Skip to content
Motif
Esther Rolle

Esther Rolle

Actor · Died November 17, 1998, aged 78 · Pompano Beach, Florida USA

Esther Elizabeth Rolle (November 8, 1920 – November 17, 1998) was a Bahamian American actress. Rolle is best known for her role as Florida Evans, on the CBS television sitcom Maude, for two seasons (1972–1974), and its spin-off series Good Times, for five seasons (1974–77, 1978–79), for which Rolle was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Television Series Musical or Comedy in 1976. Rolle is best known for her television role as Florida Evans, the character she played on two 1970s sitcoms. The character was introduced as Maude Findlay's housekeeper on Maude, and was spun off in the show's second season into Good Times, a show about Florida's family. Rolle was nominated in 1975 for the Best Actress in a Musical/Comedy Golden Globe Award for her role in Good Times. Rolle was 19 years older than the actor (John Amos) who played her husband James Evans. The James Evans character was only added after Esther Rolle fought hard for a father figure and husband to be added to the show. Rolle had fought for the father character on the show, more relevant themes and scripts and was unhappy when the success of Jimmie Walker's character, J.J. Evans, took the show in a frivolous direction. John Amos agreed with Rolle about Walker's character and was fired from the show after the third season ended. Later on, in a stand-off with Good Times producer Norman Lear, Rolle also quit when her contract ended. Although the show continued without her for the fifth season, she returned for the show's final season. In 1979 she won an Emmy for her role in Summer of My German Soldier, a made-for-television movie. Among her guest star roles was one on The Incredible Hulk in an episode entitled "Behind the Wheel" where she played a taxicab business owner. In the 1990s, Rolle was a surprise guest on RuPaul's VH-1 talk show. Her Maude co-star Bea Arthur was the guest, and Rolle was brought out to surprise Arthur. The two had not seen each other in years, Arthur said, and embraced warmly. Rolle also appeared in a series of psychic hotline TV commercials in the 1990s. "Tell them Esther sent you," was her trademark line.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 8, 1920
Died
November 17, 1998 (aged 78)
From
Pompano Beach, Florida USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
27 on Motif · 44 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 39 days to Oct 28Down 8% in 30 days

What are Esther Rolle's films like?

Across their 14 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Society.

Genres

Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 67th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 64th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies

Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
29%
Society
22%
Survival
17%
Self
16%
Power
11%
Morality
5%
Family bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themePrejudice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass3 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 12 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 6 · Serious 3 · Dark 3

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 9 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 2 · Charged 8 · Intense 2

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 7 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 7 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 2

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 6 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

A split, not a type: Casual 6 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 1

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 5 · Affecting 3 · Heavy 4

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 9 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

8 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 2 of 8 analyzed roles.

Ally
2 of 8
Hero
2 of 8
Mentor
2 of 8
Trickster
1 of 8
Shadow
1 of 8
Show the 8 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
7
Warm
7
Hopeful
7
Joyful
4
Contemplative
5
Other
10

How their films linger

Hopeful9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet10
  • Other1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Esther Rolle's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 14 of their 27 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (8).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Esther Rolle's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

44 credits, 27 with a Motif page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Train Ride (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2005)

    as Dean of Students

  • Down in the Delta(1998)

    as Annie Sinclair

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Rosewood(1997)

    as Aunt Sarah

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • My Fellow Americans(1996)

    as Rita

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Promised Land (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Mary Harding

  • How to Make an American Quilt(1995)

    as Aunt Pauline

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Nobody's Girls: Five Women of the West (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    as Clara Brown

  • Scarlett(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Mammy

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all shows

  • Touched by an Angel(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Mary Harding

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • To Dance with the White Dog(1993)

    as Neelie

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Message from Nam (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1993)

    as Queenie / Elizabeth McQueen

  • House of Cards(1993)

    as Adelle

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Cape Fear(1991)

    as Woman Watching Cady Get Out from Under the Car (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Kid Who Loved Christmas(1990)

    as Esther Clayton

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Singer and Sons (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 4 episodes · Actor

  • Age-Old Friends (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)

    as Mrs. Baker

  • Driving Miss Daisy(1989)

    as Idella

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Mighty Quinn(1989)

    as Ubu Pearl

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • A Raisin in the Sun (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)

    as Lena 'Mama' Younger

  • P.K. and the Kid(1987)

    as Mim

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Ethnic Notions (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1986)

    as Narrator

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Margaret

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Finder of Lost Loves (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Nellie

  • The Grand Baby (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1983)

    as Momma

  • The New Odd Couple (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Ms. Gibbs

  • American Playhouse (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Church Woman · as Lena Younger

  • The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)

    as Nurse

  • Darkroom (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Old Woman

  • See China and Die(1981)

    as Momma Sykes

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Flamingo Road (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings(1979)

    as Momma

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Summer of My German Soldier(1978)

    as Ruth

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Incredible Hulk(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • The Love Boat(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge Kramer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • Good Times(1974)

    Show 109 episodes · as Florida Evans

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Cleopatra Jones(1973)

    as Mrs. Johnson

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Don't Play Us Cheap(1972)

    as Miss Maybell

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Maude(1972)

    Show 46 episodes · as Florida Evans

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • Who Says I Can't Ride a Rainbow! (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1971)

    as Maid

  • The Learning Tree(1969)

    as uncredited

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Up the Down Staircase(1967)

    as Teacher

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Nothing But a Man(1964)

    as Church Woman

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • To Kill a Mockingbird(1962)

    as uncredited role

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1951)

    Show Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 92nd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 44 titles from 1951 to 2005; peak year 1988.

Biggest box office

Driving Miss Daisy (1989)

$146M worldwide

Highest rated

Driving Miss Daisy (1989)

Midcredits 89th

Most popular right now

Maude (1972)

Film career

19512005

Peak 1988 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 1 Motif title. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting44 of 44: 44 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score59th

By decade

1950s1 · acting1960s4 · acting1970s9 · acting1980s15 · acting1990s14 · acting2000s1 · acting

Billing

usually 9th · top billed in 0% of 9 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Esther Rolle's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Midcredits score in the 76th percentile, the median of all 20; across their 12 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 65th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Approval · how many liked their films

71stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Reach · how many have seen their films

44thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Midcredits score across 27 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up12
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

13 of their 27 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser13
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed6

Most divisive · actor

Don't Play Us Cheap (1972)

90th percentile spread · 45% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

Midcredits 99th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the acting 76/100 in their films, across 11 reviewed titles; fans 83, detractors 39. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Esther Rolle's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 Motif titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 43 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 18 · mildMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 55 · moderateMedian of all films: 36
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 27 · mildMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Esther Rolle work with?

People who share at least 2 of Esther Rolle's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jessica Tandy shares the most, 2.

Actors

Composers

Producers

Mixed roles