Alice was an Emmy and Tony winner, recognized for her efficiency within the unique run of “Fences” on Broadway and roles in “A Totally different World” and “Sparkle.”
WASHINGTON — Award-winning actress Mary Alice, recognized for her roles as Leticia “Lettie” Bostic on NBC’s “A Totally different World” and as Effie Williams in “Sparkle,” has died, in response to a number of media studies.
The New York Police Division confirmed Alice’s dying on Wednesday to Selection, Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter.
“A shoulder all of us stood on. A spherical of applause for Mary Alice. Thanks legend. Relaxation Simple,” actor Colman Domingo tweeted.
Earlier than turning into an actress, Alice was a college instructor in Chicago. She acted in a group theatre group earlier than touchdown her first skilled position in 1966, in Douglas Turner’s New York-based Negro Ensemble Firm that was on tour in Chicago. A 12 months later, Alice stop her educating job and moved to New York.
Alice gained a Emmy Award for her position as Marguerite Peck within the NBC drama “I will Fly Away,” which additionally starred Sam Waterston and Regina Taylor.
On Broadway, Alice gained the Tony Award in 1987 for greatest featured actress in a play for portraying Rose within the unique run of August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “Fences.”
Viola Davis, who starred in the identical position within the 2016 movie adaptation of “Fences,” tweeted “RIP Mary Alice…the unique Rose Maxson. You had been one of many best actresses of all time!! Thanks for the work, inspiration and thanks for Rose.”
Alice was nominated for one more Tony in 1995 for “Having Our Say,” and was inducted into the American Theatre Corridor of Fame in 2000.
She appeared in two seasons of “The Cosby Present” spin-off “A Totally different World.” In 2003, she appeared in “The Matrix Revolutions” as The Oracle.
In movies, Alice appeared in “Beat Avenue,” “Malcom X,” “The Inkwell,” “Down within the Delta,” “Awakenings,” “To Sleep With Anger” and plenty of others.
She retired from appearing in 2005.
