Leila Danette obit

 Actress Leila Danette Has  Died

She was not on the list.

Born in Jacksonville, Florida, Danette attended both Morgan State University and Howard University. Before becoming an actress, she worked as an elementary school teacher in Baltimore and taught speech to students in Washington, D.C.

Danette began acting professionally on the stage at age 67. One of her first substantial roles was opposite James Earl Jones in The Great White Hope. In 1982, she was noted for her performance in The Brothers. In The New York Times Theatre Reviews 1999-2000, D. J. R. Brickner wrote of her performance in Uncle Jack, noting that she was a "Broadway veteran" who imbued her role of Mary with a "touching authenticity".

In addition to stage roles, Danette appeared in several films including The First Deadly Sin (1980) and Garbo Talks (1984). She has also had guest roles on A Different World, The Cosby Show, Law & Order, and Third Watch.

Filmography

Film

Year        Film        Role       Notes

1980     The First Deadly Sin         Woman on Step #1         

1982     Benny's Place     Role Unknown 

1984     Death Mask        Della     

Garbo Talks         Augusta              

1986     Power   Poor Woman     

1987     The Rosary Murders        Mrs. Washington             

1988     Running on Empty           Maid     

1997     White Lies            Woman #2 in Window   

2003     Pieces of April    Woman in Stairwell         

Television

Year        Title        Role       Notes

1988     A Different World             Mrs. Pruitt           Episode: "A Stepping Stone"

1990–1991         You Take the Kids              Helen     6 episodes

1992     The Cosby Show               Mrs. Whittaker   Episode: "The Price is Wrong"

1995     New York Undercover     Mae Helen           Episode: "Private Enemy No. 1"

1994–2001         Law & Order       Various roles      4 episodes

2003     Third Watch        Lucinda Episode: "A Ticket Grows in Brooklyn"