During the 1900s, Roxie Roker’s husband, Sy Kravitz, was a member of her married household. Both sets of partners eventually went their own ways because of trust problems in their relationships.
On August 28, 1929, Roxie Roker made her debut into the world in Miami, Florida. Roxie Albertha Roker is the full form of her given name. Her role as Helen Wills on the CBS sitcom brought her the most of her fame as an actor in the United States.
One member of the groundbreaking interracial pair who appeared on primetime television for the first time as The Jeffersons (1975–1985). Roker is the mother of Lenny Kravitz, a rock musician, and the paternal grandmother of Zo Kravitz, an actress. Roker is also the mother of Zo’s father.
Some Fast Information Regarding Roxie Roker
Full Name | Roxie Roker |
Profession | Actress |
Date Of Birth | August 28, 1929 |
Birth Place | Miami, Florida, United States |
Zodiac Sign | Virgo |
Nationality | Bahamian |
Hobbies | Travelling |
Height | 5 feet 5 inches |
Weight | 55 kgs |
Eye Color | Black |
Hair Color | Black |
Father | Albert Roker |
Mother | Bessie Roker |
Marital Status | Divorced |
Ex Husband | Sy Kravitz |
Children | Lenny Kravitz |
Gender | Female |
University | Howard University |
Net Worth | $6 million |
Residence | Florida, United State |
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Roxie Roker And Husband Sy Kravitz Divorce
The stunning Roxie Roker, who was Sy Kravitz’s wife, was the victim of his infidelity. After an incident involving cheating, Sy Kravitz and his high school sweetheart broke up and went their own ways.
In 1962, Sy Kravitz and Roxie tied the wedding, and their union was a multiracial marriage, much like the union that Roxie’s character in “The Jeffersons” had. Two years later, the couple welcomed Lenny into the world.
After Lenny confided in his mother about his extramarital affair, his mother and father’s marriage did not last long after that. The famous musician broke the news to CNN’s Piers Morgan that his father was leaving the family business.
She let slip that before to Sy’s departure, his mother sat down with him, his father, and other members of the family for a discussion. After making a few points, she turned to Sy and inquired as to whether or not he had anything else to say to Lenny.
In addition, the two spouses have severed their relationships and are no longer living together.
Career as an Actress for Roxie Roker on a Professional Level
Roxie Roker started out as an actress on stage with the Negro Ensemble Company when she first began her profession. She was nominated for a Tony Award and won an Obie Award for her performance as Mattie Williams in the play The River Niger, which she appeared in in 1974.
During the 1970s, Roker was a reporter for WNEW-TV in New York. He also hosted Inside Bed-Stuy, a public affairs show for the station that focused on events that took place in the area of Bed-Stuy in Brooklyn.
Roker broke shattered social barriers by being one half of the first Caucasian-African-American married pair (together with actor Franklin Cover) to be a regular cast member on primetime television with her role as Helen Willis on The Jeffersons. Cover was the other half of this historic duo.
The actress had guest appearances on a number of other American television episodes throughout the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Some of these shows include “Stone in the River” starring Hal Miller for NBC, Punky Brewster, Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper, A Different World, and Murder.
Both the television miniseries Roots and the movie Claudine included her as an actor or actress. Roker was also a children’s advocate and was honored by the city of Los Angeles for his contributions to the community.
The Beginning of Roxie Roker’s Stardom
Roxie Roker was given the opportunity to play the part of Helen Willis in the television comedy series “The Jeffersons,” which aired on CBS in 1975. This was the most successful role of Roxie Roker’s career.
Isabel Sanford, Franklin Cover, and Sherman Hemsley were some of Roker’s co-stars on the show. Her on-screen persona shattered the social norm when she established a relationship with a man of a different cultural background, who was roman.
She began appearing in 216 episodes of the Primetime Emmy Award–winning series through 1985, and although she did not win any honors for her involvement on the series, Roxie was pleased with her performance in those episodes. This elevated her to the status of an internal star, and she went on to appear as Helen in a number of episodes as a guest star.
In addition, between the years 1975 and 1985, Roxie was a part of a number of other successful initiatives. In the television series “Kajoak,” she played the role of Carol Lessonbee in 1976. The following year, in 1977, she portrayed Mrs. People in a television movie.
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Roxie Roker Net Worth
Roxie Roker’s career was successful, and as a result, she amassed a respectable amount of fortune. Roker had amassed more than $6 million in her name from her acting and television program work before the time of her death.
