Mildred Washington

Mildred's beauty and outgoing personality helped her into movies, a path many white female stars enjoyed. She introduced a new image of Black women: not homely or sad, but gorgeous, fun-loving, intelligent, and poised. In the pre-code era, she played maid roles but avoided demeaning stereotypes. She added her own winning personality, sense of humor, and spark; she simply glowed on screen. She was one of the few beautiful Black women in such roles, often stealing attention from leading white stars. Her persona was in the same fashion as Clara Bow, Alice White, and Jean Harlow. Mildred got fan mail, requests for autographed photos, and was featured in leading Black publications. "Hearts in Dixie," one of the first Black-cast films made in Hollywood, co-starred Mildred; her performance was excellent, though the film is believed lost. Her best role was in "Torch Singer" opposite Claudette Colbert, where she played a maid/confidante and showed versatility, moving from dramatic to comedic with natural timing and some hot dancing.

Mildred was highly educated and cultured. She graduated from Los Angeles High School as an honor graduate and valedictorian, studied two years at UCLA, and also attended Columbia University. She spoke fluent Spanish and French. She chose entertainment as her career, but education was always there to fall back on. She dabbled in real estate and owned a big, beautiful home with a maid of her own. She was on her way to becoming a full-time actress, but her untimely death stalled that career. During a major earthquake in spring 1933, she fell while running for cover from Grauman's Chinese Theatre and developed appendicitis. She died of peritonitis following appendicitis during surgery at White Memorial Hospital. Her funeral was star-studded, with black and white stage and screen stars in attendance. She was survived by her only child, Lillie Jane Youngaoe, born in 1923. As a teenage mother, she still managed to graduate with honors. Mildred Washington: a remarkable talent gone too soon.