Danitra Vance
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Born Name:
Danitra Vance
Born Date: July 13, 1954
Born Place: Chicago, Illinois
Died Date: August 21, 1994
Died Place: Markham, Illinois
Occupations: Comedian, actress
Brief Biography: Danitra Vance was best known as the first Black female repertory cast member on Saturday Night Live (1985–1986). A classically trained performer with an MFA from the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London, she was acclaimed for her work in theater, including the Obie Award-winning "Spunk" and "The Colored Museum".
Early Life and Career:
Background: Raised in Chicago's South Side, she studied at Roosevelt University before training in London. Second City: She began her career performing with the Chicago improvisational group The Second City.
Off-Broadway: She gained recognition with her one-woman show "Danitra Vance and the Mellow White Boys," which showcased her distinct comic characters.
Saturday Night Live and Typecasting:
SNL Stint: She joined SNL in 1985 (Season 11) but was frequently frustrated by being typecast in roles as maids or hookers, prompting her to leave after one season.
"I Played The Maid": She famously sang a song of her own creation, "I Played The Maid," in the Season 11 finale as her farewell to the show.
Theater, Film, and Later Work:
Obie Award: She gained significant acclaim working with playwright George C. Wolfe, winning an Obie Award for her performance in the 1990 Off-Broadway play Spunk.
Film Roles: She appeared in films such as The War of the Roses (1989), Limit Up (1989), and Little Man Tate (1991).
Performance Art: Following a breast cancer diagnosis in 1990, she created a performance piece titled "The Radical Girl's Guide to Radical Mastectomy".
Legacy:
She was remembered as a talented actress with "exceptional range" and for paving the way for Black women in comedy. She was survived by her companion, Jones Miller.
Born Date: July 13, 1954
Born Place: Chicago, Illinois
Died Date: August 21, 1994
Died Place: Markham, Illinois
Occupations: Comedian, actress
Brief Biography: Danitra Vance was best known as the first Black female repertory cast member on Saturday Night Live (1985–1986). A classically trained performer with an MFA from the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London, she was acclaimed for her work in theater, including the Obie Award-winning "Spunk" and "The Colored Museum".
Early Life and Career:
Background: Raised in Chicago's South Side, she studied at Roosevelt University before training in London. Second City: She began her career performing with the Chicago improvisational group The Second City.
Off-Broadway: She gained recognition with her one-woman show "Danitra Vance and the Mellow White Boys," which showcased her distinct comic characters.
Saturday Night Live and Typecasting:
SNL Stint: She joined SNL in 1985 (Season 11) but was frequently frustrated by being typecast in roles as maids or hookers, prompting her to leave after one season.
"I Played The Maid": She famously sang a song of her own creation, "I Played The Maid," in the Season 11 finale as her farewell to the show.
Theater, Film, and Later Work:
Obie Award: She gained significant acclaim working with playwright George C. Wolfe, winning an Obie Award for her performance in the 1990 Off-Broadway play Spunk.
Film Roles: She appeared in films such as The War of the Roses (1989), Limit Up (1989), and Little Man Tate (1991).
Performance Art: Following a breast cancer diagnosis in 1990, she created a performance piece titled "The Radical Girl's Guide to Radical Mastectomy".
Legacy:
She was remembered as a talented actress with "exceptional range" and for paving the way for Black women in comedy. She was survived by her companion, Jones Miller.