New Orleans stage and screen actor Carol Sutton dies at 76
NEW YORK (AP) - Actor Carol Sutton, a fixture on stages in her native New Orleans who built a steady career on the big and small screens, including roles in the 1989 comedy 'œSteel Magnolias'ť and the TV series 'œQueen Sugar,'ť has died from complications from COVID-19, according to New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell. Sutton was 76.
'œThe world may recognize her from her performances in movies and on TV - whether it's '~Treme' or '~Claws,' or '~Runaway Jury' or '~Queen Sugar' - but we will always remember her commanding stage presence, her richly portrayed characters, and the warm heart she shared with her fellow cast and crew,'ť Cantrell said in a statement. Sutton died Thursday at Touro Infirmary.
After making her acting debut in the late 1960s in Dashiki Project Theatre productions, Sutton appeared in productions such as 'œThe Last Madam,'ť 'œNative Tongues'ť and 'œA Raisin in the Sun.'ť
She moved to television in 1974 with 'œThe Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman'ť with Cicely Tyson and had roles in 'œIn the Heat of the Night'ť and the TV movie 'œUncle Tom's Cabin'ť with Avery Brooks. Her recent TV credits included 'œScream Queens,'ť the 2016 remake of the series 'œRoots,'ť 'œTreme,'ť 'œTrue Detective'ť and 'œLovecraft Country.'ť
Her film work includes roles in such movies as 'œMonster's Ball,'ť 'œRay'ť and 'œThe Help.'ť She played a policewoman in 'œThe Pelican Brief'ť with Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington and a nurse opposite Sally Field, Dolly Parton and Shirley MacLaine in 'œSteel Magnolias.'ť She was a judge in 'œThe Big Easy'ť with Dennis Quaid and Ellen Barkin.
Ava DuVernay, creator of the OWN series 'œQueen Sugar,'ť tweeted: 'œIt was our honor to welcome this veteran actress of stage and screen to our show as Aunt Martha in Episode 409, '~Stare at the Same Fires.' May she rise and rest in peace and power.'ť
Survivors include a son, Archie; a daughter, Aunya; a brother, Oris Buckner; a sister, Adrienne Jopes; and five grandchildren.