Sheila Elaine Frazier (born November 13, 1948) is an American actress, producer, and model. Frazier is known for her role as Georgia in the 1972 crime drama film Super Fly. Frazier later reprised her role in the 1973 sequel, Super Fly T.N.T.

Early life

Sheila Elaine Frazier was born in New York City, New York to parents Dorothy Dennis and Eugene Cole Frazier. She spent her early years on the Lower East Side of Manhattan and attended PS 97 until the age of ten, when she relocated with her mother to Englewood, New Jersey.^{[citation needed]} There, she enrolled in the Liberty School. During her childhood, Frazier experienced a stutter, contributing to her shyness. In sixth grade, a teacher attempted to help her overcome her stutter by addressing the class before her presentation, stating, "I don't want any laughter. Sheila's a stutterer. I don't want any laughter." Frazier has mentioned that this introduction heightened her anxiety about public speaking.^[2]

In Englewood, she counted among her neighbors Clyde McPhatter, Van McCoy, The Isley Brothers, and Dolly and Jackie McLean. She went on to Dwight Morrow High School, where her classmates included Margaret Travolta, actress and sister of John Travolta. Despite Frazier's struggle with stuttering, she was inspired by Susan Hayward's performance in the film I'll Cry Tomorrow to pursue a career as an actress. After graduating from high school in 1966,^[3] at age 17, she moved to New York City, where she stayed with her godmother and found work as a secretary.^[4]

Career

One day on the subway, a man approached Frazier and asked if she'd ever considered modelling. That chance encounter led her to do photo sessions with his boss, Bert Andrews. She began to do runway modeling and print work, but was not comfortable with that sort of attention. At some point, she met actor Richard Roundtree, who suggested she audition for the Negro Ensemble Company. Following his advice about focusing on the part she was playing, Frazier found she had overcome her stuttering.^{[citation needed]} Five months later, she auditioned for the film Super Fly, winning the role of Georgia, the lead actress. She went on to work in many film and television productions, including Three the Hard Way. In 1980, she hosted a community affairs show on KNXT-TV in Los Angeles. She also worked as a story editor at Richard Pryor's Indigo Productions.

Film and television

Personal life

Frazier has been married twice and has one child.^[1] Frazier married evangelist minister John Atchison in early–2008 at Crenshaw Christian Center East in Manhattan, New York.^[1] Frazier's son, Derek McKeith is from her previous marriage to Sam McKeith.^{[citation needed]} Frazier currently resides in Los Angeles.