Lizan Mitchell is a film, Broadway, and television actress known for her roles in the films The Preacher's Wife and The Human Stain. She has also played television roles such as Clara in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Guiding Light.

Early years

Mitchell was raised in the Bluford, Dudley Heights, and Warnersville communities of Greensboro, North Carolina. She attended Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Elementary School, Notre Dame Catholic High School, and North Carolina A&T State University. From an early age, she felt that she was a performer. Her first acting role was portrayal of a witch in a children's play at Bennett College when she was 7 years old.[1]

Although Mitchell's high school was integrated, she felt the effects of racism when plays were produced there. She said, "There were no roles for black students. You were either a slave or you sang (in the chorus) or you could be a servant. We realized it wasn't fair."[1] During her high school years, she and other Black young people were arrested for protesting segregation practices in the community.[1]

Career

On film, she was seen in Brother to Brother (2004) and The Final Patient (2005).

Awards

She received the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actress, Non-Resident Production.[2]

Filmography

Film

Year Film Role Notes
1996 The Preacher's Wife Judge
2003 The Human Stain Ernestine
2004 Brother to Brother Protesting Woman
2005 The Final Patient Elizabeth Green

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1992–2001 Law & Order Dorothy Meredith / Judge Lerner 2 episodes
1999–2000 Guiding Light Judge Taylor
2002 The Wire Shooting Witness
2008 John Adams Sally Hemmings TV mini series
2010 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Housekeeper Episode: "Traffic"
2010 The Good Wife Judith's Mother
2016–2017 Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Clara / Great Aunt 2 episodes

References

  1. ^ a b c Gant-Hill, Cathy (January 18, 1997). "Having her say: Just like centenarian Bessie Delany, whom she portrays on stage, actor Lizan Mitchell has lived through important moments of black history during her youth in Greensboro". News & Record. North Carolina, Greensboro. pp. D 1, D 6. Retrieved February 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Lizan Mitchell Biography on BroadwayWorld.com". www.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 2017-05-29.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lizan_Mitchell
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