LaWanda Page
Actress, comedian (1920-2002) · United States · On the map · Actors · Died at 81
LaWanda Page was an American actress, comedian and dancer whose career spanned six decades. Crowned "The Queen of Comedy" or "The Black Queen of Comedy", Page melded blue humor, signifyin' and observational comedy with jokes about sexuality, race relations, African-American culture and religion.
LaWanda Page is read about 380 times a day, in 12 languages.
A typical day, 30 days to 6 November 2026
The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 104 days, one point a day.
Something wrong?A life in dates
Amazing Stories: The Movie IIIFilm, Aunt Esther Anderson1996
Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the HoodFilm, Old School's Mom1995
The Parent 'HoodSeries
FridayFilm, 1995Old Lady1994
The Legend of Dolemite! Bigger & BadderFilm1993
CB4Film, Grandma
The Meteor ManFilm, 1993Old Nurse1992
MartinSeries, Evelyn Porter1991
Shakes the ClownFilm, Female Clown Barfly1990
My Blue HeavenFilm, Hotel Maid1989
Family MattersSeries, Elmerita Puckerwood1985
227Series
Women Tell the Dirtiest JokesFilm, 19851983
MausoleumFilm, Elsie1982
Good-bye Cruel WorldFilm, Wilma1981Good Evening CaptainFilm1980
B.A.D. CatsSeries1978
Diff'rent StrokesSeries1977
Sanford ArmsSeries, Aunt Esther Anderson
Stonestreet: Who Killed the Centerfold Model?Film, 1977Erna
The Richard Pryor Special?Film, 1977Sister Mabel Williams1975
Starsky & HutchSeries, Lady Bessie1973
The Dean Martin Celebrity RoastsSeries1972
Sanford and SonSeries, Aunt Esther Anderson1920Born19 October 1920People around LaWanda
Close ties
Faizon Love Also in Friday and The Meteor Man
John Witherspoon Also in Talkin' Dirty After Dark (1991)
Goldie Hawn Produced My Blue Heaven (1992)
Chris Tucker Also in Friday and The Meteor Man
Nora Ephron Produced My Blue Heaven (1992)
Bernie Mac Also in Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1997)
Tommy Lister Jr. Also in The Meteor Man and Friday
F. Gary Gray Directed Friday (1995)
Bobcat Goldthwait Directed Shakes the Clown (1991)
Keenen Ivory Wayans Produced Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1997)
Herbert Ross Directed My Blue Heaven (1992)
Robert Townsend Directed The Meteor Man (1993)
Paris Barclay Directed Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1997)
Paula Jai Parker Also in Friday (1995)- Reynaldo Rey Also in Talkin' Dirty After Dark and Friday
- Yvette Wilson Also in Friday (1995)
Arnold Johnson Also in The Richard Pryor Special? (1977)
Lance Crouther Also in Talkin' Dirty After Dark and CB4
Terri J. Vaughn Also in Friday (1995)- Carlos Lacámara Also in Zapped! and Talkin' Dirty After Dark
- Shirley Hemphill Also in The Richard Pryor Special? and CB4
Known for
View all 16 titles
Friday 1995
Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood 1996
CB4 1993
My Blue Heaven 1990
The Meteor Man 1993
Filmography 16
36 credits on file
Television 19
Media & music
Photos 1
About this person
She released five solo albums, including the 1977 gold-selling Watch It, Sucker!, and collaborated on two albums with the comedy group Skillet, Leroy & Co. As an actress, Page is best known for portraying the Bible-toting and sharp-tongued Esther Anderson on the popular television sitcom Sanford and Son, which aired from 1972 until 1977. Page reprised the role in the short-lived television shows Sanford Arms (1976-1977) and Sanford (1980-1981). She also costarred in the 1979 short-lived series Detective School. Throughout her career, Page advocated for fair pay and equal opportunities for black performers.
In the same film or series as LaWanda
Marjoe GortnerAlso in Mausoleum (1983)
Florence HendersonAlso in Shakes the Clown (1991)
Dick ShawnAlso in Good-bye Cruel World (1982)
Joseph MascoloAlso in Stonestreet: Who Killed the Centerfold Model? (1977)
Ken DavitianAlso in Talkin' Dirty After Dark (1991)Bob ClarkAlso in Amazing Stories: The Movie III (1998)