Founded the Lafayette Players, a Los Angeles repertory theatre company comprised of black actors.
She and her son Glenn once took in an Inuit runaway named Nilak Butler and eventually helped her secure a five-year contract with Warner Brothers as an actress. Nilak later became a prominent voice in the American Indian Movement.
She won a Tony for "Raisin".
Spoke several languages as part of her musical training, and even sang in Yiddish on radio for Abe Lyman's popular show.
The recipient of the National Black Theatre Festival Living Legend Award, the Paul Robeson Pioneer Award and the NAACP's Image Award for theatre excellence.
Won Broadway's 1974 Tony Award as Best Actress (Musical) for "Raisin".