Madge Sinclair’s Bio, Parents, Educational Background, Marital Status, Career, Death

Madge Sinclair's Net Worth as of December 2024 is $5 Million

Quick Facts of Madge Sinclair

Actress Madge Sinclair, who was born in Jamaica, is best known for playing the legendary nurse Ernestine Shoop in the television series Trapper John, M.D.

She was inspired to become an entrepreneur as well as a wonderful actress thanks to her representation of the experienced nurse.  Madge started a line of designer nursing uniforms since her on-screen nurse outfits, which she created herself, were so well-liked.

Madge Sinclair’s Bio, Parents

Herbert and Jemima Walters welcomed Madge Dorita into the world on April 28, 1938, in Kingston, Jamaica. Sister Norma Foote was her name. The late businessman and politician Marcus Garvey’s third cousin is Madge.

Madge Sinclair’s Educational Background

Madge attended Kingston’s “Shortwood College for Women.” Up until 1966, she worked as a teacher before relocating to New York to pursue an acting career. The “New York Shakespearean Festival” was the beginning of her career as an actress.

Madge Sinclair’s Marital Status

In 1956, Madge wed Royston Sinclair, a police officer from Jamaica. Garry and Wayne were their two sons. She relocated to the US in 1968 to pursue a career in acting, and the following year, she filed for divorce from her spouse.

But on her holidays, Madge traveled to Jamaica to see her boys. Later, they moved in with Madge to the US. Dean Compton, the stage manager for a show, was Madge’s second husband, whom she met there. In 1982, she wed him.

Madge Sinclair’s Career

In her early days in New York, Madge worked a few jobs to help her sustain herself financially. She had cashier positions at a cinema chain and in the garment sector. She worked on Wall Street as well.

Madge performed as “Clytemnestra” in the “New York Shakespearean Festival” performance of “The Wedding of Iphigenia” in 1971.

Madge subsequently tried her hand at modeling. She had to showcase her acting abilities for one of her projects. An agent later discovered her and brought her to Joseph Papp’s “Public Theatre.”

Madge was able to get a part in a play and kept working with the “Public Theatre” for the next three years.

Later, she was able to get several important parts because of her theatrical background. The same year that Madge started on cinema and television.

She played the role of Tituba in the 1972 film “The Witches of Salem: The Horror and the Hope” and Boots in the NBC crime drama “Madigan.”

The drama movie “Conrack,” in which Madge played “Mrs. Scott,” gave her her first notable role in 1974. She was nominated for an “NAACP Image Award” for her performance.

Additionally, she had appearances in the CBS television shows “Medical Center” and “The Waltons.” Madge’s first guest appearance was as “Bell Reynolds” in the ABC miniseries “Roots” in 1977. She was nominated for a “Primetime Emmy Award” for her remarkable performance.

Madge featured a widower in the action movie “Convoy” the year after. Additionally, she was seen in the television film “One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story” (1978). The next week, Madge appeared in an episode of the CBS drama “The White Shadow.”

Madge played the enduring role of nurse “Ernestine Shoop” in the CBS medical drama “Trapper John, M.D.” from 1980 to 1986. She received a lot of praise for her performance, and it also landed her a nomination for a second “Primetime Emmy Award.”

Madge’s transformation into a businesswoman led her to create “Madge Walters Sinclair Inc.,” a brand of personalized nursing uniforms.

After finishing her assignment as a nurse “Shoop,” Madge briefly (and uncredited) appeared in the 1986 science fiction film “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home” as the commander of the “USS Saratoga.”

She made history by being the first actress to represent a “Starfleet” commander in a “Star Trek” series. Later, in 1993, Madge appeared as “Captain Silva La Forge” in an episode of “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” a pivotal “Star Trek” character.

In the ‘ABC’ program ‘Ohara,’ Madge had a recurring role as ‘Gussie Lemmons,’ in 1987. In the 1988 romantic comedy “Coming to America,” she collaborated with James Earl Jones and John Amos, the actor who played her on-screen spouse in “Roots.”

In 1994, James and Madge collaborated once again as voice actors in the animated film “The Lion King.” The mother of Simba, Queen Sarabi, was voiced by Madge.

James and Madge appeared together on film once again in the “ABC” series “Gabriel’s Fire.” She was nominated for a “Viewers for Quality Television Award” and received a “Primetime Emmy” award for her depiction of the role “Of Empress Josephine.”

‘Jonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted’, a 1992 TV movie, also earned Madge a significant amount of praise from authorities for her supporting performance.

In the 1993 production of “The Lion,” which was performed at London’s “Cochrane Theatre,” Madge was given the role of “Isabella.”

Additionally, she has appeared in seven plays at the “Los Angeles Theatre Center.” Madge’s last acting performance was as “Mrs. Charles” in a Dream On episode. Just one month before she passed away, the program aired.

The Jamaican prime minister awarded Madge the “Order of Distinction, Rank of Commander.”

Madge Sinclair’s Death

Leukemia claimed Madge’s life on December 20, 1995, at the “Good Samaritan Hospital” in Los Angeles. Her remains were burned and thrown in Jamaica.

In lieu of flowers, Madge’s family asked that donations be sent to “Maxfield’s Children’s Home” and the Kingston-based Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the Leukemia Society of America.

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