It is believed that Roxie has a net worth of approximately $6 million. Her acting work provides the majority of her income, which she uses to support herself and her family.
She had previously been in a film that depicted her situation in real life, which involved an interracial marriage. The actor was also active in the child advocacy community and was concerned with preventing child abuse.
Who exactly is Roxie Roker’s mother and father?
Bessie Mitchell and Aldred Roker became the proud parents of Roxie Roker as she came into the world.
Bessie and Alfred lived during a time in American history when the country was wracked by the disease of racism. Bessie worked as a maid, and Alfred was a porter at the hotel where they both worked.
They were a loving family despite having a little income, and they recognized the need of giving their child the best education possible. Roxie received an education that spanned from the elementary level all the way up to the tertiary level.
Both of her parents were born in different states; her mother in Georgia and her father in the Bahamas. There is no evidence in the files to suggest that Roxie had any further siblings.
Roxie Roker’s Son Lenny Kravtiz Recalls Her Demise
The late 1980s saw the rise of Lenny Kravitz to prominence; however, by the time his mother was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer in 1995, Kravitz was already on the road performing all over the world.
Despite this, Kravitz put his career on hold and traveled to Los Angeles as quickly as he could so that he could be with his mother.
Because he did not have a residence in the city, Kravitz was staying with music producer Rick Rubin. At the time, Rubin was working on Johnny Cash’s record “American Recordings II: Unchained,” thus Kravitz found it convenient to remain with him.
According to comments made by Kravitz to BBC News, “I walked off an aircraft in Tokyo and went straight to the hospital.” Although she was still alive, my mother’s condition was getting worse.
Lenny judged that he had adequate time, so he left the hospital and went back to Rubin’s place, where he showered and ate. On the other hand, just as he was getting closer to the house, the phone rang, and he heard the tragic news: Roxie had passed away at the age of 66.
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1974 | Change at 125th Street | Eloise Morse | TV movie |
1974 | Claudine | Mrs. Winston | |
1975-1985 | The Jeffersons | Helen Willis | |
1977 | Roots | Malizy | Episode: “Part V” |
1977 | Billy: Portrait of a Street Kid | Mrs. Peoples | TV movie |
1979 | $weepstake$ | Margaret | Episode: “Roscoe, Elizabeth, and the M.C.” |
1979 | The Bermuda Triangle | Bohamiar Radio Operator | Documentary |
1982 | Fantasy Island | Emily Carlisle | Episode: “The Kleptomaniac/Thank God, I’m a Country Girl” |
1983 | Making of a Male Model | Madge Davis | TV movie |
1983-1987 | ABC Afterschool Specials | Phyllis Brooks / Aunt Helen | 2 episodes |
1987 | Amazon Women on the Moon | Female Republican | (segment “Blacks Without Soul”) |
1990 | Penny Ante: The Motion Picture | ||
1991 | A Different World | Dean Barksdale | Episode: “Home Is Where The Fire Is” |
Roxie Roker Wiki
Roxie Roker was born in 1929 on this day. She was a Black actress and supporter of kids. Albert Roker and Bessie Roker, who had immigrated from the Bahamas, welcomed Roxie Roker into the world in Miami. She attended Howard University, where she graduated in 1952 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. She participated actively in the Howard Players while she was a student, and she appeared in several plays. She belonged to the sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha as well. Roker relocated to New York City after graduating and started working in an office while performing in a number of off-Broadway productions. After joining the Negro Ensemble Company, she started working as an actress full-time (NEC). Roker performed in the plays Ododo and Rosalee Pritchard at the NEC. She was recognized with an Obie Award and a Tony Award nomination in 1974 for her portrayal of Mattie Williams in The River Niger.
She wed Syl Kravitz, a white Russian Jew who produced television. Lenny Kravitz, the couple’s only child, was born in 1964. Roker was given a role in the 1975 television series The Jeffersons. Her persona, Helen Willis, portrayed the wife of the first mixed-race couple to appear on primetime television. After the Jeffersons split up in 1985, she had a stage comeback by performing in Legends on tour with Carol Channing and Mary Martin.
She received two citations from the Los Angeles City Council in recognition of her volunteer efforts in the community, which included her role as a board member of the Inter-Agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect. On December 2, 1995, Roxie Roker passed away from breast cancer.