Roxie Albertha Roker (August 28, 1929 - December 2, 1995) was an American actress, best known for her role as Helen Willis on the CBS sitcom The Jeffersons (1975-85), half of the first interracial couple to be shown on regular prime time television.

Early life

Roker was born in Miami, Florida. Her mother, Bessie (née Mitchell), was from Georgia and worked as a domestic, and her father, Albert Roker, was a native of The Bahamas and a porter. She grew up in Brooklyn, New York.

Career

Roker is known for her role as Helen Willis on The Jeffersons. She began her professional career with the Negro Ensemble Company and became a successful stage actress. She won an Obie Award in 1974 and was nominated for a Tony Award for her portrayal of Mattie Williams in The River Niger. She was a reporter on WNEW-TV in New York in the 1970s and hosted a public affairs show for the station known as Inside Bed-Stuy, dealing with events in the Brooklyn neighborhood. She appeared in guest starring roles on many United States television shows from the 1970s through the 1990s, including "Stone in the River" starring Hal Miller for NBC, Punky Brewster, Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, A Different World, Murder, She Wrote, The Love Boat, 227, and Beat the Clock. She also had a role in the television miniseries Roots and in the movie Claudine. Roker was also a children’s advocate who was cited by the city of Los Angeles for her community work.

Personal

Roker graduated from Howard University, where she was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. She was married to television producer Sy Kravitz from 1962 to 1985, the couple had a son, singer-songwriter and actor Lenny Kravitz (born May 26, 1964). Roker is the paternal grandmother of actress Zoë Kravitz and the cousin of NBC's Today Show's Al Roker.

Death

Roker died in Los Angeles, California on December 2, 1995 of breast cancer at the age of 66.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]