Ethel Waters

American vocalist and actress

Born: October 31, 1896  ·  Died: September 1, 1977

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Ethel Waters
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Overview

Legacy

Her birth was the result of the rape of teenaged Louise Anderson by 17-year-old John Wesley (a.k.a.

Legacy

Wesley John) Waters (1878–1901), a pianist and family acquaintance from a middle-class African-American background.

Who was Ethel Waters?

Ethel Waters (October 31, 1896 – September 1, 1977) was an American singer and actress. Ethel Waters was born in Chester, Pennsylvania, on (some sources incorrectly state her birth year as 1900) to African-American mother Louise Anderson (1881–1962). Her birth was the result of the rape of teenaged Louise Anderson by 17-year-old John Wesley Wesley John) Waters (1878–1901), a pianist and family acquaintance from a middle-class African-American background. Waters' family was very fair-skinned, his mother in particular. Waters frequently performed jazz, swing, and pop music on the Broadway stage and in concerts. She began her career in the 1920s singing blues.

Waters performs with Count Basie in Stage Door Canteen (1943)
Waters performs with Count Basie in Stage Door Canteen (1943)
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Historical significance

Her notable recordings include "Dinah", "Stormy Weather", "Taking a Chance on Love", "Chlo-e (Song of the Swamp), "Heat Wave", "Supper Time", "Am I Blue?", "Birmingham Bertha", "Cabin in the Sky", "I'm Coming Virginia", and her version of "His Eye Is on the Sparrow". Waters was the second African American to be nominated for an Academy Award, the first African American to star on her own television show, and the first African-American woman to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award. Her notable recordings include "Dinah", "Stormy Weather", "Taking a Chance on Love", "Chlo-e, "Heat Wave", "Supper Time", "Am I Blue?", "Birmingham Bertha", "Cabin in the Sky", "I'm Coming Virginia", and her version of "His Eye Is on the Sparrow".

Waters c. 1945
Waters c. 1945
Selected movies: Ethel Waters Full IMDb filmography
Pinky 1950 · View on IMDb Tales of Manhattan 1942 · View on IMDb Stage Door Canteen 1943 · View on IMDb Cabin in the Sky 1943 · View on IMDb The Sound and the Fury 1959 · View on IMDb The Member of the Wedding 1952 · View on IMDb
Selected exact acting credits from Wikidata. Title links open on IMDb; ratings, reviews, images, and descriptions are not imported.
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Wikipedia source
Cite this page
MLA

“Ethel Waters.” thisDay, thisday.info/people/ethel-waters/. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

APA

Ethel Waters. (n.d.). thisDay. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://thisday.info/people/ethel-waters/

Chicago

“Ethel Waters.” thisDay. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://thisday.info/people/ethel-waters/.

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