Hilda Simms
This date in 1918 marks the birth of Hilda Simms. She was a Black stage and film actress.
Born Hilda Moses in Minneapolis, MN, she graduated from South high school. Sims joined the American Negro Theater in Harlem, NY, in 1943 and was given the title role of Anna Lucasta. When the production moved to Broadway in 1944, it became the first all-Black production to be performed on Broadway without a racial theme. It had a run of over 950 performances.
Simms was also the creative arts director of the New York State human rights division. She brought discrimination against Black actors to public attention during the 1960s. She also played a Black neurologist in The Nurses 1962-64. Other movie credits were The Joe Louis Story and Black Widow. Hilda Simms died on February 6th, 1994. Her younger brother, Richard, died on March 31, 2006.
Hamline University
Mick Caouette, Producer
Humphrey Documentary Project
St. Paul, Minnesota 55104
