The beloved star of Good Times, Esther Rolle was known for speaking her mind to television executives when it came to how Black Americans were portrayed in sitcoms.
Broward County Library Digital ArchivesThough Esther Rolle was often given maid or housekeeper roles as an actress, she was determined to shatter the stereotype of the “Hollywood maid with the rolling of the eyes.”
Esther Rolle’s journey from a promising child actor to one of the most beloved sitcom stars of the 1970s is an inspiring story.
Born to Bahamian parents in Florida, Rolle took a chance by pursuing an acting career in New York City. Her persistence paid off, and she eventually starred in hit television shows like Maude and Good Times. But she never forgot where she came from, and she unapologetically advocated for authentic and empowering portrayals of Black American families on TV.
Today, Rolle is remembered for her remarkable legacy of art, her community service, and her trailblazing contributions that set new standards for the depiction of Black Americans on television and also in film. Though she died in 1998 at the age of 78, her incredible story lives on.
The Early Life And Career Of Esther Rolle
Broward County Library Digital ArchivesEsther Rolle in one of her early publicity photos.
Esther Rolle was born on November 8, 1920, in Pompano Beach, Florida to her parents Jonathan Rolle and Elizabeth Dames Rolle.
Both of her parents were originally from the Bahamas, and they had a big family — they eventually welcomed 18 children in total.
Esther Rolle was the 10th child, and she shared a passion for acting and dancing with her siblings. In her youth, Rolle traveled around Florida with her siblings, acting in various church and school plays. After graduating from high school, she attended Spelman College in Atlanta before moving to New York City and enrolling at Hunter College. She would go on to change schools twice more, eventually ending up at Yale University.
She later returned to New York and joined an African dance troupe called Shogolo Oloba. Around this time, she married Oscar Robinson, accepting Robinson’s daughter from a previous marriage as her stepdaughter.
Rolle’s success in Shogolo Oloba led to her becoming the director of the troupe in 1960. Only two years later, Rolle appeared in her New York stage debut, a play called The Blacks. In 1972, she appeared as the character Miss Maybell in the Broadway musical Don’t Play Us Cheap.
Broward County Library Digital ArchivesEsther Rolle, pictured during a theatrical production.
Her success on the stage attracted the attention of the entertainment industry. Soon, she found herself starring in hit sitcoms in the 1970s.
Maude, Good Times, And Becoming A 1970s Sitcom Star
Broward County Library Digital ArchivesA cover of TV Guide, showing Esther Rolle and John Amos in Good Times.
On Sept. 12, 1972, Maude premiered on CBS. A spinoff of All In The Family, Maude centered around a feminist woman named Maude Findlay, played by Bea Arthur. Popular with viewers, the show ran until 1978.
One of the most lovable and memorable characters in the show was Florida Evans, Maude’s maid, who was played by Esther Rolle. Her character was a foil to Maude, highlighting the main character’s liberal views and how some of her actions often had the opposite effect of what she intended.
Rolle’s character was so beloved by viewers that a new spinoff show called Good Times was created in 1974 with Florida Evans as the lead. The show ran until 1979 and made Rolle an even bigger star. At one point, Rolle was even nominated for a Golden Globe for her Good Times role.
During the writing of Good Times, Rolle was aware that many young, impressionable Black Americans would be watching the show. So all throughout the series, she was determined to set a good example for Black youths. For Rolle, that included writing in a strong father character who led the Evans family. Though Florida Evans was initially meant to be a single mother, Rolle insisted that she have a husband — and CBS agreed.
“I told them I couldn’t compound the lie that Black fathers don’t care about their children,” she explained, according to the Tampa Bay Times. “I was proud of the family life I was able to introduce to television.”
Indeed, Good Times was the first network TV sitcom that focused on a two-parent Black American family, a huge achievement for Rolle and her costars.
At one point, though, Rolle briefly left Good Times because she felt that her character’s son was being portrayed as too “buffoonish.”
Esther Rolle made it very clear that she didn’t want to be part of anything that was setting a bad example for Black youths, or for the Black community in general. And she only returned to Good Times after the showrunners agreed to make some changes that fit her expectations.
While Rolle is still best known as a sitcom actress, she didn’t limit herself to just acting. While she was embracing her role as a television star, she also experimented with music, even releasing an album called The Garden of My Mind at one point while she was starring on Good Times.
Rolle also appeared in a number of movies and television films. Notably, in 1979, she won an Emmy for her impressive performance in the television movie Summer of My German Soldier. Some of her other films included Driving Miss Daisy, Rosewood, and I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings.
Broward County Library Digital ArchivesEsther Rolle with Constance Good in I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Rolle continued to appear in various movies and television shows. But she never forgot her roots as a stage actress, and she also made appearances in plays, including The Member of the Wedding. She continued to work until her death in 1998.
The Death And Legacy Of Esther Rolle
Broward County Library Digital ArchivesA headshot of Esther Rolle in her later years.
On Nov. 17, 1998, Esther Rolle died at the age of 78. She had been struggling with diabetes and was undergoing dialysis around the time of her death.
Before she died, Rolle requested to be buried at Westview Community Cemetery in Pompano Beach, one of the oldest Black cemeteries in South Florida, following a funeral at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 4.0Esther Rolle’s grave at Westview Community Cemetery in Pompano Beach, Florida.
Upon her death, Rolle’s surviving family members donated many of her personal items, including her gowns and awards, to the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Today, Esther Rolle is remembered as one of the most beloved sitcom actresses of the 1970s. She is also remembered for unapologetically advocating for positive representation of Black Americans on television, and pushing back against stereotypes. She once said that she wanted to shatter the image of the “Hollywood maid with the rolling of the eyes” who focused more on the white children of her bosses than her own children.
It’s clear that her efforts were appreciated by many. Her work earned her a spot in the NAACP Hall of Fame in 1987, and she later became the first woman to be honored with the NAACP Chairman’s Civil Rights Leadership Award in 1990. And those who knew her admired her not only for her impressive career, but also for standing up for what she believed in.
“Wherever she was, you knew she was there,” Norman Lear, who produced Maude and Good Times, said, according to the Tampa Bay Times. “The woman had strong conviction. We may not have agreed on everything, but that is what happens when you have two creative minds at work.”
After reading about Esther Rolle, dive into the story of Hattie McDaniel, the first Black person to win an Oscar. Then, discover the controversial story of Hollywood’s first Black millionaire — who embraced racial stereotypes.
