Hattie McDaniel

Hattie McDaniel was a renowned American actress and singer who gained widespread recognition for her iconic role as Mammy in the 1939 film Gone with the Wind, starring Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable. Her portrayal of the loyal and lovable house servant earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, making her the first African American to receive an Oscar. McDaniel's career spanned over two decades, during which she worked with notable directors like John Ford and William Wyler, and appeared in films alongside Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart, and James Cagney. She was also a talented singer, performing with Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway.

● Early Life

Hattie McDaniel was born in Wichita, Kansas, to former slaves Susan Holbert and Henry McDaniel. She was the youngest of 13 children, and her family moved to Denver, Colorado, when she was a child. McDaniel attended East High School (Denver), where she developed her singing and acting talents, performing in school plays and singing in the school choir, alongside future jazz musicians like Paul Whiteman. She was also influenced by the blues singers Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey, who often performed in Denver.

● Career

McDaniel began her career as a singer and performer in Denver's African American community, singing with Paul Whiteman's orchestra and performing in local theater productions, including those at the Denver Theater. She later moved to Los Angeles, where she began landing small roles in films, including The Golden West and Judge Priest, directed by John Ford and starring Will Rogers. McDaniel's breakthrough role came in 1934, when she appeared in the film Judge Priest, alongside Will Rogers and Stepin Fetchit. She went on to work with notable directors like William Wyler and George Cukor, and appeared in films like Saratoga and Nothing Sacred, starring Carole Lombard and Fredric March.

● Major Works

Some of McDaniel's most notable works include her roles in Gone with the Wind, Alice Adams, and Since You Went Away, which starred Claudette Colbert and Jennifer Jones. She also appeared in In This Our Life, directed by John Huston and starring Bette Davis and Olivia de Havilland. McDaniel's performances were often praised by critics, including Frank S. Nugent of The New York Times, who noted her "warm and rich" voice in Gone with the Wind. She worked with other notable actors, including Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, and Cary Grant, and appeared in films produced by David O. Selznick and Samuel Goldwyn.

● Awards and Legacy

McDaniel's iconic performance in Gone with the Wind earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1940, making her the first African American to receive an Oscar. She was also recognized for her contributions to the entertainment industry, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. McDaniel's legacy extends beyond her film career, as she paved the way for future generations of African American actors, including Sidney Poitier, Dorothy Dandridge, and Whoopi Goldberg. She was also an inspiration to jazz and blues musicians, including Duke Ellington and Count Basie.

● Personal Life

McDaniel was married four times, including to Howard Hickman and James Lloyd Crawford. She was also a close friend of Eleanor Roosevelt and Mary McLeod Bethune, and was involved in various charitable organizations, including the American Red Cross and the NAACP. McDaniel was also a talented cook and entrepreneur, owning a restaurant in Los Angeles and selling her own line of barbecue sauce. She was a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and supported the National Council of Negro Women.

● Filmography

McDaniel's filmography includes over 300 films, including The Golden West, Judge Priest, Saratoga, Nothing Sacred, Gone with the Wind, Alice Adams, Since You Went Away, and In This Our Life. She also appeared in films like The Little Colonel, starring Shirley Temple, and The Great Lie, starring Bette Davis and Mary Astor. McDaniel worked with notable film studios, including MGM, Paramount Pictures, and 20th Century Fox, and appeared in films directed by John Ford, William Wyler, and George Cukor. Her film career spanned over two decades, during which she became one of the most recognizable and beloved actresses of her time, working with actors like Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney, and Spencer Tracy.