King, Mabel (1932–1999)

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King, Mabel (1932–1999)

African-American actress and singer. Born Donnie Mabel Elizabeth Washington, Dec 25, 1932, in Charleston, SC; died Nov 9, 1999, in Woodland Hills, CA; m. Melvin King (div.).

Best remembered as the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wiz, on stage and in film; other films include The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings, The Jerk, The Gong Show Movie and Scrooged; starred in tv series "What's Happening!" (1976–78); battled diabetes for many years, losing her legs to the disease.

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