Mabel King
Biography
Mabel King was an American actress and singer who began her career as a gospel and nightclub performer after growing up in Harlem. She turned to acting in her mid-thirties, first as Maria in a national tour of Porgy and Bess in 1966 and then as Ernestina in the Broadway musical Hello, Dolly! In 1975 she took on the role of Evillene, a wicked witch, in the all-African-American Broadway production of The Wiz; the part put her in contention for a Drama Desk Award as featured actress in a musical. King later repeated that witch role for the film adaptation The Wiz (1978). Among her other movie appearances were Ganja & Hess (1973), The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings (1976), The Jerk (1979) as the mother of Steve Martin's character, and Scrooged (1988). On television, she was known for playing Mabel Thomas on What's Happening!! from 1976 to 1978. She made records for the Rama and Amy labels.
66years old at death
- Born Charleston
- Died Los Angeles
- Star sign: CapricornThe sign runs December 22 to January 19
- Also credited as Mabel Elizabeth King
Movie Career
- Films
- 5
- Career span
- 15 years1973 to 1988
Every film, newest first
- 1988ScroogedIMDb rating 6.9
- 1979The JerkIMDb rating 7.1
- 1978The WizIMDb rating 5.7
- 1976The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor KingsIMDb rating 6.8
- 1973Ganja & HessIMDb rating 6.2
Genres
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First role
Mabel King began acting in her mid-thirties. Her first role came in 1966, when she was Maria in the national tour of Porgy and Bess.
A role that slipped away
King played her role on What's Happening!! from 1976 to 1978, but she left the series in 1978 after two seasons because she disagreed with the direction its creators wanted to take it.
Beyond film
King went back to stage work in June 1980, starring in the Broadway musical It's So Nice to Be Civilized. The show performed badly and shut down following eight performances.
Mabel King movies on Netflix
Worked with
Mabel King shares two films with Richard Pryor, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Richard Pryor's page
Ted Ross's page
M. Emmet Walsh's page
Bill Murray's page
Robert Mitchum's page
James Earl Jones's page
All films by Richard Donner
All films by Carl Reiner
All films by Sidney Lumet
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.