Butterfly McQueen was born on January 7, 1911 in Tampa, Florida. On December 22, 1995 Butterfly passed away in Augusta, Georgia from burns. Her clothes caught fire while she was lighting a lantern.

Butterfly McQueen's birth name was Thelma McQueen.

She was given the name from The "Butterfly" stage name, which does describe her constantly moving arms, actually derives from dancing the "Butterfly Ballet" in a 1935 production of "A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. Hating her real name of Thelma, she actually had her name legalized to Butterfly McQueen.

McQueen's stage debut was in BROWN SUGAR. Among Butterfly McQueen's string of silly maid parts were FLAME OF THE BARBARY COAST and MILDRED PIERCE.

Butterfly McQueen's most famous role, was whiny Prissy of GONE WITH THE WIND.

From 1947 to 1951 Butterfly McQueen was a regular on the radio show BEULAH and then in the TV version 1950-52.

Butterfly McQueen's other notable credits include...

THE MOSQUITO COAST (1986)
KILLER DILLER (1948)
FLAME OF BARBARY COAST (1945)
CABIN IN THE SKY (1943)
AFFECTIONATELY YOURS (1941)
GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)

 

McQueen in DUEL IN THE SUN (1946)