Esther Rolle became a household name in the 1970s for her role as Florida Evans on the hit television show Good Times, and she continued to act well into her later years. In addition to her acting career, the trailblazing actress was known for being an activist who fought against negative stereotypes of African-Americans in Hollywood.
Table of Contents
Biography
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Esther Elizabeth Rolle |
| Date of Birth | November 8, 1920 |
| Place of Birth | Pompano Beach, Florida, USA |
| Date of Death | November 17, 1998 |
| Cause of Death | Complications from diabetes |
| Age at Death | 78 years |
| Net Worth | Estimated $3 million |
| Famous For | Role as Florida Evans in Maude and Good Times |
| Spouse | Oscar Robinson (m. 1955; div. 1975) |
| Children | None |
| Education | Spelman College, Hunter College, The New School |
| Awards | Primetime Emmy Award, NAACP Image Award |
| Siblings in Acting | Estelle Evans (To Kill a Mockingbird) |
| Burial Place | Westview Community Cemetery, Pompano Beach, Florida |
| Ethnicity | Bahamian-American |
Esther Rolle (born November 8, 1920 died November 17, 1998) was an American actress. She is best known for her role as Florida Evans in the CBS television sitcom Maude for two seasons (1972–1974) and its spin-off series Good Times for five seasons (1974–1979). Rolle was the first of four siblings born to Caribbean immigrants, Alexander and Elizabeth Rolle, on November 8.
Original is from Pompano Beach, Florida, where she is raised along with her older sister Estelle, younger brother Pyrles, and younger sister Ida. Of the four siblings, only Esther played a recurring character on Good Times.
Net Worth
At the time of her death, Esther Rolle had an estimated net worth of $3 million. She had earned most of her money from acting, as it was her career for a few decades in TV and movies.
Esther Rolle did not have any children.
On November 17, 1998, nine days after her 78th birthday, Esther Rolle died from complications due to diabetes in Culver City, California.
Young Life
Esther Rolle was born and raised in Pompano Beach, Florida. She went on to study at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia before transferring to Hunter College in New York City. It was there that she began acting while attending classes at The New School. Her parents were both Bahamian immigrants who stressed the importance of education and community activism.
Husband
Esther Rolle was married to Oscar Robinson from 1955 until their divorce in 1975. They did not have children together.
Grave
Esther Rolle is interred at Westview Community Cemetery in Pompano Beach, Florida. Her gravesite is a spot of pilgrimage for fans and loved ones to celebrate this great figure from television and film.
FAQs
Why did Esther Rolle leave Good Times?
Esther Rolle left Good Times temporarily because of creative differences with the producers on developing African American characters and because she felt that the show’s writers were emphasizing Jimmie Walker‘s, J.J. Evans character more than the serious issues featured on the show.
