| Theresa Merritt | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 24, 1924 Emporia, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | June 12, 1998 (aged 73) The Bronx, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress/Singer |
| Years active | 1969–1998 |
| Spouse | Benjamin Hines (1945–1998) (her death) 4 children |
Theresa Merritt Hines (September 24, 1924 – June 12, 1998) was an American stage, film and television actress and singer.
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Born in Emporia, Virginia, Merritt appeared in many theatrical productions but gained fame later in life when she starred in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (Tony Award nomination) and The Wiz (she replaced Mabel King as Evelline, and although the demanding role was a highly visible one for her she left it, citing its deleterious effect on her voice) and the television series That's My Mama.
Her most notable film roles were Aunt Em in the 1978 film version of The Wiz, Mrs. Crosby in the 1977 film adaptation of Neil Simon's The Goodbye Girl and Juanita in the Adam Sandler comedy Billy Madison. She also appeared alongside Burt Reynolds and Dolly Parton in the film adaptation of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.
Merritt was married to Benjamin Hines; they had four children. Merritt died of skin cancer on June 12, 1998 in The Bronx.[1]
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1971 | They Might Be Giants | Peggy | |
| 1977 | Proof of the Man | Peggy | |
| The Goodbye Girl | Mrs. Crosby | ||
| 1978 | The Wiz | Aunt Emma | |
| 1979 | The Great Santini | Arrabella Smalls | Alternative titles: The Ace The Gift of Fury |
| All That Jazz | Cast of NY/LA | ||
| 1982 | The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas | Jewel | |
| 1988 | Astonished | Ida | |
| The Serpent and the Rainbow | Simone | ||
| 1989 | Zwei Frauen | Nurse Wilson | Alternative title: Silence Like Glass |
| 1991 | Voodoo Dawn | Madame Daslay | Alternative title: Strange Turf |
| 1995 | Billy Madison | Juanita | |
| 1998 | Dangerous Proposition | Grace | |
| Home Fries | Mrs. Vaughan | ||
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1969 | J.T. | Mama Meley | Television movie |
| 1973 | The Furst Family of Washington | Eloise "Mama" Furst | Television movie |
| 1974–1975 | That's My Mama | Eloise "Mama" Curtis | 39 episodes |
| 1975 | Police Story | Mrs. Johnson | 1 episode |
| 1980 | NBC Special Treat | 1 episode | |
| 1983 | The Love Boat | Faye Pillips | 1 episode |
| 1984 | Concealed Enemies | Clytie Catlett | Television movie |
| 1988 | Miracle at Beekman's Place | Sarag Coleman | Television movie |
| 1997 | Law & Order | Ruth Titus | 1 episode |
| 1998 | NYPD Blue | Bernice | 1 episode |
| Cosby | Edna Stone | 1 episode | |