Hattie McDaniel
Acting
Hattie McDaniel (June 10, 1893 - October 26, 1952) was an American actress whose portrayal of Mammy in Gone with the Wind (1939) won her the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, making her the first black person to win an Academy Award. After working as early as the 1910s as a band vocalist, Hattie McDaniel debuted as a maid in The Golden West (1932). Her maid-mammy characters became steadily more assertive, showing up first in Judge Priest (1934) and becoming pronounced in Alice Adams (1935). In this one, directed by George Stevens and aided and abetted by star Katharine Hepburn, she makes it clear she has little use for her employers' pretentious status seeking. By The Mad Miss Manton (1938) the character she portrays actually tells off her socialite employer Barbara Stanwyck and her snooty friends. This path extends into the greatest role of McDaniel's career, Mammy in Gone with the Wind (1939). Mammy is, in a number of ways, superior to most of the white folk surrounding her. From that point, McDaniel's roles unfortunately descended, with the characters becoming more and more menial. McDaniel played on the "Amos and Andy" and Eddie Cantor radio shows in the 1930s and 1940s, the title character in her own radio show "Beulah" (1947-51), and the same part on TV (Beulah, 1950).
Known for
Acting102
tvHollywood Black
2024
Self (archive footage)
movieBecoming Marilyn
2022
(archive footage)
tvExplained
2018
Self - First Black Oscar Winner (archive footage)
movie1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
2009
Self (archive footage)
movieHattie McDaniel: or A Credit to the Motion Picture Industry
2004
Self (archive footage)
Beyond Tara: The Extraordinary Life of Hattie McDaniel
2001
Self (archive footage)
movieThe Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind
1988
Self (archive footage)
movieHollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
1983
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
movieHollywood: The Selznick Years
1961
Self - Actress 'Gone with the Wind' screen test (archive footage) (uncredited)
movieThe Big Wheel
1949
Minnie
movieFamily Honeymoon
1948
Phyllis
movieMickey
1948
Bertha
movieThe Flame
1947
Celia
movieSong of the South
1946
Aunt Tempy
movieMargie
1946
Cynthia
movieHi, Beautiful
1944
Millie
movieJanie
1944
April, Conway's Maid
movieSince You Went Away
1944
Fidelia
movieThank Your Lucky Stars
1943
Gossip in "Ice Cold Katie" Number
movieIn This Our Life
1942
Minerva Clay
movieThe Male Animal
1942
Cleota
movieAffectionately Yours
1941
Cynthia, Sue's Cook
movieThe Great Lie
1941
Violet
movieMaryland
1940
Aunt Carrie
movieZenobia
1939
Dehlia
movieThe Shining Hour
1938
Belvedere
movieCarefree
1938
Hattie (uncredited)
movieVivacious Lady
1938
Hattie (uncredited)
movieQuick Money
1937
Hattie (uncredited)
movie45 Fathers
1937
Beulah
movieNothing Sacred
1937
Mrs. Walker (uncredited)
movieOver the Goal
1937
Hannah
movieSky Racket
1937
Jenny
movieSaratoga
1937
Rosetta
movieThe Wildcatter
1937
Pearl (uncredited)
movieThe Crime Nobody Saw
1937
Ambrosia
movieDon't Tell the Wife
1937
Mamie (uncredited)
movieReunion
1936
Sadie
movieLibeled Lady
1936
Scrubwoman in Grand Plaza Hall (uncredited)
movieValiant Is the Word for Carrie
1936
Ellen Belle
moviePostal Inspector
1936
Deborah
movieHigh Tension
1936
Hattie
movieShow Boat
1936
Queenie
movieArbor Day
1936
Buckwheat's Mother (uncredited)
movieThe Singing Kid
1936
Maid (uncredited)
movieGentle Julia
1936
Kitty Silvers
movieAnother Face
1935
Nellie (uncredited)
movieMusic Is Magic
1935
Hattie (Amanda in credits)
movieMurder by Television
1935
Isabella
movieAlice Adams
1935
Malena Burns - Maid Serving Dinner
movieChina Seas
1935
Isabel McCarthy, Dolly's Maid (uncredited)
movieWig-Wag
1935
Cook
movieTraveling Saleslady
1935
Martha Smith (uncredited)
movieThe Little Colonel
1935
Becky "Mom Beck" Porter
Okay Toots!
1935
Maid (uncredited)
movieThe Chases of Pimple Street
1934
Hattie - Gertrude's Maid (uncredited)
movieBabbitt
1934
Rosalie (uncredited)
movieImitation of Life
1934
Woman at Funeral (uncredited)
movieFate's Fathead
1934
Mandy - the Maid
movieLost in the Stratosphere
1934
Ida Johnson
movieFlirtation
1934
Abigail (uncredited)
movieJudge Priest
1934
Aunt Dilsey
movieKing Kelly of the U.S.A.
1934
Mop Buyer
movieOperator 13
1934
Annie (uncredited)
movieCity Park
1934
Tessie
movieMerry Wives of Reno
1934
Bunny's Maid (uncredited)
movieGood-bye Love
1933
Edna the Maid
movieI'm No Angel
1933
Manicurist (uncredited)
movieHello, Sister!
1933
Woman in Apartment House
movieHypnotized
1932
Powder Room Attendant
movieThe Golden West
1932
Mammy Lou
movieBlonde Venus
1932
Cora, Helen's Maid in New Orleans (uncredited)
movieThe Boiling Point
1932
Caroline - the Cook (uncredited)
movieThe Washington Masquerade
1932
Maid (uncredited)
movieAre You Listening?
1932
Performer entering radio station
movieThe Impatient Maiden
1932
Injured Patient (uncredited)