Jackie Richardson CM (born January 4, 1947) is a Canadian singer and actress.[1][2] Richardson is known for her screen roles in Turning to Stone, The Gospel According to the Blues, The Doodlebops, and Sins of the Father.[3] She is also known for her appearance on the YTV show Catwalk where she played the grandmother to Atlas (Christopher Lee Clements).
Jackie Richardson CM | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Richardson in 2012 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | January 4, 1947 Donora, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Origin | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Genres | Vocal jazz |
| Occupations | Singer, actress |
| Years active | 1963–present |
Early life
editRichardson was born in Donora, Pennsylvania in 1947, and is of African-American descent. In 1954, Richardson moved with her family to Toronto.[4]
Career
editRichardson was a member of 1960s Toronto-based girl group The Tiaras along with Brenda Russell, Arlene Trotman, and Colina Phillips.[5]
Richardson is a three-time nominee for the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television Gemini Award, and won the Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series for The Gospel According to the Blues.[1][6] In 2003 she was nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Best Actress in a Television Movie for Sins of the Father. Richardson is also a noted stage performer, winning a Dora Award in 2004 for the musical Cookin' at the Cookery.[7] Other high-profile projects include Milk and Honey, More Tales of the City, Further Tales of the City, Hey Lady! and 3 Men and a Baby.[8]
The musical Big Mama! The Willie Mae Thornton Story was conceived of and written by Audrei-Kairen Kotaska for Richardson, who starred in the production first in 1999 and then again in 2012.
She also appeared as a vocalist on the 2009 music album Norm Amadio and Friends, featuring other vocalists such as Marc Jordan.[9][10][11][12][13]
In 2017, Richardson won the Martin Luther King Jr. Achievement Award for her theater and music achievements.
Personal life
editHer daughter, Kim Richardson, is also a singer.[14]
Filmography
edit
Film
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Three Men and a Baby | Edna | |
| 1987 | Taking Care | Carol | |
| 1988 | Switching Channels | Abigail | |
| 1988 | Dreams Beyond Memory | Nurse | |
| 1994 | Car 54, Where Are You? | Madam | |
| 1996 | Harriet the Spy | Janie's Mother | |
| 1996 | Maximum Risk | Large Woman | |
| 1996 | Extreme Measures | Triphase Nurse | |
| 1997 | Critical Care | Mrs. Steckler | |
| 1999 | Woman Wanted | Lydia | |
| 1999 | The Wishing Tree | Marianne Brooks | |
| 2001 | On Their Knees | Mother | |
| 2004 | Welcome to Mooseport | Martha | |
| 2024 | Don’t Mess with Grandma | Grandma |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Turning to Stone | Dunky | Television film |
| 1986 | John Grin's Christmas | Mrs. Alcott | |
| 1987 | Nightstick | Woman Singing | |
| 1987, 1992 | Street Legal | Evelyn Fischer / Joanne | 2 episodes |
| 1988 | War of the Worlds | Blanche | Episode: "A Multitude of Idols" |
| 1988 | T. and T. | Aunt Martha Robinson | 26 episodes |
| 1989 | Glory! Glory! | Bessie | Television film |
| 1989 | Inside Stories | Episode: "Gracie" | |
| 1989 | Friday the 13th: The Series | Frances | Episode: "Hate on Your Dial" |
| 1989 | Katts and Dog | Mrs. Chan | Episode: "Double Exposure" |
| 1990 | Kaleidoscope | Social Worker | Television film |
| 1990 | E.N.G. | Jenny | Episode: "Striking Out" |
| 1991 | The Hidden Room | Black Woman | Episode: "Taking Back the Night" |
| 1991 | In the Nick of Time | Nurse | Television film |
| 1992 | The Broken Cord | Black Mother | |
| 1992 | Quiet Killer | Pauline Styles | |
| 1992 | Forever Knight | Blood Bank Nurse | Episode: "Dark Knight" |
| 1992–1993 | Catwalk | Aunt Ellen | 9 episodes |
| 1994 | RoboCop | Bea | 3 episodes |
| 1994 | Getting Gotti | Juror No. 1 | Television film |
| 1994 | Harlequin: Another Woman | Anna | |
| 1994 | Due South | Receptionist | Episode: "A Cop, a Mountie, and a Baby" |
| 1994, 1997 | The Adventures of Dudley the Dragon | Various roles | 2 episodes |
| 1995 | Degree of Guilt | Mrs. Velez | Television film |
| 1996 | Lives of Girls & Women | Baptist Singer | |
| 1996 | Road to Avonlea | Megget Lydie | Episode: "Return to Me" |
| 1996 | Mr. and Mrs. Loving | Mama Jeter | Television film |
| 1996 | Her Desperate Choice | Frances | |
| 1996 | Under the Piano | Mrs. Syms | |
| 1996 | Traders | Principal | Episode: "High Flyer Down" |
| 1997 | Fast Track | Gospel Singer #1 | Episode: "Lap of Faith" |
