Ethel Ayler
Introduction '''Ethyl Spraggins Ayler''' (May 1, 1930 – November 18, 2018) was an American character actress with a career spanning over five decades.
Biography Ayler was born in Whistler, Alabama and graduated from Fisk University.In 1957, she made her off-Broadway debut in the Langston Hughes musical, ''Simply Heavenly''. Later that year, she debuted on Broadway in the multiple Tony Award-nominated musical, ''Jamaica'' as an understudy for Lena Horne (also making her Broadway debut).Another notable early performance was in Jean Genet's play, ''The Blacks: A Clown Show'', which ran off-Broadway for 1,408 performances and received three Obie Awards, including Best New Play. The impressive cast of black actors included three future Academy Award nominees: James Earl Jones, Cicely Tyson and  Louis Gossett Jr.Throughout her career, Ayler appeared frequently with the Negro Ensemble Company. This included notable performances in ''The First Breeze of Summer'', ''Eden'' and ''Nevis Mountain Dew''.On television, Ayler had a recurring role as Carrie Hanks, Clair Huxtable's mother on ''The Cosby Show''. She also made memorable performances in the films ''To Sleep with Anger'' (1990) and Eve's Bayou (1997).For her work in ''To Sleep with Anger'', Ayler received a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female.Ayler's last Broadway appearance was in another Tony-nominated production, ''The Little Foxes'', in 1997.On November 18, 2018, she died in Loma Linda, California, at the age of 88.
Selected credits ===Theatre=== Year Production Role Theatre(s) Notes1997''The Little Foxes''AddieVivian Beaumont Theater 1987''Fences''BonoGabrielRose (understudy)46th Street Theatre1983''Sons and Fathers of Sons''Sister 3Theatre Four1981''Weep Not for Me''Lillian HendricksTheatre Four1978''Nevis Mountain Dew''Zepora PhilibertSt. Mark's Playhouse1976''Eden''FlorieSt. Mark's Playhouse1975''The First Breeze of Summer'' HattieSt. Mark's PlayhouseAlso appeared in the 1976 Movie of the Week. ''Black Picture Show''Rita (understudy)Vivian Beaumont Theater1974''Les Femmes Noires''Mrs. ThompsonThe Other Stage1961''Kwamina''Naii54th Street Theatre''The Blacks: A Clown Show'' Augustus SnowSt. Mark's Playhouse1960''The Cool World'' Woman at the BeachEugene O'Neill Theatre1957''Jamaica''Island WomanIslanderSavannah (understudy) Imperial Theatre''Simply Heavenly''Zarita85th Street Playhouse===Film=== Year Film Role Notes1997''Eve's Bayou''Gran Mere1992''The Bodyguard''Emma1990''To Sleep with Anger''HattieIndependent Spirit Award nomination, Best Supporting Female1986''9½ Weeks'' Jewelry Saleswoman1972''Come Back, Charleston Blue''Matron at Ball1962''Time of the Heathen''Marie
References
External links * * * *  Ethel Ayler at the Internet Theatre Database