LaWanda Page (born Alberta Richmond; October 19, 1920 – September 14, 2002) was an American actress, comedian and dancer whose career spanned six decades. … See more

Page was born Alberta Richmond on October 19, 1920 in Cleveland, Ohio. She was the daughter of Willie Richmond and Estella Small. She had an older sister, Anna (born 1912). She … See more

Dancing
Page began her showbusiness career at age 15 in St. Louis, where she learned to fire dance. Her array of tricks included swallowing fire, lighting matches and cigarettes with her fingertips and walking over flames. She … See more

Page used blue comedy, observational humor, character comedy and physical comedy to share vignettes about sexuality and religion that drew howling laughter from her audiences. She was one of the few women who performed extended spoken word … See more

Page was married and widowed three times. She married her first husband, John Peal, in 1934 at the age of 14, and before he died when she was 19, they had a son, who died in infancy in 1935, and a daughter, Clara. After her third husband died when Page … See more

Page died of a heart attack following complications from diabetes on September 14, 2002 at age 81. She is interred in an outdoor crypt at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California. Page's daughter, the evangelist Clara Estella Roberta Johnson, died on … See more

Page followed in the footsteps of comic Moms Mabley along with carving her own path, making room for generations of future comics. Comedian and actress Thea Vidale called Page "a trailblazer who was never given the respect she deserved." Actress Myra J. … See more