Veteran American actress Irma P. Hall, best known for her roles in Soul Food and The Ladykillers, has died at age 91. Hall died on November 10 in Dallas, Texas, surrounded by loved ones, according to an announcement from her family. No cause of death was disclosed.
She became widely recognized for portraying Josephine “Big Mama” Joseph in the 1997 film Soul Food. Her performance earned her an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture in 1998. She later reprised the role in the television series adapted from the film.
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In 2004, Hall received the Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize for her portrayal of Marva Munson, a Bible-reading landlady opposite Tom Hanks in the Coen brothers’ comedy The Ladykillers. Her other film credits included A Family Thing, Beloved, Patch Adams, Collateral and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.
Born Irma Dolores Player on June 3, 1935, in Beaumont, Texas, Hall was raised in Chicago. Before pursuing acting full-time, she spent more than two decades teaching English and foreign languages in Dallas public schools.
Her introduction to film came in 1973, when actor and director Raymond St. Jacques cast her in Book of Numbers after hearing her recite poetry. She continued developing her acting career while teaching before eventually transitioning to entertainment full-time.
Beyond the screen, Hall helped establish the Dallas Minority Repertory Theatre and remained involved in mentoring young artists. Her family remembered her as an actress, educator, author, poet and public speaker whose influence extended beyond her performances.
