Madge Sinclair
Encyclopedia
Madge Dorita Sinclair was a Jamaican American
character actress.
, to Herbert and Jemima Walters. She was a teacher in Jamaica until 1968 when she left for New York to pursue her career in acting.
nomination for her role as Belle in the miniseries
Roots
. Also in 1978 she co-starred in the short-lived sitcom Grandpa Goes to Washington
. She went on to a long-running stint in the 1980s as nurse Ernestine Shoop on the series Trapper John, M.D.
opposite Pernell Roberts
. She received three Emmy nominations for her work on the show, and critic Donald Bogle
praised her for "maintaining her composure and assurance no matter what the script imposed on her."
In 1988, Sinclair played Queen Aoleon opposite James Earl Jones
' King Jaffe Joffer in the Eddie Murphy
comedy Coming to America
. Later, she would reteam with Jones as King and Queen for the role of Sarabi, Simba
’s mother, in the blockbuster Disney
animated film The Lion King
(1994). The film became one of the best selling titles ever on home video
. The two also collaborated on the series Gabriel's Fire
, which earned Sinclair an Emmy in 1991 for Best Supporting Actress in a Dramatic Series famously beating out the expected winner, L.A. Law
's Diana Muldaur
. She also received critical praise for her supporting role in the 1992 television movie Jonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted
with JoBeth Williams
. In 1994, Sinclair also played a supporting role in the short-lived ABC-TV
sitcom Me and the Boys, which starred Steve Harvey
.
Sinclair, in her brief role as the captain of the USS Saratoga in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
, was the first female starship captain to appear in Star Trek
. Years later, she played Geordi La Forge
's mother, captain of the USS Hera, in Star Trek: The Next Generation
' s "Interface".
A capable and versatile businesswoman as well, Sinclair was an art dealer, chairwoman of the women's clothing manufacturer Madge Walters Sinclair Inc., and owner of the Action Income Tax Service.
. She was cremated. Her ashes were buried in Jamaica.
Jamaican American
Jamaican Americans are Americans of Jamaican heritage or Jamaican-born people who live in the United States of America. American citizenship is not a prerequisite of being a Jamaican American as permanent residents are also given this title....
character actress.
Early years
Sinclair was born Madge Dorita Walters in Kingston, JamaicaKingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
, to Herbert and Jemima Walters. She was a teacher in Jamaica until 1968 when she left for New York to pursue her career in acting.
Career
In 1978, she starred in the film Convoy as the Widow Maker. She played Leona Hamiltons in Cornbread, Earl and Me. She would later receive an Emmy AwardEmmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
nomination for her role as Belle in the miniseries
Miniseries
A miniseries , in a serial storytelling medium, is a television show production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. The exact number is open to interpretation; however, they are usually limited to fewer than a whole season. The term "miniseries" is generally a North American term...
Roots
Roots (TV miniseries)
Roots is a 1977 American television miniseries based on Alex Haley's fictional novel Roots: The Saga of an American Family. Roots received 36 Emmy Award nominations, winning nine. It also won a Golden Globe and a Peabody Award. It received unprecedented Nielsen ratings with the finale still...
. Also in 1978 she co-starred in the short-lived sitcom Grandpa Goes to Washington
Grandpa Goes to Washington
Grandpa Goes to Washington is an American sitcom that aired on NBC on Tuesday night from September 7, 1978 to January 16, 1979.-Plot:The series centered on Joe Kelley, a political science teacher who was forced to retire when he turned 66, who then got himself elected to the U.S senate.-Cast:*Jack...
. She went on to a long-running stint in the 1980s as nurse Ernestine Shoop on the series Trapper John, M.D.
Trapper John, M.D.
Trapper John, M.D. is an American television medical drama and spin-off of the film MASH, concerning a lovable surgeon who became a mentor and father figure in San Francisco, California. The show ran on CBS from September 23, 1979, to September 4, 1986....
opposite Pernell Roberts
Pernell Roberts
Pernell Elvin Roberts, Jr. was an American stage, movie and television actor, as well as a singer. In addition to guest starring in over 60 television series, he was widely known for his roles as Ben Cartwright's eldest son, Adam Cartwright, on the western series Bonanza, a role he played from...
. She received three Emmy nominations for her work on the show, and critic Donald Bogle
Donald Bogle
Donald Bogle is a film historian and author of six books concerning African Americans in film and on television. He is an instructor at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and at the University of Pennsylvania.-Early years:...
praised her for "maintaining her composure and assurance no matter what the script imposed on her."
