Teresa Graves

Infobox actor
bgcolour = silver
name = Teresa Graves

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imagesize =
caption =
birthname =
birthdate = birth date|1948|1|10|mf=y
location = Houston, Texas, United States
deathdate = death date and age|2002|10|10|1948|1|10|mf=y
deathplace = Los Angeles, California, United States
height =
othername = Theresa Graves
spouse = William D. Reddick (1977-divorced)
yearsactive = 1967-1983
homepage =
notable role =

Teresa Graves (January 10, 1948 - October 10, 2002) was an American actress and singer. As the star of "Get Christie Love!" (1974), Graves was the first African American woman to play the lead in a police film and TV show.

Biography

She was born in Houston, Texas and began her career, singing with The Doodletown Pipers.cite news| title=`Get Christy Love' TV star Teresa Graves, 54, dies in fire| publisher = "Jet" | date =2002-10-28 | url =http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_19_102/ai_93457203 | accessdate =2008-01-04] She soon turned to acting. She was a regular in the two variety flops "Our Place" (1967) and "Turn On" (1969), then became a regular on "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" in its third season.

Graves appeared in number of films before her pivotal role in the 1974 television movie "Get Christie Love!". She reprised the role of police investigator "Christie Love" in a short-lived TV series of the same name which featured Charles Cioffi and Jack Kelly as Lieutenants Reardon and Ryan, respectively, Love's supervisors.

In 1983 she dropped out of show business to devote her time to the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses. For the rest of her life she resided in Hyde Park, California and took care of her mother.

Death

On October 10, 2002, Graves' home caught fire after a faulty space heater burst into flames. Fire fighters found her unconscious in a bedroom of her home and she was rushed to the Daniel Freeman Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival from burns and smoke inhalation. [http://www.findadeath.com/Deceased/g/theresagraves/teresa.htm Teresa Graves at Find a Death] ]

Graves' neighbors reportedly knew nothing of her past career as an actress and singer.

Filmography

* "That Man Bolt" (1973)
* "Vampira" aka "Old Dracula" (1974)
* "Black Eye" (1974)

Television

* "Turn-On" (1 episode, 1969)
* "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" (5 episodes, 1969-1970)
* "The Funny Side" (Unknown episodes, 1971)
* "Keeping Up with the Joneses" (1972)
* "The New Dick Van Dyke Show" (1 episode, 1972)
* "The Rookies" (1 episode, 1973)
* "Get Christie Love!" (TV movie, 1974)
* "Get Christie Love!" (21 episodes, 1974)

Award nominations

Golden Globe Award
*Nominated: Best TV Actress - Drama, "Get Christie Love!" (1975)

TP de Oro
*Nominated: Best Foreign Actress (Mejor Actriz Extranjera), "Get Christie Love!" (1977)

References

External links

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Persondata
NAME= Graves, Teresa
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Graves, Theresa
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Actress
DATE OF BIRTH= January 10, 1948
PLACE OF BIRTH= Houston, Texas, United States
DATE OF DEATH= October 10, 2002
PLACE OF DEATH= Los Angeles, California, United States