News

Edna Mae Harris was one of the best actresses of the Black race in the 1930s and 1940s.

Edna Mae Harris (September 29, 1914 – September 15, 1997), sometimes credited as Edna May Harris was an American actress and singer. Harris, an African–American, was film actress in the late 1930s and early 1940s, appearing in films featuring mostly African–American casts.

Biography

Early life and career

Born in Harlem, Harris parents were Sam, a boxer and customs inspector; Her mother Mary Harris (née Walker) worked as a maid. Harris’ family is noted as one of the first families to have migrated to Harlem. Settling near the Lafayette Theater, Harris was convinced into pursuing a career in show business by Ethel Waters and Maud Russell who were frequent visitors to her family home. After being coached on her singing and dancing by Waters and Russell, Harris began performing in the Theater Owners Booking Association (TOBA). An African-American vaudeville circuit, Harris performed with TOBA from 1929 until 1933.

Harris attended Wadleigh High School (later known as Wadleigh High School for Girls) in Manhattan. During the summer after her sophomore year of high school, Harris worked at the Alhambra Theater doing dramatic sketches with a stock company. During this period, Harris received excellent training in diction and stage delivery through her association with veteran performers. Harris was also an excellent swimmer in high school, and in 1928 she entered the New York Daily News’ Swimming Meet and won a championship.

Career

Harris (left) on poster for Lying Lips (1939.)

Harris first real Hollywood break came when she landed a part in The Green Pastures (1936), portraying Zeba, starring with Eddie ‘Rochester’ Anderson. Harris was a leading lady in Spirit of Youth (1938), the story of the rise of boxer Joe Thomas, which paralleled the life of Joe Louis. Harris also had leading roles in Oscar Micheaux films, Lying Lips (1939), and The Notorious Elinor Lee (1940). Her film credits also include such Hollywood films as Bullets or Ballots (1936), Private Number (1936), and Garden of Allah (1936), and the independent film Paradise in Harlem in 1939. Between picture commitments she toured with Noble Sissle’s Orchestra as a featured vocalist along with Lena Horne and Billy Banks. In 1942, she played fourteen weeks at the old Elks’ Rendezvous as the mistress of ceremonies and announced a weekly radio show over station WMCA in New York City. She also did character dialect parts on many broadcasts for the Columbia Workshop Program. Edna Mae Harris got to tell her story in her later years in the documentary, Midnight Ramble (1994), about independently produced black films.

Personal life and death

Harris was married twice and had no 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren. Her first marriage was to Edward Randolph from 1933 until 1938, then to Harlem nightclub owner, Walter Anderson, from 1951 until his death in 1983. Harris dated boxer Joe Louis sometime during 1939 and 1940. Harris also dated Robert Paquin, who co-starred with her in Lying Lips, from 1941 until 1942. Harris died of a heart attack on September 15, 1997, at the age of 82.

Related Posts

30 minutes ago: FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino declared that a massive investigation is underway behind the scenes, targeting the ‘deep state’ — ‘It’s far more terrifying than we ever imagined.’ It’s time to bring the one and only truth to light

In recent times, the rise of digital technologies has transformed nearly every aspect of modern life. From the way we communicate to how we access information, the internet…

U.S. Defense Secretary faces new trouble after Donald Trump’s statement about Obama.

According to US media sources, Minister Defense Minister Pete Hegseth created another chat group on the Signal application, with the participation of his wife and brother, sharing the…

OBAMA GOES NUTS After Sen. Kennedy EXPOSES Foundation Fraud! Senator Kennedy just dropped a bombshell that rocked Washington — revealing allegations of financial irregularities in the Obama Foundation. Barack Obama’s furious reaction was caught on camera, stunning the entire room

Senator John Kennedy, known for his sharp wit and unrelenting scrutiny, ignited a firestorm in Washington with a stunning revelation about alleged financial irregularities within the Obama Foundation….

BBC News reports: 40 minutes ago! Prince Andrew has sparked media fury after being found unconscious in a private room at his home in Texas after King Charles ordered

BREAKING TODAY: KING CHARLES FURIOUS OVER CHINESE SPY SCANDAL INVOLVING PRINCE ANDREW — ROYAL TENSIONS HIT BOILING POINT! In a shocking turn of events, King Charles, 76, is…

CEO Andy Byron suddenly turns the tables. He presents evidence that he and his wife are divorcing, and HR Director Christine Cabot has also separated from her husband: “WE ARE INNOCENT, I WILL SUE EVERYONE INVOLVED”

CEO Andy Byron turns the skewer with divorce reversal and explains the legal war to the applicants In a surprising turn of the events that the corporate world…

10 minutes ago: President Trump posted a video about “arresting Obama,” shocking the entire United States after the full truth was revealed

President Trump shared a video of being faked by AI, simulating the US agent to arrest Mr. Barack Obama at the Oval Office. In the Truth Social social…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *