Libby Taylor
Born
Elizabeth A. Taylor

April 20, 1902
Chicago, Illinois, USA
DiedAugust 23, 1961 (aged 59)
Los Angeles, California, USA

Libby Taylor (April 20, 1902 - August 23, 1961) was an African American character actress of the stage and screen who was active in Hollywood from the 1930s through the 1950s.[1][2]

Biography

In 1933, while working as a struggling actress in Harlem, she accepted Mae West's offer to become West's personal maid.[3] West in turn helped Libby get roles in Hollywood films. This arrangement lasted for several years.[4][5][6] When Taylor had a stroke in 1955, she told reporters that contrary to the headlines, West had not been helping her financially.[7]

Selected filmography

References

  1. ^ "Mae West's Maid in the Movies". The Spokesman-Review. 28 Jul 1933. Retrieved 2021-03-28.
  2. ^ McCann, Bob (2009-12-21). Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-5804-2.
  3. ^ Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. 1974-07-25.
  4. ^ "Trio of Actresses Pour a Balm on Hollywood". The New York Daily News. 28 Jul 1933. Retrieved 2021-03-28.
  5. ^ "Heard and Seen on the Scene". The Shreveport Journal. 12 Oct 1934. Retrieved 2021-03-28.
  6. ^ Parsons, Louella (23 Sep 1937). "News and Gossip of Hollywood". The Lexington Herald. Retrieved 2021-03-28.
  7. ^ "Shhh! He's On the Beat". California Eagle. 20 Oct 1955. Retrieved 2021-03-28.


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