Oliver, Thelma (1941–)

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Oliver, Thelma (1941–)

American dancer and actress. Born 1941 in Los Angeles, CA; dau. of Cappy Oliver (musician with Lionel Hampton's orchestra).

Trained with Lavinia Williams' folklore school in Haiti; hired by Yma Sumac to tour Soviet Union and South America (1960); upon return to US, moved to New York and appeared as an actress in The Blacks (1961), Fly Blackbird, The Tempest, and the original production of Sweet Charity (1966); appeared in films The Pawnbroker (1964) and Black Like Me (1964); performed with The Living Premise company, and had a major role in Donald McKayle's District Storyville.

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