Acting
Maidie Norman
Maidie Norman was born Maidie Ruth Gamble on October 16, 1912, in Villa Rica, Georgia, to Louis and Lila Gamble. She received a B.A. from Bennett College in 1934 and a master's degree from Columbia University three years later. She also attended the Actors Lab in Hollywood from 1946 to 1949. Norman first appeared on film in The Peanut Man in 1947. Throughout the fifties-not a good time for film roles for black women-she appeared in a number of films, such as Bright Road with Dorothy Dandridge and Sidney Poitier and Torch Song, both in 1953; About Mrs. Leslie and Susan Slept Here in 1954; and 1956's Written on the Wind. These were often servant roles, with a special fifties blandness. Still, Norman was skillful and professional in her execution of them. In 1962, she got a chance to chew up the scenery with Bette Davis and Joan Crawford in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? In 1968-69, Norman was an artist-in-residence at Stanford University and, throughout the seventies, she was lecturer, director, and acting teacher at UCLA. At the same time, Norman was highly visible on television, appearing in Mannix, Adam 12, Streets of San Francisco, Kung Fu, The Jeffersons, and others. She was also part of the cast of Roots: The Next Generation in 1979. Norman was a founding member of the American Negro Theater West; in 1977, she was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame; and an award in her name is presented each year for outstanding research by an undergraduate in Black Theater at UCLA. She died on May 6, 1998.
Filmography
Delphine and Carole
Film · 2020
Terrorist on Trial: The United States vs. Salim Ajami
Film · 1988
Secrets of a Mother and Daughter
Film · 1983
Halloween III: Season of the Witch
Film · 1982
Hotel
Series · 1982
Cagney & Lacey
Series · 1982
Matt Houston
Series · 1982
Thornwell
Film · 1981
Be Pretty and Shut Up!
Film · 1981
Simon & Simon
Series · 1981
Roots: The Next Generations
Series · 1979
Movie Movie
Film · 1978
Airport '77
Film · 1977
The Incredible Hulk
Series · 1977
A Star Is Born
Film · 1976
The Jeffersons
Series · 1975
Baretta
Series · 1975
Sty of the Blind Pig
Film · 1974
Good Times
Series · 1974
Rhoda
Series · 1974
Little House on the Prairie
Series · 1974
Kolchak: The Night Stalker
Series · 1974
Harry O
Series · 1974
Police Woman
Series · 1974
The Lie
Film · 1973
Maurie
Film · 1973
A Dream for Christmas
Film · 1973
Sixteen
Film · 1972
Another Part of the Forest
Film · 1972
Say Goodbye, Maggie Cole
Film · 1972
Kung Fu
Series · 1972
The Streets of San Francisco
Series · 1972
Cannon
Series · 1971
Funny Face
Series · 1971
Adam-12
Series · 1968
Adam-12
Series · 1968
Mannix
Series · 1967
Ironside
Series · 1967
Judd, for the Defense
Series · 1967
CBS Playhouse
Series · 1966
The F.B.I.
Series · 1965
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Series · 1964
4 for Texas
Film · 1963
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
Film · 1962
Ben Casey
Series · 1961
Dr. Kildare
Series · 1961
No Greater Love
Film · 1960
The Twilight Zone
Series · 1959
Written on the Wind
Film · 1956
The Opposite Sex
Film · 1956
Tarzan's Hidden Jungle
Film · 1955
Mad at the World
Film · 1955
Man with the Gun
Film · 1955
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Series · 1955
Matinee Theater
Series · 1955
Executive Suite
Film · 1954
Susan Slept Here
Film · 1954
About Mrs. Leslie
Film · 1954
Bright Road
Film · 1953
Forever Female
Film · 1953
Torch Song
Film · 1953
Letter to Loretta
Series · 1953
Letter to Loretta
Series · 1953
Cavalcade of America
Series · 1952
Four Star Playhouse
Series · 1952
The Well
Film · 1951
Dragnet
Series · 1951
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Series · 1951
Lux Video Theatre
Series · 1950
Lux Video Theatre
Series · 1950
Manhandled
Film · 1949
The Peanut Man
Film · 1947