Mabel King - Actor Profile

Mabel King

Acting
Freshness: Feb 01, 2026
12Total Films
6.9 Highest Rated
Born: Dec 25, 1932
Birth Place: Charleston, South Carolina, USA

About Mabel King

Mabel Elizabeth King (née Washington; December 25, 1932 - November 9, 1999) was an American actress and singer. She is 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 is 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. Description above from the Wikipedia article Mabel King, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Career Statistics & Market Influence

Analyzing the cinematic journey of Mabel King reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 12 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.

Genre Dominance: Comedy

The majority of Mabel King's filmography leans towards the Comedy genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.

The "Box Office" Signature

With a 17% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Mabel King remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in The Jerk, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.

Best Mabel King Movies Ranked

Must-watch hits from Mabel King's career based on audience ratings.

★6.9
The Jerk (1979) movie poster
★6.9

The Jerk: After discovering he's not really black like the rest of his family, likable dimwit Navin Johnson sets off on a hilariou

The Jerk

1979•Comedy
★6.8
Scrooged (1988) movie poster
★6.8

Scrooged: Frank Cross is a wildly successful television executive whose cold ambition and curmudgeonly nature has driven away the

Scrooged

1988•Fantasy
★6.1
The Wiz (1978) movie poster
★6.1

The Wiz: Dorothy Gale, a shy kindergarten teacher, is swept away to the magic land of Oz where she embarks on a quest to return h

The Wiz

1978•Music
★6.1
Scott Joplin (1977) movie poster
★6.1

Scott Joplin: The life story of Scott Joplin and how he became the greatest ragtime composer of all time.

Scott Joplin

1977•Music
★5.9
The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings (1976) movie poster
★5.9

The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings: Top baseball pitcher Bingo Long is fed up with how his Negro League team owner treats him, so he forms his own lineup, r

The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings

1976•Comedy

Complete Filmography & Success Status

Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Mabel King.

YearMovieCharacterSuccessMore
1990 Dead Men Don't Die Chafuka Flop Similar →
1988 Scrooged Gramma Hit Similar →
1984 The Jerk, Too Mama Johnson Flop Similar →
1983 All the Money in the World Mrs. Trussker Flop Similar →
1981 Getting Over Mabel Queen Flop Similar →
1980 The Gong Show Movie Mabel Flop Similar →
1979 The Jerk Mother Hit Similar →
1978 The Wiz Evillene Average Similar →
1977 Scott Joplin Madam Amy Average Similar →
1976 The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings Bertha Average Similar →
1973 Ganja & Hess Queen of Myrthia Average Similar →
1973 Don't Play Us Cheap House Guest at the Party Average Similar →

Mabel King - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best movie of Mabel King?

According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Mabel King is "The Jerk" with a rating of 6.9/10.

How many movies has Mabel King acted in?

Mabel King has been featured in at least 12 major films throughout their career.

What are some other popular movies by Mabel King?

Other notable films include "Scrooged", "The Wiz", and "Scott Joplin".