Beah Richards
|
Posted By: Reginald Culpepper on January 12, 2006 Beah Richards left her native Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA for New York City in 1950. She would not acquire a significant role on stage until 1955 when she appeared in the off-Broadway show "Take A Giant Step" where she convincingly portrayed an eighty-four-year-old grandmother, without using theatrical makeup. In 1962 she appeared in writer James Baldwin's "The Amen Corner" directed by the noted actor/director/activist Frank Silvera who told Richards "Don't act, just be." She credited Silvera with helping her further develop the subtlety and quiet dignity that distinguished all of her performances. A prolific actress, poet, and playwright, her first authored play was "All's Well that Ends" that delved into the issues of racial segregation. Always ahead of her time, she defined herself as "Black" when the term "Negro" was the preferred ethnic/racial label of Black Americans. Richards would bring her salutary satisfaction with being "Black" and her immense acting talents to the role of the peacemaking mother in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967), a role for which she was nominated for an Oscar. Additionally, she appeared in "Purlie Victorious" by Ossie Davis and "The Little Foxes" by Lillian Hellman. In 1988 she won an Emmy Award for her performance in "Frank's Place" (1987). Although stricken with emphysema, she delivered a tour-de-force performance on the ABC legal drama "The Practice" (1997) in 2000; she was awarded an Emmy Award for her performance only a few days before her death: A fitting coda to an exemplary life and career. If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
 |
Reginald Culpepper
President, Fulfillment and Web Services, HBCUCONNECT Clark Atlanta University class of 1998 Member Since September 2000 |
More From This Author
Latest Famous HBCU Alumni
 |
"We Are Still Fighting": Beatty Inspires Columbus to Continue Dr. King's Legacy at Annual MLK EventIn celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Congresswoman Beatty joined the City of Columbus' Department of Neighborhoods Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day March and Program, in the spirit of Dr. Ki ...more
How May I Help You NC • 108 Views • January 25th, 2026 |
 |
MEET DRE MARTIN WHO IS SEATS BY DRE?HBCU NIGHT
From Martin’s undergraduate experience at Grambling State University, to his Executive MBA studies at Howard University, he has started his own movement to raise awareness for HBCUs, by ...more
How May I Help You NC • 187 Views • January 2nd, 2026 |
 |
Ben Espy: Trailblazing lawyer and leader in ColumbusInspiration is near-)
A state senator a man who graduated from Howard University👨🏾🎓His works live on through members of our world-
He is a father a husband a child ...more
How May I Help You NC • 180 Views • November 11th, 2025 |
 |
Mama Goose® Takes Flight as America’s Most Photographed Airport Fashion Icon Since 2019Before Bridgerton swept us into ballrooms and scandal, there was Mama Goose®— transforming airports into fashion runways with her signature style and over 100 custom-made couture looks.
One of the ...more
Frederick Roberts • 562 Views • August 8th, 2025 |
 |
Show you love for Miami Dolphin NFL Player Terron Armstead - University of Arkansas at Pine BluffArmstead enrolled in the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, where he played for the UAPB Golden Lions football team from 2009 to 2012. He was an All-Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) selectio ...more
How May I Help You NC • 1,127 Views • August 7th, 2024 |
Popular Famous HBCU Alumni
 |
Della Miles takes Michelle Obama to the stage in "Obama the Musical"When Della Miles was a student at Prairie View A&M University in Texas, everyone new she would be a brighter star one day having been selected Miss PVAMU and 4th Runner-up to Miss Texas/America 1984. ...more
Frederick Roberts • 88,654 Views • April 11th, 2010 |
 |
Oprah WinfreyOprah Winfrey, the multi media mogul, has garnered international appeal for her talk show. As the first Black woman billionaire in world history, Winfrey has overtaken EBay CEO, Meg Whitman, as the ri ...more
Reginald Culpepper • 37,158 Views • September 30th, 2005 |
 |
Kerry D. ChandlerKerry D. Chandler, a San Diego, CA native, is the Executive Vice President of Human Resources at the National Basketball Association responsible for leading the league's global human resources strateg ...more
Ryan Rogers • 33,998 Views • May 3rd, 2011 |
 |
Rick Ross - Yep Another HBCU AlumnusWilliam Leonard Roberts II (born January 28, 1976), better known by his stage name Rick Ross, is an American rapper. Ross founded the record label Maybach Music Group. He was born in Coahoma County, M ...more
Reginald Culpepper • 31,941 Views • September 1st, 2010 |
