Actress. One of the first African-American actresses to appear on Broadway, and co-founder of the American Negro Theater. In theater from the 1930s, she debuted on Broadway in 1937 in Orson Welles’ production of “Orchid’s Preferred” Became a TV personality late in her career as Marla Gibbs’ nosy next-door-neighbor Pearl in the sitcom “227,” and later played various roles on the popular television comedy, “Sanford and Son.” Cause of death: Heart attack