Hattie McDaniel

American actress

Born: June 10, 1893  ·  Died: October 26, 1952

Famous Persons
Hattie McDaniel
Image via Wikimedia Commons or Wikipedia.

Overview

Distinction

She has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame in 1975, and in 2006, became the first black Oscar winner honored with a U.S.

Who was Hattie McDaniel?

Hattie McDaniel (June 10, 1893 – October 26, 1952) was an American actress, singer-songwriter, and comedian. McDaniel experienced racism and racial segregation throughout her career. She was unable to attend the premiere of Gone with the Wind in Atlanta, despite protests from producer David O.

A 1939 publicity photo for Gone with the Wind including McDaniel, Olivia de Havilland, and Vivien Leigh
A 1939 publicity photo for Gone with the Wind including McDaniel, Olivia de Havilland, and Vivien Leigh
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Historical significance

For her role as Mammy in Gone with the Wind (1939), she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, becoming the first African American to win an Oscar. She has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame in 1975, and in 2006, became the first black Oscar winner honored with a U.S. postage stamp. In 2010, she was inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame. In addition to acting, McDaniel recorded 16 blues sides between 1926 and 1929 and was a radio performer and television personality; she was the first black woman to sing on radio in the United States. Although she appeared in more than 300 films, she received on-screen credits for only 83. Her best known other major films are Alice Adams, In This Our Life, Since You Went Away, and Song of the South.

McDaniel in February 1940
McDaniel in February 1940
Selected movies: Hattie McDaniel Full IMDb filmography
Gone with the Wind 1939 · View on IMDb Song of the South 1946 · View on IMDb Since You Went Away 1944 · View on IMDb The Great Lie 1941 · View on IMDb Alice Adams 1935 · View on IMDb China Seas 1935 · 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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Cite this page
MLA

“Hattie McDaniel.” thisDay, thisday.info/people/hattie-mcdaniel/. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

APA

Hattie McDaniel. (n.d.). thisDay. Retrieved October 26, 2026, from https://thisday.info/people/hattie-mcdaniel/

Chicago

“Hattie McDaniel.” thisDay. Accessed October 26, 2026. https://thisday.info/people/hattie-mcdaniel/.

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