
Mary Alice was born on December 3, 1936 in Indianola, Mississippi, USA to parents Ozelar Jurnakin (Smith) and Sam Smith. She was an actress, known for The Matrix Revolutions (2003), Awakenings (1990) and Malcolm X (1992). She taught in Elementary School before her acting career took off. When she was still a struggling actress doing stage plays, she made a living doing her castmate's laundry for a salary of $200 a week. She was a lifelong liberal Democrat, feminist, and civil rights activist. Was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2000. She retired from acting in 2005. She died of natural causes on July 27, 2022 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. Upon her death, she was buried with her siblings at Oak Wood Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois, in regard for her last wishes.

Law & Order
TV • 1990

Great Performances
TV • 1971

L.A. Law
TV • 1986

Touched by an Angel
TV • 1994

Oz
TV • 1997

Police Woman
TV • 1974

Providence
TV • 1999

A Different World
TV • 1987

Green Acres
TV • 1965

Performance
TV • 1991

Sanford and Son
TV • 1972

Good Times
TV • 1974

Cosby
TV • 1996

The Matrix Revolutions
MOVIE • 2003

The Jury
TV • 2004

Soul Food
TV • 2000

Kojak
TV • 2005

I'll Fly Away
TV • 1991