Rosalind Miles obit

Rosalind Medlock-Miles Obituary

 

She was not on the list.

Rosalind Beatrice Miles, 82, died February 8, 2022, at her home in Los Angeles, California.

Ms. Miles was born January 15,1940, in Ft. Worth, Texas, to Roscoe and Johnnie Mae Medlock. She received her BA from Howard University in Washington, D.C. She also attended Juilliard School as she pursued her career in acting.

Rosalind's acting career began in 1971 where she appeared in movies and on television until she retired from acting in 1982.

She is survived by family and friends in California and Texas.

Miles moved to Los Angeles, California, to pursue her career in acting. Miles worked as a waitress in a local restaurant when she was discovered by a talent scout. In 1971, Miles made her film debut in Russel Vincent's How's Your Love Life? as Julie. Miles had several television appearances before her most notable role. In 1972, Miles played Arna Asby, the girlfriend of Shaft in the action film Shaft's Big Score!. After Shaft, Miles received a lead role as Erica in Al Adamson's 1974 crime film I Spit on Your Corpse (also known as Girls For Rent). Miles had roles in such films as The Black Six (1973), The Manhandlers (1974).

Miles appeared alongside Pam Grier as Cloris Boston, a fashion model, in 1975's blaxploitation film Friday Foster. In 1977, Miles auditioned for the role of Coretta Scott King for the NBC television mini-series based on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. King, but the role was portrayed by Cicely Tyson. Miles last acting role was in Ernest Tidyman's To Kill A Cop in 1978. Miles was a part of the production of Guys and Dolls with her husband Todd Davis in 1981. Miles retired from acting in 1982.

Miles married three times and had no children. Her first marriage was to her high school sweetheart James W. Powell from August 28, 1963, to August 1966. From January 1968 until October 1969, Miles was married to Robert L. Miles then actor Todd Davis from March 1979 until his death in July 2013. Miles dated actor and martial artist Jim Kelly from 1973 to 1976.

 

Filmography

Film

Year     Title            Role            Notes

1971    How's Your Love Life?     Julie     

1972    Shaft's Big Score!            Arna Asby   

1973    The Black Six            Ceal    

1974    I Spit on Your Corpse Erica   

The Manhandlers            Mo      

1975    Attack on Terror: The FBI vs. the Ku Klux Klan            Rose Jackson            Television Movie

The Turning Point of Jim Malloy  Bo-Peep            Television Movie

Friday Foster            Cloris Boston

1977    Benny and Barney: Las Vegas Undercover            Alice            Television Movie

1978    To Kill A Cop  Ida            Television Movie

 

Television

Year     Title            Role            Notes

1971–1972            Here's Lucy            Stewardess/Waitress            Episode: Lucy Helps David Frost Go Night-Night

Episode: The Case of the Reckless Wheelchair Driver

1972            Columbo          Nancy            Episode: Short Fuse

1976    Starsky and Hutch            Dorothy Nedloe            Episode: Bounty Hunter

Baretta Big Mama            Episode: Can't Win for Losin'