Actress. She is best known for her portrayal as 'Helen Willis' on the popular television sitcom "The Jeffersons" and mother of rock star Lenny Kravitz. Raised in Brooklyn, New York, she later attended Howard University in Washington, D.C. where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1952. While at Howard she was a very active member in the Howard Players and was featured in several productions. She was also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Soroity, Inc. After graduation, she moved to New York City and began working in an office while appearing in several off-Broadway plays. She became a full-time actress after joining the Negro Ensemble Company (NEC). While with the NEC Roker appeared in the plays Ododo and Rosalee Pritchard. In 1974 she won and Obie Award and was also nominated for a Tony for her performance as Mattie Williams in The River Niger. She married Russian Jewish television producer Sy Kravitz (later divorced) in 1962 with whom she had one child, singer Lenny Kravitz in 1964. In 1975, Roker was cast in "The Jeffersons" where she along with co-star Franklin Cover broke barriers becoming the first interracial married couple on prime-time television. After the show ended in 1985, she returned to the stage touring with Mary Martin and Carol Channing in Legends. Roker's other movie roles and television appearances included "Roots," "Kojak," "Fantasy Island," "Trapper John M.D.," "Murder She Wrote," "227," "Hangin' with Mr. Cooper," and "A Different World." She also once hosted a local community television show in the late 1960s. Her community work, including her service as a board member of the Inter Agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect, earned her two citations from the Los Angeles City Council.
Actress. She is best known for her portrayal as 'Helen Willis' on the popular television sitcom "The Jeffersons" and mother of rock star Lenny Kravitz. Raised in Brooklyn, New York, she later attended Howard University in Washington, D.C. where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1952. While at Howard she was a very active member in the Howard Players and was featured in several productions. She was also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Soroity, Inc. After graduation, she moved to New York City and began working in an office while appearing in several off-Broadway plays. She became a full-time actress after joining the Negro Ensemble Company (NEC). While with the NEC Roker appeared in the plays Ododo and Rosalee Pritchard. In 1974 she won and Obie Award and was also nominated for a Tony for her performance as Mattie Williams in The River Niger. She married Russian Jewish television producer Sy Kravitz (later divorced) in 1962 with whom she had one child, singer Lenny Kravitz in 1964. In 1975, Roker was cast in "The Jeffersons" where she along with co-star Franklin Cover broke barriers becoming the first interracial married couple on prime-time television. After the show ended in 1985, she returned to the stage touring with Mary Martin and Carol Channing in Legends. Roker's other movie roles and television appearances included "Roots," "Kojak," "Fantasy Island," "Trapper John M.D.," "Murder She Wrote," "227," "Hangin' with Mr. Cooper," and "A Different World." She also once hosted a local community television show in the late 1960s. Her community work, including her service as a board member of the Inter Agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect, earned her two citations from the Los Angeles City Council.
Bio by: Curtis Jackson
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