Actress Mary Alice has died at the age of 85. The actress was known for playing Leticia “Lettie” Bostic on NBC’s A Different World and Effie Williams in the musical film Sparkle. Many of our readers will also remember her for replacing Gloria Foster as the Oracle in The Matrix Revolutions following Foster’s death in 2001. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Alice died in her Manhattan apartment on Wednesday. An NYPD spokesperson confirmed her death, though no cause was provided. While Mary Alice had been out of the public eye since retiring from acting in 2005, she had many notable credits as an actress.
Actress Mary Alice: Star of ‘Sparkle’ and More
Alice’s most notable film role is arguably Sparkle, which told the story of a black girl group achieving fame. The true story of The Supremes inspired the plot. People Magazine reports that Alice also had roles in Spike Lee’s Malcolm X, Penny Marshall’s Awakenings, Clint Eastwood’s A Perfect World, and Maya Angelou’s Down in the Delta. The Matrix Revolutions was Alice’s last film role.
Her roles on TV and Stage
Alice also had memorable TV roles. In addition to her role in A Different World, Alice appeared in All My Children, Oz, and Law & Order. She won an Emmy in 1993 for her supporting role as Marguerite Peck in the NBC drama I’ll Fly Away. Her final acting credit before retirement was an episode of the series Kojak.
Alice also had many stage credits, winning a Tony Award for originating the role of Rose in August Wilson’s play Fences. This play was adapted into a film in 2016 in which Viola Davis gave an Oscar-winning performance as the same character. Davis paid tribute to Alice on Twitter, calling her “one of the greatest actresses of all time!!” Alice received another Tony nomination in 1995 for Having Our Say.
Alice’s death occurred the same day as Leave it to Beaver star Tony Dow.
From Sparkle to A Different World to Fences to The Matrix Revolutions, Mary Alice was an actress with a wide range and talent. The Nerd Stash celebrates that talent.
