Hattie McDaniel was born in Wichita, Kansas on 10 June 1895 and died of cancer on 26 October 1952 in Woodland Hills, California. In 1910, when she was 15 she began working as a band vocalist and dancer and became a very well known vaudeville star, which was her path to the movies. Her first films were made in 1932 – none of them memorable until she appeared in The Golden West. She played “maid – mammy” characters and in each film, she was more assertive and out-spoken – she let her employers know that she had no use for pretentious status seeking. In 1939, Clark Gable recommended McDaniel to producer David O. Selznick for the role of Scarlett O'Hara's nursemaid Mammy in "Gone with the Wind" (1939). Selznick was so impressed with the actress that he had the screenplay rewritten to accommodate her.

This was her greatest role and she won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress at the 12th Annual Academy Awards on February 29, 1940. Ms. McDaniel was not invited to attend the premiere in Atlanta because of her race. She was the first African American to win an Oscar. After this, her roles became more menial and after 1946, she played these same roles on television. She stated on several occasions that, “I would rather play a maid than be one – I make $700 a week playing a maid. If I was one, I would make $7.00 a week.”

1932 The Impatient Maiden – Injured Patient (uncredited)

1932 Are You Listening? – Aunt Fatima – Singer (uncredited)

1932 The Washington Masquerade – Maid (uncredited)

1932 The Boiling Point – Caroline the Cook (uncredited)

1932 Crooner – Maid in the Ladies’ Room (uncredited)

1932 Blonde Venus – Cora, Helen’s Maid in New Orleans (uncredited)

1932 The Golden West – Mammy Lou (uncredited)

1932 Hypnotized – Powder Room Attendant (uncredited)

1933 Hello, Sister! – Woman in Apartment House (unconfirmed, uncredited)

1933 I’m No Angel – Tira’s Maid-Manicurist (uncredited)

1933 Goodbye Love – Edna the Maid (uncredited)

1934 Mickey’s Rescue (Short) – Maid (uncredited)

1934 Merry Wives of Reno – Bunny’s Maid (uncredited)

1934 City Park – Tessie the Ransome Maid

1934 Operator 13 – Annie (uncredited)

1934 King Kelly of the U.S.A. – Black Narcissus Mop Buyer (uncredited)

1934 Judge Priest – Aunt Dilsey (as Hattie McDaniels)

1934 Flirtation – Minor Role (uncredited)

1934 Lost in the Stratosphere – Ida Johnson (as Hattie McDaniels)

1934 Fate’s Fathead (Short) – Mandy the Maid (uncredited)

1934 Babbitt – Rosalie, the Maid (uncredited)

1934 Little Men – Asia (uncredited)

1934 The Chases of Pimple Street (Short) – Hattie, Gertrude’s Maid

1935 Anniversary Trouble (Short) – Mandy, the Maid

1935 Okay Toots! (Short) – Hattie the Maid (uncredited)

1935 The Little Colonel – Mom Beck

1935 Transient Lady – Servant (uncredited)

1935 Traveling Saleslady – Martha Smith (uncredited)

1935 Wig-Wag (Short) – Cook (uncredited)

1935 The Four Star Boarder (Short) – Maid (uncredited)

1935 China Seas – Isabel McCarthy, Dolly’s Maid (uncredited)

1935 Alice Adams – Malena Burns (as Hattie McDaniels)

1935 Harmony Lane – Liza, the cook (uncredited)

1935 Murder by Television – Isabella, the Cook

1935 Music Is Magic – Hattie (Amanda in credits) (as Hattie McDaniels)

1935 Another Face – Nellie – Sheila’s Maid (uncredited)

1935 We’re Only Human – Molly, Martin’s Maid (uncredited)

1936 Next Time We Love – Hanna (uncredited)

1936 The First Baby – Dora

1936 The Singing Kid – Maid (uncredited)

1936 Gentle Julia – Kitty Silvers

1936 Arbor Day (Short) – Buckwheat’s Mother

1936 Showboat – Queenie

1936 The Bride Walks Out – Mamie – Carolyn’s Maid (as Hattie McDaniels)

1936 High Tension – Hattie

1936 Postal Inspector – Deborah (uncredited)

1936 Star for a Night – Hattie

1936 Valiant Is the Word for Carrie – Ellen Belle (as Hattie McDaniels)

1936 Libeled Lady – Maid in Grand Plaza Hall (uncredited)

1936 Can This Be Dixie? – Lizzie

1936 Reunion – Sadie

1937 Racing Lady – Abby

1937 Don’t Tell the Wife – Mamie, Nancy’s Maid (uncredited)

1937 The Crime Nobody Saw – Ambrosia

1937 The Wildcatter – Pearl (uncredited)

1937 Saratoga – Rosetta (as Hattie McDaniels)

1937 Sky Racket – Jenny (as Hattie McDaniels)

1937 Over the Goal – Hannah (as Hattie McDaniels)

1937 Merry Go Round of 1938 – Maid

1937 Nothing Sacred – Mrs. Walker (uncredited)

1937 45 Fathers – Beulah

1937 Quick Money – Hattie (uncredited)

1937 True Confession – Ella

1937 Mississippi Moods

1938 Battle of Broadway – Agatha

1938 Vivacious Lady – Hattie – Maid at Prom Dance (uncredited)

1938 The Shopworn Angel – Martha

1938 Carefree – Hattie (uncredited)

1938 The Mad Miss Manton – Hilda (as Hattie McDaniels)

1938 The Shining Hour – Belvedere

1939 Everybody’s Baby – Hattie

1939 Zenobia – Dehlia (as Hattie McDaniels)

1939 Gone With the Wind – Mammy – House Servant

1940 Maryland – Aunt Carrie

1941 The Great Lie – Violet

1941 Affectionately Yours – Cynthia

1941 They Died With Their Boots On – Callie

1942 The Male Animal – Cleota

1942 In This Our Life – Minerva Clay

1942 George Washington Slept Here – Hester, the Fuller’s Maid

1943 Johnny Come Lately – Aida

1943 Thank Your Lucky Stars – Gossip in ‘Ice Cold Katie’ Number

1944 Since You Went Away – Fidelia

1944 Janie – April – Conway’s Maid

1944 Three is a Family – Maid

1944 Hi, Beautiful – Millie

1946 Janie Gets Married – April

1946 Margie – Cynthia

1946 Never Say Goodbye – Cozy

1946 Song of the South – Aunt Tempy

1947 The Flame – Celia

1948 Mickey – Bertha

1948 Family Honeymoon – Phyllis

1949 The Big Wheel (as Hattie McDaniels)

Academy Awards, USA

1940 Won Oscar – Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Gone with the Wind


Walk of Fame

1960 Won Star on the Walk of Fame: Motion Picture