Dorothi Fox (born January 8, 1930) is an American actress who has starred in television, film and on stage. Born in New York City, she started her career in African-American theatre before moving to the big screen in the 1970s appearing in blaxploitation films such as Come Back, Charleston Blue (1972) and The Wiz (1978) as well as the comedy Bananas (1971) and the political thriller Three Days of the Condor (1975). Her career continued into the 21st century with roles in television productions including the Onion News Network.

Dorothi Fox
Born (1930-01-08) 8 January 1930 (age 94)
Other namesDorothy Fox, Dorothe Fox
OccupationActress
Years active1970–present
Known forBananas (1971)
Three Days of the Condor (1975)
Onion News Network (2011)

Early life

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Fox hails from the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan.[1]

Career

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Dorothi Fox began her career with the Negro Ensemble Company (NEC) in 1966 as head usher.[2] She made her debut on Broadway in “The Last of Mrs. Lincoln” by James Prideaux.[3] She acted extensively with the New Federal Theatre of Woodie King Jr. and with numerous other theatrical troupes.[2]

Fox moved to the big screen in the 1970s starring in films of the blaxploitation genre. In the 1971 comedy film Bananas she portrayed Federal Bureau of Investigation director J. Edgar Hoover disguised as a black woman.[4]

In the 2000s she achieved fame portraying the quick-witted political commentator Nancy Fichandler in the Onion News Network.[5] Other television roles include Random Acts of Flyness and Orange is the New Black.[5]

In 2019, she returned to the stage with the Negro Ensemble Company in "Imminently Yours" by Karimah.[6] The tragicomedy set in the American South follows the intergenerational experiences of an African-American family.[7] She played the role of Lillie Mae.[7]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1970 Caught in the Middle TV movie
1971 Bananas J. Edgar Hoover Film
1971 The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight Nurse Film
1972 Come Back, Charleston Blue Streetwalker Film
1974 After the Fall Carrie Film
1975 The Happy Hooker Rosita the Maid Film
1975 Three Days of the Condor Nurse Film
1976 Dragonfly Woman on porch Film
1978 The Wiz Aunt Em's Party Film
1979 The Hitter Mabel Film
1989 That's Adequate Beulah Film
1993 Strapped Grandmother TV movie
2004 Mind the Gap Grandma Film
2007–2010 Onion News Network Nancy Fichandler Television series
2010 Gravity Homeless lady Television series
2012 The Normals Old woman Film
2014 The Fuzz Chief McNair Television series
2014 Before We Go Woman Film
2015 Run All Night Nervous Old Woman Film
2016 Orange Is the New Black Cheeks Television series (one Season 4 episode)
2016 Mr. Robot Nell Romero Television series (Eps2.1 k3rnel-pan1c.ksd)
2017 Girls Senior citizen Television series (one episode)
2017 Good Time Elderly Woman in Hospital Film
2017 Rough Night Female clerk Film
2018 High Maintenance Television series (one episode)
2018 Lez Bomb Ronnie Film
2018 Random Acts of Flyness Nana Television series (one episode)
2019 Shaft Old lady neighbour Television series
2019 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Patient Television series (one episode)
2020 Wheels Grandmother Television series
2020 Inspector Ike Esther Television series
2021 Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens Laurie Television series (one episode)
2021–2022 Power Book III: Raising Kanan Deen's grandmother Television series (three episodes)

References

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  1. ^ "This Stretch of Montpelier". Parity Productions. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
  2. ^ a b "Dorothi Fox". archive.newfederaltheatre.com. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
  3. ^ "Dorothi Fox – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
  4. ^ "Bananas (1971) | Sylvester Stallone". sylvesterstallone.com. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
  5. ^ a b "NEGRO ENSEMBLE TO PRESENT WORLD PREMIERE OF "IMMINENTLY YOURS" PLAY BY KARIMAH". Black Star News. 2019-06-16. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
  6. ^ Cristi, A. A. "Negro Ensemble Presents IMMINENTLY YOURS By Karimah". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
  7. ^ a b McCracken, Derek. "Review: IMMINENTLY YOURS at The Negro Ensemble Company, Inc". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
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