Esther Rolle Played A Matriarch For Years But In Reality Didn't Have Kids With Her Husband Of 20 Years

Aug 12, 2021

Esther Rolle was an Americana actress who is best known for her role as Florida Evans on the television series “Maude” for two seasons, and then on the spin-off show “Good Times” for five seasons. She was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress for her performance in 1976. Two years later, in 1979, Rolle accepted the Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her acting in the television film “Summer of My German Soldier.” 

Rolle was born in Pompano Beach, Florida, on November 8, 1920. She was the 10th out of 18 children born to Jonathan and Elizabeth Iris Rolle. Her father worked as a farmer, and both of her parents were immigrants from Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas. They moved to Florida sometime after their marriage and raised their large family.

Rolle is a graduate of Blanche Ely High School and went on to study at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, before deciding to move to New York City with her sister. In New York, she attended Hunter College before deciding to transfer to The New School and then later transferred again to Yale in New Haven, Connecticut.

The actress worked a traditional day job in the garment district in New York City for many years. She made her New York stage debut in the production of “The Blacks” in 1962. Rolle also appeared in “The Crucible” and other plays produced by Robert Hooks. In the 1970s, she began appearing as Florida Evans and is still remembered and loved for her portrayal of the character. However, her personal life looked very different from her life on screen.

In “Good Times,” Rolle portrayed a beloved matriarch, and she fought hard to make sure that there was a good father figure on the show to fight the stereotypes of absent Black fathers. She made such an impact that Rolle was awarded the 1974 NAACP Eighth Image Award for Best Actress in a Series. In 2020, an exhibition and celebration were put on by the Pompano Beach Cultural Affairs Department to honor what would have been Rolle’s 100th birthday.

Sharonda Richardson, the city’s development and outreach consultant for Cultural Affairs who spearheaded the tribute to Rolle’s life, said: “Her personality never changed throughout her remarkable life. She was always the type of person, even as a child, who was very unapologetic over her beliefs and what she allowed to take place around her. She always knew what she wanted for herself.”

Richardson also said about Rolle’s impact: “Esther was a pioneer in that she demanded equal workspaces for Black entertainers, Black costume designers, Black hairstylists, and the like. They had to be on the same floor in hotels. She would consider them her travel companions and not some form of hired help, and she wanted them to be treated as such.”

Rolle passed away in 1998 after living with diabetes and being on dialysis. She was married to Oscar Robinson from 1955 to 1975, and while she left behind an incredible legacy, Rolle never had any children. She is remembered today for her many contributions to the film and television industry and for always being a great role model.

Did you watch “Maude” or “Good Times?” What was your favorite show from that era? Let us know what you think, and be sure to pass this on to your friends and family.