Mabel King
Updated: 12/20/2025, 2:07:09 PM Wikipedia source
Mabel King (née Donnie Mabel Elizabeth Washington; December 25, 1932 – November 9, 1999) was an American actress and singer. She was known for her role as Mabel "Mama" Thomas on the ABC sitcom What's Happening!! from its premiere in 1976 until the end of its second season in 1978. King was also known for portraying Evillene the Witch, a role she originated in the stage musical The Wiz and reprised in Sidney Lumet's 1978 film adaptation. She recorded on the Rama Records and Amy Records labels.
Infobox
Born
Donnie Mabel Elizabeth Washington(1932-12-25)December 25, 1932Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
Died
November 9, 1999(1999-11-09) (aged 66)Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupations
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Years active
1964–1990
Known for
Mabel "Mama" Thomas –What's Happening!!Evillene – The Wiz
Spouse
mw- Melvin King (m. 1967; div. 1989)
Children
1
Tables
· Filmography
1976
Role(s)
Bertha Dewitt
1976–1978
Role(s)
What's Happening!!
Notes
Mabel "Mama" Thomas
1978
1978–1981
Role(s)
Fantasy Island
Notes
Various roles
1981
Palmerstown, U.S.A.
Role(s)
Aunt Toog
Notes
Episode: "Future City"
Getting Over
Role(s)
Mabel Queen
1983
Notes
Episode: "Fatal Error"
1984
1986
1990
Dead Men Don't Die
Role(s)
Chafuka
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1973 | Don't Play Us Cheap | Sister Bowser | |
| 1973 | Ganja & Hess | Queen of Myrthia | |
| 1976 | The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings | Bertha Dewitt | |
| 1976–1978 | What's Happening!! | Mabel "Mama" Thomas | 37 episodes |
| 1977 | Scott Joplin | Madam Amy | |
| 1978 | The Wiz | Evillene | Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| 1978–1981 | Fantasy Island | Various roles | 3 episodes |
| 1979 | Barney Miller | Mother Zilla | Episode: "Computer Crime" |
| 1979 | The Jerk | Mother | |
| 1980 | The Gong Show Movie | Mabel | |
| 1981 | Palmerstown, U.S.A. | Aunt Toog | Episode: "Future City" |
| 1981 | Getting Over | Mabel Queen | |
| 1983 | ABC Weekend Special | Mrs. Trussker | Episode: "All the Money in the World" |
| 1983 | Lottery! | Mabel | Episode: "Los Angeles: Bigger Volume" |
| 1983 | Whiz Kids | Episode: "Fatal Error" | |
| 1984 | The Jerk, Too | Mama Johnson | Television movie |
| 1984 | The Master | Willie | Episode: "Fat Tuesday" |
| 1984 | The Jeffersons | Mother Tobin | Episode: "Some Enchanted Evening" |
| 1986 | Amazing Stories | Jennifer Mowbray | Episode: "The Sitter" |
| 1986 | The Colbys | Fortune Teller | Episode: "The Honeymoon" |
| 1986 | Tales from the Darkside | Ruby Cuzzins | Episode: "Baker's Dozen" |
| 1988 | Black Vampire | ||
| 1988 | Wiseguy | Mae Nina | Episode: "Blood Dance" |
| 1988 | Scrooged | Gramma | |
| 1990 | Dead Men Don't Die | Chafuka |
References
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/1999/11/18/arts/mabel-king-66-who-played-the-wicked-witch-in-the-wiz.html
- The Dead Celebrity Cookbook: A Resurrection of Recipes from More Than 145 Stars of Stage and Screenhttps://books.google.com/books?id=komjAgAAQBAJ&dq=Mabel+King+1932&pg=PA210
- Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 1999: Film, Television, Radio, Theatrehttps://books.google.com/books?id=0HjGCwAAQBAJ&dq=Mabel+King+1932&pg=PA121
- NNDB - Mabel Kinghttp://www.nndb.com/people/501/000109174/
- Wizard of Oz: An Over-the-Rainbow Celebration of the World's Favorite Moviehttps://books.google.com/books?id=0bUKBgAAQBAJ&dq=Mabel+King+1932&pg=PT118
- The World Encyclopedia of Christmashttps://books.google.com/books?id=WGaVZ6fEjjsC&dq=Mabel+King+1932&pg=PT270
- Video Hounds Golden Movie Retrievee: The Complete Guide to Movies on Videocassette, DVD and Laserdischttps://books.google.com/books?id=zhN80fMAmo0C&q=Mabel+King+1932
- Profile, nndb.com. Accessed July 9, 2025.https://www.nndb.com/people/501/000109174/
- "Mabel King Biography"http://www.filmreference.com/film/46/Mabel-King.html
- Jethttps://books.google.com/books?id=4sIDAAAAMBAJ&dq=TV%2C+Movie+and+Stage+Actress+Mabel+King+dies&pg=PA56
- An Encyclopedia of South Carolina Jazz and Blues Musicianshttps://books.google.com/books?id=jsnYCwAAQBAJ&dq=mabel+king+Go+Back+Home+Young+Fella%22&pg=PT397