Margaret Avery

Margaret Avery is an American actress and singer known for her roles in various films and TV shows. She began her career on stage and went on to star in notable films such as Cool Breeze (1972), Which Way Is Up? (1977), Scott Joplin (1977), and The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh (1979). However, she is best known for her performance as Shug Avery in the 1985 film The Color Purple, which earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Avery has also appeared in films like Blueberry Hill (1988), White Man's Burden (1995), and Proud Mary (2018). Additionally, she portrayed Helen Patterson in the BET drama series Being Mary Jane from 2013 to 2019. Born in Mangum, Oklahoma, Avery was raised in San Diego, California, and attended Point Loma High School before earning a degree in education from San Francisco State University in 1965.