# Carol Speed

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{{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](/source/Bakersfield%2C_California), U.S.
| death_date   = {{death date and age|2022|1|14|1945|3|14}}
| death_place  = [Muskogee, Oklahoma](/source/Muskogee%2C_Oklahoma), U.S.
| occupation   = {{hlist|Actress|singer|author}}
| known_for    = Abby Williams – ''[Abby](/source/Abby_(film))''<br> Lulu – ''[The Mack](/source/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](/source/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](/source/American_International_Pictures) 1974 blaxploitation horror film ''[Abby](/source/Abby_(film))'' (1974).<ref name=":2" />

==Biography==
===Early life and education===
Carolyn Ann Stewart was born on March 14, 1945, in [Bakersfield, California](/source/Bakersfield%2C_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) &#124; Muskogee, Oklahoma|website=echovita.com}}</ref> She was raised in [San Jose, California](/source/San_Jose%2C_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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Santa_Clara_County%2C_California) and was one of the first African-Americans to receive a scholarship for the [American Conservatory Theater](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Reno%2C_Nevada). Speed's career in television began in 1970 when she landed a minor role as Clara Dormin on an episode of the [NBC](/source/NBC) series ''[Julia](/source/Julia_(1968_TV_series))'' starring [Diahann Carroll](/source/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](/source/Sanford_and_Son)'', ''[The Psychiatrist](/source/The_Psychiatrist_(TV_series))'' and ''[Days of Our Lives](/source/Days_of_Our_Lives)''. In 1972, Speed made her film debut in ''[The New Centurions](/source/The_New_Centurions)'' in which she portrayed Martha, a prostitute. Speed portrayed Mickie, prisoner in [Jack Hill](/source/Jack_Hill)'s 1972 blaxploitation film ''[The Big Bird Cage](/source/The_Big_Bird_Cage)'' alongside [Pam Grier](/source/Pam_Grier) and [Sid Haig](/source/Sid_Haig).<ref name=":7" /> In 1973, Speed starred opposite [Max Julien](/source/Max_Julien) as Lulu, his childhood friend and top prostitute in the blaxploitation crime film ''[The Mack](/source/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](/source/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](/source/The_Hollywood_Reporter) |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 1976, Speed appeared on the July cover of [''Jet''.](/source/Jet_(magazine))<ref name=":0" />

Speed later appeared as Noel in ''[Disco Godfather](/source/Disco_Godfather)'', starting alongside [Rudy Ray Moore](/source/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](/source/Quentin_Tarantino)'s 1997 film ''[Jackie Brown](/source/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](/source/Atlanta) during a period in her later years. During the film of ''The Mack'', Speed was romantically involved with Frank Ward, an [Oakland, California](/source/Oakland%2C_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](/source/Muskogee%2C_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](/source/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](/source/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!](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Dynamite_Brothers)'' || Sarah ||<ref name=":1" />
|-
|1974|| ''[Black Samson](/source/Black_Samson)'' || Leslie ||<ref name=":1" />
|-
|1974|| ''[Abby](/source/Abby_(film))'' || Abby Williams ||<ref name=":0" />
|-
|1979|| ''[Disco Godfather](/source/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](/source/Julia_(1968_TV_series))''
|Clara Dormin
| Episode: "Charlie's Chance"
|-
|''[The Psychiatrist](/source/The_Psychiatrist_(TV_series))''
| 
| (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](/source/Sanford_and_Son)''
| Crystal Simpson
| Episode: "Here Comes the Bride, There Goes the Bride" 
|-
| ''[The Paul Lynde Show](/source/The_Paul_Lynde_Show)''
| Laverne
| Episode: "Paul's Desperate Hour"
|-
|rowspan=2|1973
|''[Tenafly](/source/Tenafly_(TV_series))''
|
| (uncredited) Episode: Pilot
|-
|''[The Girls of Huntington House](/source/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}}

{{Authority control}}

{{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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Carol Speed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_Speed) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_Speed?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.