Hilda Simms
Encyclopedia
Hilda Simms was an African-American stage actress, best known for her starring role on Broadway in Anna Lucasta.
, one of nine siblings. She studied teaching at the University of Minnesota
until lack of money forced her to leave.
and produced by the American Negro Theater
, moved from Harlem to Broadway in 1944.
In 1943, Ms. Simms moved permanently to New York
. She acted in radio dramas and joined the American Negro Theater, where she was in charge of sound effects, props and publicity.
actor Richard Angerolla. (Her first marriage, to William Simms in 1941, ended in divorce, although she retained her first husband's surname as her professional name.)
nightclubs before she returned
to the USA in 1953 to make the film The Joe Louis Story
. Her other film role was in The Black Widow (1954). She also appeared in The Cool World (1960), Tambourines to Glory (1963) as well as a revival of The Madwoman of Chaillot
(1970) in New York. On television, she was in the series The Nurses.
As the director of the creative arts program of the New York State division of human rights in the 1960s she focused attention on discrimination and the lack of roles for black actors in film and television. After earning a master's degree in education from City College
, she worked for drug treatment programs.
, aged 75, from pancreatic cancer
at the home of her sister Evelyn Sharp. She was survived by four other siblings as well as her second husband.
Early years
Born as Hilda Moses in Minneapolis, MinnesotaMinneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
, one of nine siblings. She studied teaching at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
until lack of money forced her to leave.
Legacy
Anna Lucasta and Ms. Simms' performance in the title role created a stir when the play, written by Philip YordanPhilip Yordan
Philip Yordan was an American screenwriter of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s who also produced several films.He was also known as a highly regarded script doctor...
and produced by the American Negro Theater
American Negro Theater
The American Negro Theater was formed in Harlem on June 5, 1940 by writer Abram Hill and actor Frederick O'Neal. It produced 19 plays before closing in 1949. Designed as a community theater group, performances were held in Harlem's Schomburg Library. In 1942, ANT began its Studio Theatre training...
, moved from Harlem to Broadway in 1944.
In 1943, Ms. Simms moved permanently to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. She acted in radio dramas and joined the American Negro Theater, where she was in charge of sound effects, props and publicity.
Second marriage
In 1947 Ms. Simms went with the play when it moved to London. While in the UK she married an AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor Richard Angerolla. (Her first marriage, to William Simms in 1941, ended in divorce, although she retained her first husband's surname as her professional name.)
Abroad
Under the alias Julie Riccardo, she sang in nightclubs in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
nightclubs before she returned
to the USA in 1953 to make the film The Joe Louis Story
The Joe Louis Story
The Joe Louis Story is a 1953 American film directed by Robert Gordon.- Cast :*Coley Wallace as Joe Louis*Hilda Simms as Marva Trotter Louis*Paul Stewart as Tad McGeehan*James Edwards as Jack "Chappie" Blackburn*John Marley as Mannie Seamon...
. Her other film role was in The Black Widow (1954). She also appeared in The Cool World (1960), Tambourines to Glory (1963) as well as a revival of The Madwoman of Chaillot
The Madwoman of Chaillot
The Madwoman of Chaillot is a play, a poetic satire, by French dramatist Jean Giraudoux, written in 1943 and first performed in 1945, after his death. The play has two acts and follows the convention of the classical unities...
(1970) in New York. On television, she was in the series The Nurses.
As the director of the creative arts program of the New York State division of human rights in the 1960s she focused attention on discrimination and the lack of roles for black actors in film and television. After earning a master's degree in education from City College
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
, she worked for drug treatment programs.
Death
Hilda Simms died in Buffalo, New YorkBuffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, aged 75, from pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...
at the home of her sister Evelyn Sharp. She was survived by four other siblings as well as her second husband.