| 1997 | Color of Justice | Judge Winslow | Television film |
| 1998 | More Tales of the City | Emma | 3 episodes |
| 1998 | Free of Eden | Ela | Television film |
| 1998 | The Famous Jett Jackson | Mrs. Darden | Episode: "Who's the Man" |
| 1998 | Mr. Music | Rhonda Grace | Television film |
| 1999 | The Love Letter | Ella | |
| 1999 | Dangerous Evidence:
The Lori Jackson Story |
Aunt Lily | |
| 1999 | Happy Face Murders | Judge Hoyle | |
| 1999 | A Holiday Romance | Bea Buskins | |
| 2000 | Enslavement: The True | Daphne | |
| 2000 | Cheaters | Mrs. Fadely | |
| 2000 | The Wonderful World of Disney | Viney | Episode: "The Miracle Worker" |
| 2001 | Bojangles | Bedella | Television film |
| 2001 | Twice in a Lifetime | Mabel Jamal / Loretta | 2 episodes |
| 2001 | Further Tales of the City | Emma Ravenel | 3 episodes |
| 2001 | They Call Me Sirr | Grams | Television film |
| 2001, 2002 | Doc | Shawn's Grandma | 2 episodes |
| 2002 | Sins of the Father | Mama Jones | Television film |
| 2002 | Street Time | Cleo | Episode: "No Excuses" |
| 2002 | Monk | Wendy Maas | Episode: "Mr. Monk and the
Red-Headed Stranger" |
| 2002–2005 | Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye | Various roles | 3 episodes |
| 2003 | Big Spender | Sally McNeal | Television film |
| 2004 | Soul Food | Joan | Episode: "In the Garden" |
| 2005 | This Is Wonderland | Lucia Smith | 2 episodes |
| 2006–2007 | The Doodlebops | Jazzmin | 39 episodes |
| 2009–2011 | Majority Rules! | Mrs. DeMarco | 14 episodes |
| 2010 | The Gospel According to the Blues | Momma-Lou | Television film |
| 2010 | Living in Your Car | Althea | Episode #1.6 |
| 2013 | Cracked | Woman | Episode: "Voices" |
| 2014 | Dear Viola | Rennie Jasper | Television film |
| 2014 | A Day Late and a Dollar Short | Geraldine | |
| 2014 | Working the Engels | Mama | Episode: "The Crazy Family" |
| 2020 | Hey Lady! | Rosie | 8 episodes |
| 2020 | Lockdown | Luke's Grandma | Miniseries |
| 2020 | Marry Me This Christmas | Hazel Treadgold | Television film |
| 2021 | Pretty Hard Cases | Maureen Gray | 4 episodes |
| 2021 | In the Dark | Margie | Episode: "Arcade Fire" |
| 2021 | Riverfront Romance | Marianne Cooper | Television film |
| 2021 | Miracle in Motor City | Glenda | Television film |
| 2022 | Overlord and the Underwoods | Judge D. Redd | Episode: "Do-over and Over and Over" |
| 2022 | Take Note | Mable | Episode: "Courage" |
| 2023 | Total Drama Island | Leshawna's Grandmother | Episode: "Off the Hook!" |
References
edit- 1 2 Stanley, Laura. "Jackie Richardson". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
- ↑ Patti (2010-05-05). "Jackie Richardson". TD Toronto Jazz Festival. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
- ↑ Stanley, Laura. "Jackie Ricardson". Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
- ↑ Stanley, Laura. "Jackie Richardson". Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2016-07-25.
- ↑ "Jackie Richardson". Canadian Jazz Archive. Archived from the original on February 24, 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
- ↑ "Gemini Awards Official Site". Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television. Retrieved 9 November 2011.[permanent dead link]
- ↑ "Veteran performer Jackie Richardson awestruck with 'Saint Carmen of The Main'". Archived from the original on 2012-03-28. Retrieved 2011-09-29.
- ↑ Lucas, Ralph (2017-02-02). "Jackie Richardson - Biography - Northernstars.ca". Northernstars.ca. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
- ↑ "The 519 Annual Gala 2021 – Meet the Artists". 2021-10-15. Retrieved 2026-05-05.
- ↑ "Jackie Richardson". pw.eporchestra.ca. Retrieved 2026-05-05.
- ↑ "Jackie Richardson". prod-front.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca (in French). Retrieved 2026-05-05.
- ↑ "JACKIE RICHARDSON | Céline Peterson Productions". CP Productions. Retrieved 2026-05-05.
- ↑ Archive, Canadian Jazz (2026-05-04). "Jackie Richardson Musician Biography | Canadian Jazz Archive Online". www.canadianjazzarchive.net. Retrieved 2026-05-05.
- ↑ "My Montreal: Soul Singer Kim Richardson". Montreal Gazette, February 26, 2014.
External links
edit
- "Vision Gala marks 'double celebration' for Black Theatre Workshop". Montreal Gazette. 30 January 2016.
- "Food, wine and all that jazz". Montreal Gazette. 8 August 2014.
- "Ask Her Talks giving African women a voice". Montreal Gazette. 26 May 2015.
- Bailey, Pamella. "Reflections: An interview with Jackie Richardson, Canada's first lady of gospel, blues and jazz". Archived from the original on 2018-12-04. Retrieved 2017-03-11 – via afrotoronto.com.