
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Born
December 3, 1936
Died
July 27, 2022 (age 85)
Place of Birth
Indianola, Mississippi, USA
Mary Alice
Biography
Mary Alice was born on December 3, 1936 in Indianola, Mississippi, USA to parents Ozelar Jurnakin (Smith) and Sam Smith.
She was an actress, known for The Matrix Revolutions (2003), Awakenings (1990) and Malcolm X (1992). She taught in Elementary School before her acting career took off. When she was still a struggling actress doing stage plays, she made a living doing her castmate's laundry for a salary of $200 a week. She was a lifelong liberal Democrat, feminist, and civil rights activist. Was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2000. She retired from acting in 2005.
She died of natural causes on July 27, 2022 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. Upon her death, she was buried with her siblings at Oak Wood Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois, in regard for her last wishes.
Known For

TV
Law & Order
Virginia Bryan
1990

TV
Great Performances
1971

TV
L.A. Law
Maxine Manley
1986

TV
Oz
Eugenia Hill
1997

TV
A Different World
Lettie Bostic
1987

TV
Touched by an Angel
Georgia Bishop
1994

TV
Police Woman
1974

TV
Providence
Abby Franklin
1999

TV
Performance
Black lady
1991

TV
Green Acres
1965

TV
Sanford and Son
1972

TV
Cosby
1996

TV
Good Times
1974

Film
The Matrix Revolutions
The Oracle
2003

TV
Kojak
Joyce
2005

TV
The Jury
2004

TV
I'll Fly Away
Marguerite Peck
1991

TV
I'll Fly Away
1991

TV
Soul Food
Mrs. Pettaway
2000

Film
Awakenings
Nurse Margaret
1990
Filmography
2005TVKojakas Joyce2004FilmThe Burly Man Chronicles2004TVThe Jury2004FilmThe Matrix Recalibratedas Self2003FilmWhat I Want My Words to Do to Youas Self2003FilmThe Matrix Revolutionsas The Oracle2002FilmSunshine Stateas Eunice Stokes2001FilmThe Last Brickmaker in Americaas Dorothy Cobb2000TVSoul Foodas Mrs. Pettaway2000FilmThe Photographeras Violet1999FilmCatfish in Black Bean Sauceas Dolores Williams1999TVProvidenceas Abby Franklin1999FilmThe Wishing Treeas Mattie1998FilmDown in the Deltaas Rosa Lynn Sinclair1997TVOzas Eugenia Hill1996TVCosby1996FilmBed of Rosesas Alice1995FilmHeading Homeas Mary Jones1995FilmRay Alexander: A Menu for Murder1994FilmThe Motheras Black Lady1994TVTouched by an Angelas Georgia Bishop1994FilmThe Inkwellas Evelyn1994FilmThe Vernon Johns Storyas Altona1993FilmA Perfect Worldas Lottie1993TVLaurel Avenueas Maggie Arnett1993FilmLife with Mikeyas Mrs. Gordon1992FilmMalcolm Xas School Teacher1991TVI'll Fly Awayas Marguerite Peck1991TVPerformanceas Black lady1990FilmThe Bonfire of the Vanitiesas Annie Lamb1990FilmAwakeningsas Nurse Margaret1990FilmTo Sleep with Angeras Suzie1990TVLaw & Orderas Virginia Bryan1989FilmThe Women of Brewster Placeas Fannie Michael1989TVThe Women of Brewster Placeas Fannie Michael1987TVA Different Worldas Lettie Bostic1986TVL.A. Lawas Maxine Manley1985FilmCharlotte Forten's Mission: Experiment in Freedomas Blind Lily1984FilmTeachersas Linda Ganz1984FilmBeat Streetas Cora1984FilmThe Killing Flooras Lilah Dean1983FilmThe Brass Ringas Mrs. Hauser1982FilmA House Divided: Denmark Vesey's Rebellionas Beck1980FilmJoshua's Worldas Housekeeper1979FilmLawman Without a Gunas Minnie Hayward1976FilmJust an Old Sweet Songas Helen Mayfield1976FilmSparkleas Effie1974TVPolice Woman1974FilmThe Education of Sonny Carsonas Moms1974FilmSty of the Blind Pigas Alberta Warren1974TVGood Times1972TVSanford and Son1971TVGreat Performances1965TVGreen Acres