MADGE SINCLAIR: JAMAICA’S FIRST LADY OF FILM!

Jamaican-born actress Madge Sinclair is best remembered for her portrayal of Kunta Kinte’s wife, house slave Belle, whose only child — Kizzy — is sold to another plantation owner in the epic television drama Roots in 1977. Her performance earned her an Emmy nomination; a long career in American television followed.

Madge Sinclair

Sinclair was born Madge Walters in Kingston, but had roots in St Ann (where Marcus Garvey was born) and Manchester. Her paternal great-grandmother was the sister of Garvey’s father. After completing her education at the Shortwood Teachers’ College, she taught in the Jamaican school system before migrating to New York at age 30. It was there that she acted with the New York Shakespearean Festival and at Joseph Papp’s Public Theater.

Madge Sinclair and actor John Amos in a film

Her entry into Hollywood came in the 1970s when quality roles for black women were almost unheard of. She was among a batch of actresses of Caribbean heritage, others being Sheryl Lee Ralph, whose mother is Jamaican; and Cicely Tyson, whose parents are from St Kitts and Nevis.

However, throughout her 20-year Hollywood career, Sinclair never lost sight of her Caribbean identity. That could not have been more evident than in her role as nurse Ernestine Shoop in the hit 1980s television series, Trapper John MD, which starred Pernell Roberts of Bonanza fame. Her character was distinctly West Indian.

Madge Sinclair in Coming To America

Later, she starred as James Earl Jones’ wife and Eddie Murphy’s mother in the hit 1988 movie, Coming to America. She also voiced the character of Sarabi, Mufasa’s mate and Simba’s mother, in the animated feature film The Lion King.

Sinclair won the 1991 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress — Drama Series for her role as Empress Josephine in Gabriel’s Fire. She also landed roles in other shows such as Pros and Cons, Star Trek, The Next Generation, Roseanne, and Gideon Oliver.

Sinclair died of leukemia in 1995. She was cremated in Jamaica.