| Birth: | Aug. 28, 1929
Miami
Miami-Dade County
Florida, USA | | Death: | Dec. 2, 1995
Los Angeles
Los Angeles County
California, USA | 
Actress. She is best known for her portrayal as 'Helen Willis' on the popular television sitcom "The Jefferson's" and mother of rock star Lenny Kravitz. Raised in Brooklyn, New York, she later attended Howard University in Washington, D.C. where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1952. While at Howard she was a very active member in the Howard Players and was featured in several productions. She was also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Soroity, Inc. After graduation, she moved to New York City and began working in an office while appearing in several off-Broadway plays. She became a full-time actress after joining the Negro Ensemble Company (NEC). While with the NEC Roker appeared in the plays Ododo and Rosalee Pritchard. In 1974 she won and Obie Award and was also nominated for a Tony for her performance as Mattie Williams in The River Niger. She married Russian Jewish television producer Sy Kravitz (later divorced) in 1962 with whom she had one child, singer Lenny Kravitz in 1964. In 1975, Roker was cast in "The Jefferson's" where she along with co-star Franklin Cover broke barriers becoming the first interracial married couple on prime-time television. After the show ended in 1985, she returned to the stage touring with Mary Martin and Carol Channing in Legends. Roker's other movie roles and television appearances included "Roots," "Kojak," "Fantasy Island," "Trapper John M.D.," "Murder She Wrote," "227," "Hangin' with Mr. Cooper," and "A Different World." She also once hosted a local community televison show in the late 1960s. Her community work, including her service as a board member of the Inter Agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect, earned her two citations from the Los Angeles City Council. (bio by: Curtis Jackson)
Cause of death: Breast cancer
Search Amazon for Roxie Roker | | | Burial:
Southern Memorial Park
North Miami
Miami-Dade County
Florida, USA
Plot: East Court 2 Lot 19 Gr 2B in the grass area on the left side by side walk. |
Maintained by: Find A Grave
Record added: Sep 13, 2000
Find A Grave Memorial# 12466 |
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