Madge Sinclair is best known for her roles as the take-no-mess Queen in Coming To America and as “Belle,” the devoted wife of “Kunta Kinte” in the miniseries, Roots, but Madge has also made a big impact with many other roles in the 1970’s movies Cornbread, Earl, and Me, Convoy, and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home; and also in the 80’s TV show, Trapper John M.D. and as the voice of of “Sarabi,” “Simba’s” mother, in The Lion King.
Still there are still several facts about this legendary actress that sort of flew under the radar, so we wanted to pay homage to this Old School legend by highlighting a few facts about her life:
- Madge Sinclair passed away from leukemia in 1995. Many people didn’t know this because there was not a lot of mainstream media coverage about it (although there should have been in my humble opinion). She was diagnosed with leukemia just 2 years after being nominated for an Emmy for her incredible portrayal of “Belle” in the Roots miniseries. Her diagnosis just lit a fire up under Madge and made her even more determined to accomplish all that she’d set out to accomplish when she made the trek from her native country Jamaica, to America. Madge is survived by her husband, Dean Compton, and her two sons, Garry and Wayne Sinclair. She was born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, where she was a school teacher. She ultimately made the very risky decision to leave her secure life in Jamaica in 1968, at the age of 30, to pursue her dream of acting in the United States. At that time, Madge was married to her then-husband, Royston Sinclair and they have two sons. She later divorced and married actor, Dean Compton in 1982.
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- Madge is the third cousin of the late, great political leader and entrepreneur, Marcus Garvey. Her paternal great-grandmother was the sister of Garvey’s father. Her oldest son, Garry Sinclair once said this about his mother: “I grew up in a home in which I was constantly reminded that I was Marcus Garvey’s fourth cousin.” Although Madge was born in Kingston, Jamaica, she had roots in St. Ann, Jamaica (where Garvey was born).
- Madge was a very successful businesswoman. She owned three business that she developed after her move to the U.S.: She was a successful art dealer; the chairwoman of her women’s clothing manufacturing company Madge Walters Sinclair Inc., which specialized in making nurses’ uniforms. That idea was inspired by her role on the show, Trapper John, and by the mid 80’s her uniforms were in over 100 stores.; She was the owner of the Action Income Tax Service. Madge was a no-nonsense women who prided herself on being very focused and determined and once she made a decision to do something, she did it, no matter who thought it was a bad idea.
It seems as if Madge’s career came full circle when she made her mark as a slave in Roots and then a little over a decade later, she was hailed as an African Queen in Coming To America. Mrs. Sinclair will forever be remembered as a very versatile actress who’s legacy will continue to live on through her outstanding work in film and we’re grateful that she was a part of the Old School era.
