Biography

Mary Alice was born on December 3, 1936 in Indianola, Mississippi, USA to parents Ozelar Jurnakin (Smith) and Sam Smith. She was an actress, known for The Matrix Revolutions (2003), Awakenings (1990) and Malcolm X (1992). She taught in Elementary School before her acting career took off. When she was still a struggling actress doing stage plays, she made a living doing her castmate's laundry for a salary of $200 a week. She was a lifelong liberal Democrat, feminist, and civil rights activist. Was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2000. She retired from acting in 2005. She died of natural causes on July 27, 2022 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. Upon her death, she was buried with her siblings at Oak Wood Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois, in regard for her last wishes.

Photos

Filmography

View Law & Order
Law & Order

Law & Order

1990Series
7.3
View Oz
Oz

Oz

1997Series
8.0
View Great Performances
Great Performances

Great Performances

1971Series
5.8
View L.A. Law
L.A. Law

L.A. Law

1986Series
7.1
View Touched by an Angel
Touched by an Angel

Touched by an Angel

1994Series
7.2
View A Different World
A Different World

A Different World

1987Series
7.0
View Providence
Providence

Providence

1999Series
6.5
View Police Woman
Police Woman

Police Woman

1974Series
6.2
View Green Acres
Green Acres

Green Acres

1965Series
7.3
View Sanford and Son
Sanford and Son

Sanford and Son

1972Series
7.5
View Good Times
Good Times

Good Times

1974Series
8.0
View Performance
Performance

Performance

1991Series
6.0