Butterfly McQueen (born Thelma McQueen; January 7, 1911 – December 22, 1995) was an American actress. Originally a dancer, McQueen first appeared in films as Prissy in Gone with the Wind (1939). She was unable to attend the movie's premiere because it was held at a whites-only theater. Often typecast as a maid, she said: "I didn't mind playing a maid the first time, because I thought that was how you got into the business. But after I did the same thing over and over, I resented it. I didn't mind being funny, but I didn't like being stupid." She continued as an actress in film in the 1940s, and then moved to television acting in the 1950s. She won a 1980 Daytime Emmy Award for her performance in the ABC Afterschool Special.
Last Updated: June 9, 2021
