Olga James, ‘Carmen Jones’ Actress, Dies At 95

Quote:

---

Olga James, the singer, actress and night club performer who is remembered for her performance opposite Harry Belafonte in the film musical Carmen Jones in 1954, died at an assisted living facility in Los Angeles of complications from a fall. She was 95.

Born February 16, 1929 in Washington, D.C., Olga James attended the Juilliard School of Music and was trained as an opera singer. Through networking at Juilliard, she was hired in 1952 in the production of the opera Four Saints in Three Acts, which performed at a festival in Paris.

After James returned to New York, she was hired as a singer in the review Larry Steele’s Smart Affairs at Atlantic City’s Club Harlem. While the revue was touring, she was recommended to audition for Carmen Jones in the role of Cindy Lou, fiancée of Joe, played by Harry Belafonte. Following the film, James performed in night clubs and she made her television debut during a Harlem Globetrotters game in 1955.

In 1956, James made her Broadway debut opposite of Sammy Davis Jr. as Ethel Pearson in Mr. Wonderful. Years later, between 1969 and 1971, she appeared in nine episodes of the NBC comedy The Bill Cosby Show. In 1972, she did voiceover work for the cartoon series Sealab 2020.

---