- Born
- Died
- Birth nameGertrude Hadley
- Gertrude Jeannette was born on November 28, 1914 in Urbana, Arkansas, USA. She was an actress and producer, known for Shaft (1971), Nothing But a Man (1964) and Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970). She was married to Joe Jeanette. She died on April 4, 2018 in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.
- SpouseJoe Jeanette(? - July 2, 1958) (his death, 1 child)
- She was the first female cab driver in New York City.
- She acted into her 80s and retired from directing theater at the age of 98.
- Member of the American Negro Theater, she played in many Broadway productions.
- She is also known for being the first woman to work as a licensed taxi driver in New York City, which she began doing in 1942.
- Despite being blacklisted during the Red Scare in the 1950s, she wrote five plays and founded the H.A.D.L.E.Y. Players in Harlem, New York, remaining active in mentoring African-American actors in New York City.
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