Madge Dorita Sinclair CD (née Walters; April 28, 1938 – December 20, 1995) was a Jamaican actress best known for her roles in Cornbread, Earl and Me (1975), Convoy (1978), Coming to America (1988), Trapper John, M.D. (1980–1986), and the ABC TV miniseries Roots (1977). Sinclair also voiced the character of Sarabi, Mufasa's mate and Simba's mother, in the Disney animated feature film The Lion King (1994). A five-time Emmy Award nominee, Sinclair won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role as "Empress" Josephine in Gabriel's Fire in 1991.
Early life and education
Born Madge Dorita Walters in Kingston, Jamaica, to Jamaican parents Herbert and Jemima Walters, Sinclair studied at Shortwood College for Women. After completing her studies, she worked as a teacher in Jamaica until 1966, when she left for New York to pursue her career in acting. Sinclair began acting with Joseph Papp's Public Theatre. In 1971 she portrayed Clytemnestra in the New York Shakespearean Festival production of The Wedding of Iphigenia.
Career
Sinclair made her film debut as Mrs. Scott in Conrack (1974) opposite Jon Voight; a role which earned her a nomination for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture. Her final acting role was in an episode of the sitcom Dream On, which first aired one month before her death.
Personal life
Sinclair was married to Royston Sinclair, a Jamaican police officer, from 1956 until 1969 and had two sons with him.
Death
Sinclair died on December 20, 1995, aged 57, following a 13-year battle with leukemia. Her remains were cremated She was posthumously awarded the Order of Distinction, rank of Commander, for service in the performing arts by Prime Minister of Jamaica, P. J. Patterson in October 2000.
Filmography
Film
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable"| Notes
|-
| 1972
| The Witches of Salem: The Horror and the Hope
| Tituba
| Short
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1974
| I Love You... Good-bye
| Salesgirl
|
|-
| Conrack
| Mrs. Scott
| Nominated—NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
|-
| 1975
| Cornbread, Earl and Me
| Leona Hamilton
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1976
| I Will, I Will... for Now
| Dr. Williams
|
|-
| Leadbelly
| Miss Eula
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1978
| Convoy
| Widow Woman
|
|-
| Uncle Joe Shannon
| Margaret
|
|-
| 1986
| Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
| Saratoga Captain
| Uncredited
|-
| 1988
| Coming to America
| Queen Aoleon
|
|-
| 1990
| The End of Innocence
| Nurse Bowlin
|
|-
| 1994
| The Lion King
| Sarabi
| Voice; final film role
|}
Television films
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable"| Notes
|-
| 1975
| Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
| Sarah Prentiss
|
|-
| 1978
| One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story
| Georgia LeFlore
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1980
| Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones
| Mrs. Jefferson
|
|-
| High Ice
| Dr. Pittman
|
|-
| 1987
| Look Away
| Elizabeth Keckley
|
|-
| 1992
| Jonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted
| Faye Lincoln
|
|}
Television series
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable"| Notes
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1972
| Sesame Street
| Dr. Marzullo
| Episode 0343: Measles vaccination
|-
| Madigan
| Boots
| Episode: "The Midtown Beat"
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1974
| Medical Center
| Arbiter
| Episode: "Tainted Lady"
|-
| The Waltons
| Minnie Doze
| Episode: "The Visitor"
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1975
| Joe Forrester
| Sheila Gates
| Episode: "Stake Out"
|-
| Doctors' Hospital
| n/a
| Episode: "Come at Last to Love"
|-
| 1976
| Executive Suite
| Judge Gillespie
| Episode: "Who Shall Hall Bring Mercy"
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1977
| Roots
| Bell Reynolds
| 3 episodes<br>Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
|-
| Serpico
| Michelle
| Episode: "One Long Tomorrow"
|-
| 1978
| ABC Afterschool Specials
| Mrs. Bradsbury
| Episode: "The Rag Tag Champs"
|-
| 1979
| The White Shadow
| Louelia Judd
| Episode: "Sudden Death"
|-
| 1980–1986
| Trapper John, M.D.
| Ernestine Shoop
| 129 episodes<br>Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series <small>(1983–85)</small>
|-
| 1984
| ABC Afterschool Specials
| Miss Thomas
| Episode: "Backwards: The Riddle of Dyslexia"
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1987
| Mathnet
| Amelia Airliver
| Episode: "Problem of the Trojan Hamburger"
|-
| Ohara
| Gussie Lemmons
| 11 episodes
|-
| Starman
| Lorraine Michaels
| Episode: "The Test"
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1989
| Gideon Oliver
| Angela Holmes
| Episode: "By the Waters of Babylon"
|-
| Roseanne
| Muriel Johnston
| Episode: "Guilt by Disassociation"
|-
| Midnight Caller
| Ida May
| Episode: "Take Back the Streets"
|-
| 1990–1991
| Gabriel's Fire
| Empress Josephine
| 22 episodes<br>Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series<br>Nominated—Viewers for Quality Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Quality Drama Series
|-
| 1991–1992
| Pros and Cons
| Josephine Austin
| 12 episodes
|-
| 1991
| The Orchid House
| Lally
| 4 episodes
|-
| 1992
| L.A. Law
| Jessica Rollins
| Episode: "Diet, Diet My Darling"
|-
| 1992
| Tales from the Crypt
| Lucille
| Episode: "Curiosity Killed"
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1993
| Alex Haley's Queen
| Dora
| Episode 3
|-
| Star Trek: The Next Generation
| Captain Silva La Forge
| Episode: "Interface"
|-
| 1994–1995
| Me and the Boys
| Mary Tower
| 19 episodes
|-
| 1995
| Dream On
| Mrs. Charles
| Episode: "Little Orphan Eddie"
|}