Theresa Merritt

Theresa Merritt Hines (September 24, 1922- June 12, 1998) was an American stage, film and direction actress and singer.
==Career==
Born in Emporia, Virginia, Merritt appeared in many theatrical productions but gained fame later in life when she starred in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (Tony Award nomination) and The Wiz (she replaced Mabel King as Evelline, and although the demanding role was a highly visible one for her she left it, citing its deleterious effect on her voice) and the television series That's My Mama.
Her most notable film roles were Aunt Em in the 1978 film version of The Wiz, Mrs. Crosby in the 1977 film adaptation of Neil Simon's The Goodbye Girl and Juanita in the Adam Sandler comedy Billy Madison. She also appeared alongside Burt Reynolds and Dolly Parton in the film adaptation of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.
==Personal Life and Death==
Merritt was married to Benjamin Hines; they had four children. Merritt died of skin cancer on June 12, 1998 in The Bronx.
==Filmography==
===Film===
Year	Title 	Role
1971	They Might Be Giants 	Peggy
1977	Proof of the Man 	Peggy
1977	The Goodbye Girl 	Mrs. Crosby
1978	The Wiz 	Aunt Emma
1979	The Great Santini 	Arrabella Smalls
1979	All That Jazz 	Cast of NY/LA
1982	The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas	Jewel
1988	Astonished 	Ida
1988	The Serpent and the Rainbow 	Simone
1989	Zwei Frauen 	Nurse Wilson
1991	Voodoo Dawn 	Madame Daslay
1995	Billy Madison 	Juanita
1998	Dangerous Proposition 	Grace
1998	Home Fries 	Mrs. Vaughan
===Television===
Year 	Title 	Role
1969 	J.T. 	Mama Meley
1973 	The Furst Family of Washington	Eloise "Mama" Furst
1974-1975	That's My Mama 	Eloise "Mama" Curtis
1975 	Police Story 	Mrs. Johnson
1980 	NBC Special Treat 	
1983 	The Love Boat 	Faye Pillips
1984 	Concealed Enemies 	Clytie Catlett
1988 	Miracle at Beekman's Place 	Sarag Coleman
1997 	Law & Order 	Ruth Titus
1998 	NYPD Blue 	Bernice
1998 	Cosby 	Edna Stone
Category:Billy Madison