Biography
Esther Rolle (also credited as Esther Elizabeth Rolle) was an American actress. Born on 8 November 1920 in Pompano Beach, Florida, she died on 17 November 1998.
She is best known for playing Florida Evans on the television sitcoms Maude (1972–1974) and its spin-off Good Times (1974–1979). Rolle appeared in numerous films, including Driving Miss Daisy (1989) as Idella, How to Make an American Quilt (1995) as Aunt Pauline and My Fellow Americans (1996) as Rita. She began her career in theatre with the Negro Ensemble Company and received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Special for Summer of My German Soldier (1979). She had two sisters who were also actresses.
