*Movie siren Vonetta McGee, star of such blaxploitation era films as “Shaft in Africa” and “Blacula,” has died. She was 65.
The actress, born Lawrence Vonetta McGee in San Francisco, suffered a cardiac arrest on July 9 and died in the hospital last Friday, according to the Los Angeles Times.
McGee also starred in 1975’s “The Eiger Sanction” alongside Clint Eastwood, playing the role of Jemima Brown. But it was her role two years earlier opposite Richard Roundtree in “Shaft in Africa” that made her a household name.
In 1987, McGee married the actor Carl Lumbly; they have one child.
According to the Los Angeles Times, McGee was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma at the age of 17, although her death was not related to the disease.
Read McGee’s entire obituary in the Los Angeles Times here.
Below, Vonetta McGee is interviewed on “Soul Train.”
R.I.P. Beyonce resembles her in that second pic.
R.I.P., kind of forgot about her with pam Grier being around. ‘all, I see the resemblence, but lets not give B any acting ideas
Too late, she already got that bug with Dream Girls!
Testic you’re right about that
Vonetta was more of my generation considering her career.
I remember her from her work in the early 70′s, but haven’t heard about her lately.
I think her pix looks more like Beyonce’s mom.
RIP Vonetta!!!
RIP – she was so pretty on film. Gone too soon…..
Didn’t know she was married to Carl Lumbly …or did I forget. I do remember her and Max Julien though. This is the first I’ve heard of her death. We are losing a lot of the old school actors/singers. RIP.
RIP… my sister….
R.I.P Beautiful Sister
*sidenote*
WTH was up with white Hollywood naming a black character “Jemima Brown”.
Lorraine315, your comment was the very thing I said when I saw the movie. I remember it well, because Vonetta, Pam, & Diane Carol were the only FINE Black Sistah’s getting any real screen time back then. Didn’t know she was married to Carl although. RIP Vonetta!
WOW, I remember her very well, RIP sister.
Rest in Peace, Mrs. McGee.
I always use to think that she and Lonette McKee were sisters. I always got them mixed up when I was a kid in the late 70s. Does anyone remember the name of the movie she did with her then boyfriend, Max Julien? It was a black western. I always wanted to see that movie but never saw it. It saddens me when a piece of your childhood heroes start dying.
Thomasine and Bushrod http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072278/
Not quite sure why it wasn’t listed in this story, I had to goggle Max Julien for the answer, I’m getting old, because I couldn’t for the life of me recall the name of that movie!!!!LOL!!!!