Actress Carol Sutton Has Passed Away, Aged 76

Actress Carol Sutton has died following COVID-19 complications. She was 76. Known for her appearances on shows such as Lovecraft Country, Steel Magnolias, Queen Sugar, Treme and Runaway Jury, Sutton began her career in stage productions like 4000 Miles, A Raisin in the Sun, The Last Madam, and Native Tongues.

Born in New Orleans in 1933, Sutton began her career with the city’s Dashiki Project Theatre – which aimed to present an accurate portrayal of the black experience for the Black community – in the late 1960s. While she continued her  New Orleans theater, she also acted in films including 1989 comedy film Steel Magnolias – starring Sally Field and Dolly Parton – The Pelican Brief, and Ray. 

Carol Sutton appeared as Aunt Martha in Season 4 of Queen Sugar

From commanding the stage with her awe-inspiring presence she moved to films and made her on-screen debut in 1974 with The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman – a film based on the novel of the same name by Ernest J. Gaines –  going on to also appear in films like Monster’s Ball and The Help. More recently, she held roles in episodes of  True Detective and Lovecraft Country.  

The actor who spent her last months at the Touro Infirmary in her native city of New Orleans being treated for COVID-19 passed on Thursday night due to complications. Funeral arrangements are pending. In a statement following her death, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell called Sutton, “queen of New Orleans theater, having graced the stages across the city for decades”.

Ava DuVernay, the creator of the OWN series Queen Sugar, paid tribute to Sutton’s life and celebrated career, tweeting: “It was our honor to welcome this veteran actress of stage and screen to our show as Aunt Martha in Episode 409, ‘Stare at the Same Fires.’ May she rise and rest in peace and power”. Rest in peace in Carol, your richly layered portrayal of characters and warm heart will be missed.