{{Short description|American actress (1945–2022)}} {{Use American English|date=July 2020}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}} {{Infobox person | image = | name = Carol Speed | birth_name = Carolyn Ann Stewart | birth_date = {{birth date|1945|3|14}} | birth_place = Bakersfield, California, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2022|1|14|1945|3|14}} | death_place = Muskogee, Oklahoma, U.S. | occupation = {{hlist|Actress|singer|author}} | known_for = Abby Williams – ''Abby''<br> Lulu – ''The Mack'' | years_active = 1969–1982; 2006 }}
'''Carolyn Ann Stewart''' (March 14, 1945{{snd}}January 14, 2022), known professionally as '''Carol Speed''', was an American actress, singer-songwriter and author.<ref name=OPP>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wNIzAQAAIAAJ&q=carol+speed+1945|title=Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television|first=Bob|last=McCann|date=January 28, 2010|publisher=McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers|isbn=9780786437900|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AbUzAQAAIAAJ&q=carol+speed+1945|title=VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever|date=January 28, 2004|publisher=Visible Ink|isbn=9780787674700|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/8516/abby/|title=DVD Talk|website=www.dvdtalk.com}}</ref> Speed was known for her roles in films during the 1970s blaxploitation era,<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WVoC8KJHqh8C&dq=Carol+speed&pg=PA144|title=Ebony magazine|date=April 28, 1972|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|via=Google Books}}</ref> for example starring as Abby Williams in the American International Pictures 1974 blaxploitation horror film ''Abby'' (1974).<ref name=":2" />
==Biography== ===Early life and education=== Carolyn Ann Stewart was born on March 14, 1945, in Bakersfield, California,<ref name="nytobit">{{Cite news|last=Traub|first=Alex|date=January 28, 2022|title=Carol Speed, Vixen of the Blaxploitation Era, Dies at 76|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/28/movies/carol-speed-dead.html|access-date=January 28, 2022|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> to Cora Valrie Stewart (née Taylor) and Freddie Lee Stewart.<ref name=TUY>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dMMP94fw3mgC&dq=carol+speed+1945&pg=PA521|title=Mr. Skin's Skincyclopedia: The A-to-Z Guide to Finding Your Favorite Actresses Naked|date=December 9, 2004|publisher=Macmillan|isbn=9780312331443|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref name=OBIT>{{Cite web|url=https://www.echovita.com/us/obituaries/ok/muskogee/carolyn-stewart-14027193|title=Ms Carolyn Ann Stewart Obituary (1945 - 2022) | Muskogee, Oklahoma|website=echovita.com}}</ref> She was raised in San Jose, California. Speed began performing at a young age. At age 12, she received her first acting role in the San Jose Light Opera production of ''The King and I''. During her youth, she was a part of a singing group which included two of her cousins. Speed attended William C. Overfelt High School, where she was voted "Best All Around" for her senior class.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://secure.classmates.com/auth/login?successUrl=/siteui/yearbooks/4182780552%3fpage=27|title=Classmates – Find your school, yearbooks and alumni online|website=secure.classmates.com}}</ref> She graduated in 1963.<ref name=":3" /> Speed holds the distinction of being the first African-American homecoming queen in Santa Clara County and was one of the first African-Americans to receive a scholarship for the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, California.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 21, 2022 |title=Carol Speed, Star of Blaxploitation Classics 'The Mack' and 'Abby' Dies at 76 |url=https://www.blackenterprise.com/carol-speed-star-of-blaxploitation-classics-the-mack-and-abby-dies-at-76/ |access-date=2022-04-02 |website=Black Enterprise |language=en-US}}</ref>
