Annie Joe Edwards, whose trailblazing career took her to Broadway, on TV and in the movies, died today, according to a Facebook post from Encore Theatre and Gallery.
Encore’s post was “at the request of the family,” it said.
Edwards, who performed both as Annie Joe Edwards and Annie Joe, was in the Broadway production of “Legends!” with Carol Channing, as well as productions of “The Wiz” and “Ain’t Misbehavin’.” Those last two shows also took her to London’s West End.
In addition to her theater career, she appeared on TV in series such as “In the Heat of the Night” and “Mama Flora’s Family,” as well as the TV movies “The First Hundred Years” and “Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters’ First 100 Years.” Movie credits included “The Purple Rose of Cairo,” “Beat Street” and “Bullets Over Broadway.”
She was involved in the arts in Birmingham, too, mentoring young actors and working as an actress, musician and composer.
Her final stage performance was in 2022 in a production of “Steel Magnolias” at Encore Theatre and Gallery. The theater has more on Edwards here.
