelphia Daily News. Archived from the original on September 27, 2015. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
- ^ Williams, Albert (October 1, 1992). "The Wiz". Chicago Reader. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
- ^ Newman, Melinda (September 16, 2000). "The Beat". Billboard. p. 18. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
- ^ "RIP: Ella Mitchell, Gospel Singer, Actor". Journal of Gospel Music. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
External links
edit- Ella Mitchell at IMDb
- Ella Mitchell at the Internet Broadway Database
- The Wiz Archived 2009-02-08 at the Wayback Machine
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