Maidie Norman - Bio, Age, Chinese Zodiac Sign & Timeline

Born	October 16, 1912
Died	May 02, 1998 (age 85)
Birthplace	Villa Rica, Georgia, USA
Zodiac Sign	Libra - (see also Maidie Norman's horoscope and birth chart)
Chinese Zodiac	Rat
Generation	Greatest Generation
Known For	Pioneering African-American actress in Hollywood; role as Elvira Stitt in 'What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?'

Intro

Maidie Norman was an American film, television, and stage actress and educator, best known for her pioneering roles as an African-American woman in Hollywood during the mid-20th century. She is recognized for her efforts to fight against stereotypical portrayals of Black women in film and television.

Early Life & Background

Born Maidie Ruth Johnson, Maidie Norman grew up in Villa Rica, Georgia, and later moved to Los Angeles. She earned a bachelor's and master's degree in drama from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Career Highlights

• Appeared in 'What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?' (1962) as Elvira Stitt
• Uncredited roles in influential films like 'The Well' (1951), 'The Big Heat' (1953), and 'Drums of Africa' (1963)
• Television appearances in series such as 'Perry Mason', 'The Twilight Zone', and 'Sanford and Son'
• Taught drama at California State University, both Northridge and Los Angeles
• Advocated against typecasting and degrading roles for Black actresses in Hollywood

Trivia

• Norman often re-wrote her characters’ dialogue to avoid using offensive racial stereotypes.
• She was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame in 1977.
• Norman began teaching at California State University in the 1970s, mentoring a generation of Black actors.

FAQs

People also ask

On Her Birth-Day

Discover more

Sources

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maidie_Norman
2. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0635667/
3. https://snaccooperative.org/ark:/99166/w6fx9r55