Georgia Burke
actor
- February 27, 1878
- November 28, 1985
- 107 years
About Georgia Burke
Georgia Burke, 107, American actress.
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Full Biography
|Georgia Burke (February 27, 1878 — November 28, 1985) was an American actress who had performed on television, radio, and Broadway theatre between 1928 and the 1960s. In 1934 Burke made her debut in Broadway in They Shall Not Die, and in 1944 she won a Donaldson Award as the third choice for Best Supporting Actress in Edward Chodorov's play, Decision. Burke had performed in the 1952 U.S. State Department-sponsored international production of Porgy and Bess and had taken a role as a nurse in the radio program When a Girl Marries, which had been broadcast for 18 years. She had also performed in the 1944 Broadway production of Anna Lucasta and its second film counterpart in 1958.
Burke has been credited as one of the early appearances of the "stereotyped humorous black maid" in entertainment since her appearance in the radio soap opera Betty and Bob.
She died in 1985 at the age of 107, at the De Witt Nursing Home in Manhattan.
Early life and career
Burke was born on February 27, 1878, in La Grange or Atlanta, Georgia, to a minister and a nurse. She attended Claflin University and New Orleans University and worked as a public school teacher in Wilson, North Carolina. Due to a slapping incident by superintendent Charles L. Coon against another teacher, Burke, along with other coloured teachers at the school, protested the incident by resigning from her teaching position and continued teaching at another school. Burke later moved to New York City, where she attended Columbia University in 1929.
During a visit to Lew Leslie's first rehearsal of Blackbirds of 1928, a friend of Burke's urged her to sing St. Louis Blues in front of the rehearsal cast, and—upon hearing her voice—Leslie persuaded her to join the choir for Blackbirds of 1928. She was given a year's leave from teaching but never returned to her teaching career.
Filmography
Television
- The Big Story
- Hallmark Hall of Fame: The Little Foxes (1956)
- ABC Theater - If You Give a Dance, You Gotta Pay the Band
Film
Theatre
Source:
- Blackbirds of 1928
- Decision - 1944
- The Grass Harp
- Porgy and Bess
- Five Star Final
- Savage Rhythm
- Anna Lucasta
- In Abraham's Bosom
- Old Man Satan
- They Shall Not Die
- Mamba's Daughters
- Cabin in the Sky
- No Time for Comedy
- Interlock
- The Sun Field
- Mandingo
- Tambourines to Glory
- The Wisteria Trees
Radio
- John Henry: Black River Giant
- When a Girl Marries
- New World A-Comin'
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Articles & News
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_Burke
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- October 21, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Georgia Burke's archived record and the sources above.
1.On what date was Georgia Burke born?
- A.March 15, 1875
- B.November 28, 1985
- C.February 27, 1878correct
- D.January 12, 1880
Georgia Burke was born on February 27, 1878.
Source: early life and career
2.What profession did Georgia Burke hold before starting her acting career?
- A.Broadway director
- B.Public school teachercorrect
- C.Professional nurse
- D.Radio broadcaster
Georgia Burke worked as a public school teacher in Wilson, North Carolina, before her acting career.
Source: early life and career
3.In which city did Georgia Burke die?
- A.Atlanta
- B.Wilson
- C.Manhattancorrect
- D.New Orleans
Georgia Burke died at the De Witt Nursing Home in Manhattan.
Source: biography summary
4.What was the name of the Broadway play in which Georgia Burke made her debut in 1934?
- A.Porgy and Bess
- B.They Shall Not Diecorrect
- C.Decision
- D.Anna Lucasta
Georgia Burke made her Broadway debut in the play They Shall Not Die in 1934.
Source: biography summary
5.Which university did Georgia Burke attend in 1929 after moving to New York City?
- A.New Orleans University
- B.North Carolina University
- C.Claflin University
- D.Columbia Universitycorrect
After moving to New York City, Georgia Burke attended Columbia University in 1929.
Source: early life and career
6.What award did Georgia Burke win in 1944 for her role in the play Decision?
- A.Academy Award
- B.Emmy Award
- C.Donaldson Awardcorrect
- D.Tony Award
Georgia Burke won a Donaldson Award in 1944 as the third choice for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Decision.
Source: biography summary
7.How old was Georgia Burke at the time of her death?
- A.107correct
- B.102
- C.110
- D.97
Georgia Burke died in 1985 at the age of 107.
Source: biography summary
8.What role did Georgia Burke play in the long-running radio program When a Girl Marries?
- A.A maid
- B.A nursecorrect
- C.A teacher
- D.A minister
Georgia Burke performed the role of a nurse in the radio program When a Girl Marries.
Source: biography summary
9.What specific song was Georgia Burke urged to sing during a rehearsal for Blackbirds of 1928?
- A.Anna Lucasta
- B.When a Girl Marries
- C.St. Louis Bluescorrect
- D.Porgy and Bess
A friend urged Georgia Burke to sing St. Louis Blues in front of the cast during a rehearsal for Blackbirds of 1928.
Source: early life and career
10.Who was the superintendent whose actions prompted Georgia Burke to resign from her teaching position?
- A.Charles L. Cooncorrect
- B.John Henry
- C.Edward Chodorov
- D.Lew Leslie
Georgia Burke resigned as a teacher due to a slapping incident by superintendent Charles L. Coon against another teacher.
Source: early life and career
11.Which radio soap opera is noted for featuring Georgia Burke in an early appearance of the stereotyped humorous black maid?
- A.New World A-Comin'
- B.Betty and Bobcorrect
- C.John Henry: Black River Giant
- D.When a Girl Marries
Georgia Burke was credited with an early appearance of the stereotyped humorous black maid in the radio soap opera Betty and Bob.
Source: biography summary
12.For how many years was the radio program When a Girl Marries broadcast?
- A.12 years
- B.18 yearscorrect
- C.15 years
- D.20 years
The radio program When a Girl Marries, featuring Georgia Burke, was broadcast for 18 years.
Source: biography summary
13.In what year did the second film counterpart of the play Anna Lucasta, featuring Georgia Burke, debut?
- A.1944
- B.1952
- C.1958correct
- D.1956
Georgia Burke performed in the 1944 Broadway production of Anna Lucasta and its second film counterpart in 1958.
Source: biography summary
14.Which international production was Georgia Burke involved in that was sponsored by the U.S. State Department in 1952?
- A.Porgy and Besscorrect
- B.Decision
- C.They Shall Not Die
- D.Anna Lucasta
Georgia Burke performed in the 1952 U.S. State Department-sponsored international production of Porgy and Bess.
Source: biography summary
15.What were the occupations of Georgia Burke's parents?
- A.Musician and maid
- B.Superintendent and singer
- C.Minister and nursecorrect
- D.Actor and teacher
Georgia Burke was born to a minister and a nurse.
Source: early life and career
16.What was the name of the theatre production Georgia Burke appeared in that took place in 1956?
- A.Mandingo
- B.Decision
- C.Blackbirds of 1928
- D.The Little Foxescorrect
Georgia Burke appeared in Hallmark Hall of Fame: The Little Foxes in 1956.
Source: television filmography
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