Emmy Winner Dies of Emphysema

J A C K S O N, Miss., Sept. 15 -- Beah Richards, who received an Emmyearlier this month for her guest appearance on ABC’s ThePractice and whose acting career spanned three decades in filmssuch as Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner and Beloved has died.She was 74.

Richards returned home to Vicksburg, Miss., from Los Angeles inMay. She died about 1 p.m. Thursday at her home of emphysema.

Received Oscar Nomination

The actress played everything from a loving mother on televisionto a bag lady on film. She received an Oscar nomination forsupporting actress in Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner, a 1960sdrama starring Sidney Poitier, Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy.

Her other film credits include In The Heat of The Night,Hurry Sundown, Drugstore Cowboy and The Great WhiteHope. On television, she has appeared in ER, The Bill CosbyShow and Roots: The Next Generation.

Richards was unable to pick up the Emmy for her guest appearanceon The Practice was surprised when she was presented withthe award at her home Sept. 1 by Lisa Gay Hamilton, one of theco-stars of the program.

“I can’t tell you what this means to me. It is truly a greataccomplishment,” Richards said after receiving the award.

A versatile actress, she was nominated for a Tony Award for herBroadway performance in Amen Corner.

She won an Emmy in 1988 for a guest appearance on CBS’ Frank’sPlace, and presented an ACE Award in 1987 for best actress in amovie or miniseries for her role in As Summers Die on HBO.

A Proud Family

Sheri Fisher, a niece of Richards, said the family could nothave been more proud of her accomplishments.

“She was lady that the family was very proud of. She not onlytouched our lives, but she touched the lives of so many people inMississippi and throughout the United States,” she said.

Richards played classy roles, Fisher said, even if it meantbeing out of work for long periods of time.

“Her work brought dignity to our family and she never didanything that would disgrace us,” she said.