In 1988, Sinclair played Queen Aoleon opposite James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones is an American actor. He is well-known for his distinctive bass voice and for his portrayal of characters of substance, gravitas and leadership...
' King Jaffe Joffer in the Eddie Murphy
Eddie Murphy
Edward Regan "Eddie" Murphy is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, singer, director, and musician....
comedy Coming to America
Coming to America
Coming to America is a 1988 comedy film directed by John Landis. The screenplay was written by David Sheffield and Barry W. Blaustein, from a story by Eddie Murphy, who also stars in the film. Murphy plays an African prince, who heads to the United States in hopes of finding a woman he can marry...
. Later, she would reteam with Jones as King and Queen for the role of Sarabi, Simba
Simba
Simba is a lion character and the protagonist of Disney's most successful animated feature film, The Lion King. He is the son of Mufasa and Sarabi, nephew of Scar, mate of Nala, and father of Kiara. He has golden fur and when he grows into an adult, he has an auburn mane...
’s mother, in the blockbuster Disney
Walt Disney Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures is an American film studio owned by The Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney Pictures and Television, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Studios and the main production company for live-action feature films within the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group, based at the Walt Disney...
animated film The Lion King
The Lion King
The Lion King is a 1994 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is the 32nd feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series...
(1994). The film became one of the best selling titles ever on home video
Home video
Home video is a blanket term used for pre-recorded media that is either sold or rented/hired for home cinema entertainment. The term originates from the VHS/Betamax era but has carried over into current optical disc formats like DVD and Blu-ray Disc and, to a lesser extent, into methods of digital...
. The two also collaborated on the series Gabriel's Fire
Gabriel's Fire
Gabriel's Fire is an American television series that ran on ABC in the USA in 1990–1991. A revamped version of the series, entitled Pros and Cons, aired briefly the following season.-Overview:...
, which earned Sinclair an Emmy in 1991 for Best Supporting Actress in a Dramatic Series famously beating out the expected winner, L.A. Law
L.A. Law
L.A. Law is a US television legal drama that ran on NBC from September 15, 1986 to May 19, 1994. L.A. Law reflected the social and cultural ideologies of the 1980s and early 1990s and many of the cases featured on the show dealt with hot topic issues such as abortion, racism, gay rights,...
's Diana Muldaur
Diana Muldaur
Diana Muldaur is an Emmy-nominated American film and television actress.-Career:Born in New York City, but raised on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, Muldaur started acting in high school and continued on through college, graduating from Sweet Briar College in Virginia in 1960. She studied acting...
. She also received critical praise for her supporting role in the 1992 television movie Jonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted
Jonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted
Jonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted, inspired by a true story concerning a landmark legal decision for rights of the disabled, is a 1992 NBC Movie of Week starring JoBeth Williams and Chris Burke...
with JoBeth Williams
JoBeth Williams
JoBeth Williams is an American film and television actress and director, and current President of the Screen Actors Guild Foundation.-Early life:...
. In 1994, Sinclair also played a supporting role in the short-lived ABC-TV
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
sitcom Me and the Boys, which starred Steve Harvey
Steve Harvey
Broderick Steven "Steve" Harvey is an American actor, comedian, entertainer, television and radio personality and best-selling author. He is best known as the star of the WB sitcom The Steve Harvey Show, and as one of the four comedians featured in the Spike Lee film The Original Kings of Comedy...
.
Sinclair, in her brief role as the captain of the USS Saratoga in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home is a 1986 American science fiction film released by Paramount Pictures. It is the fourth feature film based on the Star Trek science fiction television series and completes the story arc begun in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and continued in Star Trek III: The...
, was the first female starship captain to appear in Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
. Years later, she played Geordi La Forge
Geordi La Forge
Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge is a regular character in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and its feature films, played by LeVar Burton...
's mother, captain of the USS Hera, in Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
A capable and versatile businesswoman as well, Sinclair was an art dealer, chairwoman of the women's clothing manufacturer Madge Walters Sinclair Inc., and owner of the Action Income Tax Service.
Personal life
Sinclair was first married to Royston Sinclair, a police officer, with whom she had two sons, Garry and Wayne. In 1982, she married actor Dean Compton and remained with him until her death.Death
Sinclair died in 1995 from leukemiaLeukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
. She was cremated. Her ashes were buried in Jamaica.