===Career=== Speed began her career in show business as a singer, serving as a back-up singer for Bobbie Gentry<ref>{{Cite web |last=Haring |first=Bruce |date=January 29, 2022 |title=Carol Speed Dies: Star Of Blaxploitation Film 'The Mack' And Horror Classic 'Abby' Was 76 |url=https://deadline.com/2022/01/carol-speed-dies-blaxploitation-film-the-mack-was-76-obituary-1234922476/ |access-date=2022-03-02 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> during her stint at Harrah's Club in Reno, Nevada. Speed's career in television began in 1970 when she landed a minor role as Clara Dormin on an episode of the NBC series ''Julia'' starring Diahann Carroll. Speed appeared in several television commercials during the 1970s.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}
From 1970 through 1972, Speed appeared in other shows such as, ''Sanford and Son'', ''The Psychiatrist'' and ''Days of Our Lives''. In 1972, Speed made her film debut in ''The New Centurions'' in which she portrayed Martha, a prostitute. Speed portrayed Mickie, prisoner in Jack Hill's 1972 blaxploitation film ''The Big Bird Cage'' alongside Pam Grier and Sid Haig.<ref name=":7" /> In 1973, Speed starred opposite Max Julien as Lulu, his childhood friend and top prostitute in the blaxploitation crime film ''The Mack''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Alexander |first=Jared |date=January 20, 2022 |title='The Mack,' 'Abby' actress, Carol Speed, dies at 76 |url=https://thegrio.com/2022/01/20/carol-speed-dies-76/ |access-date=2022-04-02 |website=TheGrio |language=en-US}}</ref> In 1974, Speed portrayed Abby Williams, a minister's wife who becomes possessed by the malevolent spirit of an evil demon in William Girdler's horror film ''Abby''.<ref name=":0" /> For the film, Speed wrote and sang "My Soul Is A Witness".<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Barnes |first=Mike |date=January 19, 2022 |title=Carol Speed, Actress in 'The Mack,' 'Black Samson' and 'Abby,' Dies at 76 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/carol-speed-dead-mack-black-samson-abby-1235077724/ |access-date=2022-04-02 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 1976, Speed appeared on the July cover of ''Jet''.<ref name=":0" />
Speed later appeared as Noel in ''Disco Godfather'', starting alongside Rudy Ray Moore in 1979.<ref name=":4" /> In 1980, Speed published ''Inside Black Hollywood''.<ref name=":5" /> Speed initially accepted a minor role in Quentin Tarantino's 1997 film ''Jackie Brown'' but decided not to appear in the film for personal reasons.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=n7kbAQAAIAAJ&q=Carol+Speed+jackie+brown The Pocket Essential Blaxploitation Films, ''Jackie Brown'', By Mikel J. Koven · 2001]</ref> In 2006, Speed portrayed Cookie in the independent horror film ''Village Vengeance''.
===Personal life and death=== Speed was a resident of Atlanta, Georgia during a period in her later years. During the film of ''The Mack'', Speed was romantically involved with Frank Ward, an Oakland, California pimp and drug dealer whose life served as the film's inspiration.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=kNRJEAAAQBAJ&dq=carol+speed+frank+ward&pg=PT148 The Fabulous Ward Brothers, The Original Macks, By Chloe Sylvers · 2021]</ref> Speed had one child, a son, who predeceased her, and one grandson.<ref name=OBIT/>
She died in Muskogee, Oklahoma, on January 14, 2022, at the age of 76, just two weeks after her ''The Mack'' co-star Max Julien died.<ref name="OBIT" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Traub|first=Alex|date=January 28, 2022|title=Carol Speed, Vixen of the Blaxploitation Era, Dies at 76|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/28/movies/carol-speed-dead.html|access-date=January 29, 2022|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Speed was cremated.{{Citation needed|date=May 2022}}
