Mabel King Wiki: Salary, Married, Wedding, Spouse, Family
Mabel King (born Mabel Elizabeth Washington; December 25, 1932 – November 9, 1999) was an American film, stage television actress and singer. She was best known for her role as Mabel "Mama" Thomas on the ABC sitcom What's Happening!! from its premiere on August 5, 1976 until the end of its second season on May 11, 1978.
Full Name
Mabel King
Net Worth
$1.5 Million
Date Of Birth
December 25, 1932
Died
November 9, 1999, Los Angeles, California, United States
Death Cause
Complications from Diabetes
Place Of Birth
Charleston, South Carolina, United States
Profession
Actor, Singer
Nationality
American
Spouse
Melvin King
Children
Larry King
Parents
Joseph Washington, Rosalie Washington
Nicknames
Mabel King, King, Mabel
IMDB
Nominations
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, TV Land "She Works Hard for the Money" Award
Movies
Dead Men Don't Die, Scrooged, The Gong Show Movie, The Jerk, The Wiz, Scott Joplin, The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings, Don't Play Us Cheap, Ganja & Hess
TV Shows
What's Happening!!
Star Sign
Capricorn
#
Fact
1
She was a conservative Republican, and in 1984 was a featured speaker at the Lincoln Memorial for a "Blacks for Reagan" rally; she spoke very passionately in support of Ronald Reagan's re-election.
2
Her most famous role (both on Broadway and in the screen version) was as Evil-lene, the Wicked Witch of the West, in 'The Wiz'.
3
According to the Chinese Calendar, she was born in the Year of the Monkey, and she died in the Year of the Rabbit.
4
In 1986, she lost a toe to diabetes. In 1989, she had a stroke, leaving her left side paralyzed and virtually speechless for over a year. She also lost both her legs. In the 1990s, she almost died in surgery during a hip replacement. She was once dropped by an ambulance crew and another time fell out of her wheelchair and fell face first to the floor. She lost some of her top teeth. She died on November 9, 1999, at 3:55 AM EST at the Kaiser Foundation Hospital. She was cremated.
5
Battled diabetes for many years. She also lost her legs to the disease.
6
Had one son, Larry, with King. He died in 1996.
Actress
Title
Year
Status
Character
Dead Men Don't Die
1990
Chafuka
Black Vampire
1988
Scrooged
1988
Gramma
Wiseguy
1988
TV Series
Mae Nina
Tales from the Darkside
1986
TV Series
Ruby Cuzzins
The Colbys
1986
TV Series
Fortune Teller
Amazing Stories
1986
TV Series
Jennifer Mowbray
The Jeffersons
1984
TV Series
Mother Tobin
The Master
1984
TV Series
Willie
The Jerk, Too
1984
TV Movie
Mama Johnson
Whiz Kids
1983
TV Series
Lottery!
1983
TV Series
Mabel
ABC Weekend Specials
1983
TV Series
Mrs. Trussker
Fantasy Island
1978-1981
TV Series
Mama Parker / Bertha Jones / Lelani
Getting Over
1981
Mabel Queen
Palmerstown, U.S.A.
1981
TV Series
Aunt Toog
The Gong Show Movie
1980
Mabel
The Jerk
1979
Mother
Barney Miller
1979
TV Series
Mother Zilla
The Wiz
1978
Video
Evillene, the Wicked Witch of the West
The Wiz
1978
Evillene
What's Happening!!
1976-1978
TV Series
Mabel 'Mama' Thomas / Mrs. Thomas
Scott Joplin
1977
TV Movie
Madam Amy
The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings
1976
Bertha Dewitt, Owner of Charcoal Kings
Don't Play Us Cheap
1973
House guest at the party
Ganja & Hess
1973
Queen of Myrthia
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Love Is Not Enough
1979
performer: "Don't Nobody Bring Me No Bad News" - uncredited
The Wiz
1978
performer: "Don't Nobody Bring Me No Bad News", "Don't Nobody Bring Me No Bad News Reprise"
Ganja & Hess
1973
performer: "March Blues"
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
American Film Institute Comedy Special
1987
TV Special
Grandmother (segment "The Rec Room")
All-Star Party for 'Dutch' Reagan
1985
TV Special
Herself
Match Game 73
1978
TV Series
Herself
The Mike Douglas Show
1977-1978
TV Series
Herself - Vocalist / Herself - Actress / Vocalist
The 22nd Annual Tony Awards
1968
TV Special
Herself - Performer
Archive Footage
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2007
TV Land Award
TV Land Awards
The "She Works Hard for the Money" Award (Favorite Working Mom)
What's Happening!! (1976)
1979
Saturn Award
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
Best Supporting Actress
The Wiz (1978)
Known for movies
The Jerk (1979) as Mother
Scrooged (1988) as Gramma
The Wiz (1978) as Evillene
What's Happening!! (1976-1978) as Mabel 'Mama' Thomas / Mrs. Thomas
