Aleta Mitchell

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Aleta Mitchell
Born (1952-10-13) October 13, 1952 (age 72) [1] [2]
Chicago, Illinois, USA [3]
Occupation Actress
Years active1984–Present

Aleta Mitchell (born October 13, 1952) [1] [2] is an American stage and screen actress.

Contents

Career

Theatre

On Broadway, Mitchell played Dussie Mae in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom at Cort Theatre (1984–1985). [4] [5] She also appeared in Off Broadway productions, with various roles in Distracted (Laura Pels Theatre), as Aunt Louise in Ohio State Murders (Duke on 42nd Street), and roles in the Young Playwrights Festival (Playwrights Horizons, 1993; Joseph Papp Public Theater, 1995). [6] Regionally, she played Mrs. Dickson in Intimate Apparel at Westport Country Playhouse in 2014. [7]

Television

In 1985, Mitchell guest starred as Mrs. Randall on the television series The Cosby Show in the season one episode "Physician of the Year." [8] In 1989, Mitchell guest starred on the CBS action drama series The Equalizer as Martha Taylor, wife of Casey Taylor played by Laurence Fishburne in the season four episode, "Race Traitors." [9] The Taylors are being terrorized by Dale Stevens (played by David Andrews), who is a KKK member trying to organize neighborhood skinheads into a larger network. During the 1990s Mitchell had three roles in the Law & Order franchise; Joanne Preston in the 1991 Law & Order episode "God Bless the Child," [9] Phyllis Munroe in the 1992 Law & Order: Criminal Intent episode: "Bright Boy," and Helene Carter in the 1994 Law & Order episode "Second Opinion." [10] She also played Angelique Guerrero in The Jury (2004) [9]

Film

Mitchell's 1980s film roles include, Cara in No Mercy (1986), [11] Celestine Durand in Wes Craven's horror The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988), [10] and Victoire in Miloš Forman's romantic drama Valmont (1989). [12] Her 1990s film roles include Sister Robin in Spike Lee's biographical drama Malcolm X (1992), [13] and Alphabette in Clint Eastwood's crime drama Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997). [14] She also played Louise in the 1998 film O.K. Garage (also known as All Revved Up).

Filmography

Aleta Mitchell film and television credits
YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
1985 The Cosby Show Mrs. RandallEpisode: "Physician of the Year" [8]
1986 No Mercy CaraFilm [11]
1988 The Serpent and the Rainbow Celestine DurandFilm [10]
1989 The Equalizer Martha TaylorEpisode: "Race Traitors" [9]
1989 Valmont VictoireFilm [12]
1991 Law & Order Joanne PrestonEpisode: "God Bless the Child" [9]
1992 Malcolm X Sister RobinFilm [13]
1992 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Phyllis MunroeEpisode: "Bright Boy" [10] [9]
1994Law & OrderHelene CarterEpisode: "Second Opinion" [10] [9]
1997 Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil AlphabetteFilm [14]
1998 O.K. Garage LouiseFilm. AKA All Revved Up
2004 The Jury Angelique GuerreroEpisode: "Pilot" (S1.E8) [9]

References

  1. 1 2 "Playbill for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom". Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Aleta Mitchell". Plex. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  3. ↑ "Aleta Mitchell Headshot". Broadway World. Wisdom Digital Media. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  4. ↑ "Ma Raney's Black Bottom: About this Production". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  5. ↑ "Aleta Mitchell". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on December 10, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Aleta Mitchell Shows". Lortel Archives: The Internet Off-Broadway Database . Lucille Lortel Foundation. 2002. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  7. ↑ Danihy, Geary (12 Oct 2014). "Review: 'Intimate Apparel' a sensitive portrayal of overlooked African American lives". CT Insider. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  8. 1 2 "The Cosby Show - Season 1 - 1984: E15. Physician of the Year". Screen Rant. Valnet Publishing Group. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Aleta Mitchell Filmography". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango / NBCUniversal. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 "Aleta Michell". Apple TV+. Apple, Inc. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  11. 1 2 "Aleta Mitchell: Filmography". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  12. 1 2 Kael, Pauline (2 August 2011). 5001 Nights at the Movies. Henry Holt and Company. p. 812. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  13. 1 2 Willis, John (February 2000). "Malcom X: Cast". Screen World. 44 (1993). Bloomsbury Academic: 134. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  14. 1 2 Hughes, Howard (30 July 2009). Aim for the Heart: The Films of Clint Eastwood. I.B.Tauris. ISBN   9780857730473 . Retrieved 2 July 2025.


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