==Filmography == {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Reference |- |1972|| ''The Big Bird Cage'' || Mickie ||<ref>{{Cite web|title=American Genre Film Archive THE BIG BIRD CAGE|url=https://www.americangenrefilm.com/theatrical-film-catalog/the-big-bird-cage/|access-date=January 29, 2022|website=www.americangenrefilm.com}}</ref> |- |1972|| ''The New Centurions'' || Martha ||<ref>{{Cite web|title=The New Centurions|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/3754/the-new-centurions|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102134750/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/3754/The-New-Centurions/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 2, 2012|access-date=January 29, 2022|website=Turner Classic Movies|language=en}}</ref> |- |1973|| ''Savage!'' || Amanda ||<ref>{{Cite web|title=Savage|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/499857/savage/#overview|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210615034321/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/499857/savage#overview|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 15, 2021|access-date=January 29, 2022|website=Turner Classic Movies|language=en}}</ref> |- |1973|| ''The Mack'' || Lulu ||<ref name=":0" /> |- |1973|| ''Bummer'' || Janyce ||<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=January 22, 2022|title='The Mack' And 'Abby' Star, Carol Speed, Dies At 76|url=https://www.sis2sis.com/the-mack-and-abby-star-carol-speed-dies-at-76/|access-date=2022-02-03|website=Sis2Sis|language=en-US}}</ref> |- |1974|| ''Dynamite Brothers'' || Sarah ||<ref name=":1" /> |- |1974|| ''Black Samson'' || Leslie ||<ref name=":1" /> |- |1974|| ''Abby'' || Abby Williams ||<ref name=":0" /> |- |1979|| ''Disco Godfather'' || Noel ||<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=Disco Godfather|url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/disco-godfather/cast/2030120137/|access-date=2022-02-03|website=TVGuide.com|language=en}}</ref> |}
==Television== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- |rowspan=2|1970 |''Julia'' |Clara Dormin | Episode: "Charlie's Chance" |- |''The Psychiatrist'' | | (uncredited) Episode: "God Bless the Children (Pilot)" |- |1971 |''Love Hate Love'' | Secretary | TV movie |- | rowspan=3|1972 |''Getting Away from It All'' | Town Clerk | TV movie |- |''Sanford and Son'' | Crystal Simpson | Episode: "Here Comes the Bride, There Goes the Bride" |- | ''The Paul Lynde Show'' | Laverne | Episode: "Paul's Desperate Hour" |- |rowspan=2|1973 |''Tenafly'' | | (uncredited) Episode: Pilot |- |''The Girls of Huntington House'' |Marlene |TV movie |- |}
== Books == {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Title !References |- |1980 |''Inside Black Hollywood'' |<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Bueno |first=Antioinette |date=January 21, 2022 |title=Carol Speed, 'Abby' and 'The Mack' Star, Dead at 76 |url=https://www.9news.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-tonight/carol-speed-abby-and-the-mack-star-dead-at-76/603-f7de24a9-408b-4d02-a276-0db9d9963588 |access-date=2022-05-27 |website=KUSA.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> |- |2002 |''The Georgette Harvey Story'' |<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":5" /> |- |2004 |''Gods in Polyester, or a Survivors' Account of 70s Cinema Obscura'' (contributor) |<ref name=":5" /> |}
== Music == {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Song title !Film !References |- |1973 |"I Can Make It" |''Girls of Huntington House'' |<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=Obituary for Carolyn Ann Bennett-Speed at Keith D. Biglow Funeral Directors, Inc. – Muskogee |url=https://www.biglowfunerals.com/obituary/carolyn-bennett-speed?lud=A1603EA5952D7505EA1FA15528710070 |access-date=2022-07-08 |website=www.biglowfunerals.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Carol Speed On Abby |url=http://www.williamgirdler.com/carolspeed2.html |access-date=2022-07-08 |website=www.williamgirdler.com}}</ref> |- |1974 |"My Soul is a Witness" |''Abby'' |<ref name=":7" /> |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|0817511|Carol Speed}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Speed, Carol}} Category:1945 births Category:2022 deaths Category:20th-century American actresses Category:20th-century African-American actresses Category:21st-century African-American actresses Category:21st-century American actresses Category:Actresses from Bakersfield, California Category:American film actresses Category:Writers from Bakersfield, California