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Margaret Avery
ACTOR

Margaret Avery

Known for Grey's Anatomy · Bones · The Rookie

Margaret Avery (born January 20, 1944) is an American actress and singer. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance as Shug in The Color Purple (1985). Description above from the Wikipedia article Margaret Avery, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Snapshot 2026-10-15

Born
Jan 20, 1944
Birthplace
Mangum, Oklahoma, USA
Known For
Acting

Biography

Margaret Avery (born January 20, 1944) is an American actress and singer. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance as Shug in The Color Purple (1985).

Description above from the Wikipedia article Margaret Avery, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Known For

TVGrey's Anatomy
Grey's AnatomyLucille Reed · 2005
★ 8.2
TVBones
BonesIvy Gillespie · 2005
★ 8.2
TVThe Rookie
The RookieRuth Harper · 2018
★ 8.5
TVMacGyver
MacGyverRegina Jeffries · 1985
★ 7.7
TVMiami Vice
Miami ViceSally Cordoba · 1984
★ 7.4
TVMurder, She Wrote
Murder, She WroteDixie · 1984
★ 7.5
TVIronside
IronsideBartender · 1967
★ 6.8
TVAmerican Playhouse
American PlayhouseDottie · 1982
★ 6.6

Filmography

Movies

Cool BreezeLark
1972
Something EvilIrene
1972
Terror at Red Wolf InnEdwina
1972
An Eye for an EyeNurse
1973
Hell Up In HarlemSister Jennifer
1973
Magnum ForceProstitute
1973
Louis Armstrong: Chicago Style
1976
Scott JoplinBelle Joplin
1977
Which Way Is Up?Annie Mae
1977
The Fish That Saved PittsburghToby Millman
1979
The Lathe of HeavenHeather LeLache
1980
The Sky Is GrayRosemary
1980
For Us, the Living: The Story of Medgar EversDottie
1983
The Color PurpleShug Avery
1985
Blueberry HillHattie Cale
1988
RiverbendBell Coleman
1989
Single Women, Married MenGrace Williams
1989
Heat WaveRoxie Turpin
1990
The Return of SuperflyFrancine
1990
Lightning in a BottleDr. Sierheed
1993
Night TrapMiss Sadie
1993
RO
Roots of RoeLetters of Margaret Sanger (voice)
1993
The Set Up
1995
White Man's BurdenMegan Thomas
1995
Love KillsMoon
1999
Second to DieInsurance Agent
2002
Waitin' to LivePearline Loggins
2006
ExodusRobbed Tourist
2007
Lord Help UsDorinda Thomas
2007
Meet the BrownsSarah Brown
2008
Welcome Home Roscoe JenkinsMamma Jenkins
2008
Proud MaryMina
2018
Orpheus StarLizette Jean-Marie
2020
Block PartyJanice Sommers
2022
Is That Black Enough for You?!?Self
2022
We Are Gathered Here TodayEstelle Wyatt
2022
The Nana ProjectGladys
2023

Television

IronsideBartender · 1 eps
1967
The New Dick Van Dyke ShowPam Harris / Nurse Wilkinson · 1 eps
1971
KojakLula · 1 eps
1973
Harry ORuby Dome · 2 eps
1974
Harry OGinnie Adams · 1 eps
1974
Kolchak: The Night StalkerRuth Van Galen · 1 eps
1974
American PlayhouseDottie · 1 eps
1982
T. J. HookerMrs. Daniels · 1 eps
1982
Miami ViceSally Cordoba · 1 eps
1984
Murder, She WroteDixie · 1 eps
1984
The Cosby ShowLeah · 1 eps
1984
MacGyverRegina Jeffries · 1 eps
1985
SnoopsMatilda · 1 eps
1989
The Jacksons: An American DreamMartha Scruse · 2 eps
1992
DG
Die GangGlenda Otero · 1 eps
1997
10-8: Officers on DutyRita Armstrong · 1 eps
2003
BonesIvy Gillespie · 1 eps
2005
Grey's AnatomyLucille Reed · 1 eps
2005
Being Mary JaneHelen Patterson · 51 eps
2013
The LibrariansEleanor Darnell · 1 eps
2014
The Carmichael ShowJanet · 1 eps
2015
GeniusDelia Linsey King · 1 eps
2017
The NeighborhoodAunt Desiray · 1 eps
2018
The RookieRuth Harper · 1 eps
2018
A Man on the InsideFlorence Joanne Whistbrook · 4 eps
2024

Photos

Margaret Avery photo
Margaret Avery photo
Margaret Avery photo
Margaret Avery photo
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