Zara Cully - Early Life and Career

Early Life and Career

Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, on January 26, 1892, Brown was one of ten children. She graduated from the Worcester School of Speech and Music, and was one of the oldest performers active in television at the time of her death. In 1940 after a stint in New York City she became known as "one of the world's greatest elocutionists". After moving to Jacksonville, Florida, she began producing, writing, directing, and acting in numerous plays. For 15 years she was a drama teacher at her own studio as well as at Edward Waters College, and had become known as Florida's "Dean of Drama" before numerous experiences with racism in the South directed her decision to leave for Hollywood, where she became a regular performer at the Ebony Showcase Theatre.

By the time she acquired the role of 'Mother' Jefferson, she had accumulated a long list of acting credentials that spanned over 50 years appearing in such movies as The Learning Tree, the Blacksploitation cult film Sugar Hill, The Liberation of L.B. Jones, The Great White Hope, Ghetto Woman, and a starring role in Brother John played opposite Sidney Poitier. Her TV career went back to what critics call 'the golden age of television' including appearances on the highly acclaimed Playhouse 90 series. Besides The Jeffersons her television credits included A Dream for Christmas, the CBS Playhouse production of The People Next Door, the NBC Matinee Theater's Run for Your Life, Cowboy in Africa, Name of the Game, Mod Squad, Night Gallery, and All in the Family. Though highly respected by many influential people in the film industry as a dedicated craftsman, she had gained no fame until the role of 'Mother' Jefferson quickly endeared her to television audiences throughout the United States and Canada where she became an instant celebrity.