Acting

2021

as Self (archival footage)

2016

as Ms. Edna

2015

as Herself

2014

as Self (archive footage)

2013		Peeples as Nana Peeples
2013		Martin Luther King and the March on Washington as Self

2012

as Self

2010		The Front as Nana
2010		At Risk as Nana

2009		White Collar (25 episodes) as June
2009		Diary of a Single Mom as Therapist

2007		RiffTrax: The Star Wars Holiday Special as Mermeia (archive footage)
2007		Back to You (1 episode) as Sandra Jenkins

2005

(6 episodes) as Jane Burke

2004

as (archive footage)

2002		Half & Half (1 episode) as Grandma Ruth Thorne
2002		NBC 75th Anniversary Special as Self
2002		The Court (6 episodes)

2001

(3 episodes) as Queen La (voice)

2000		Livin' for Love: The Natalie Cole Story as Maria Cole
2000		Soul Food (2 episodes) as Aunt Ruthie
2000		Sally Hemings: An American Scandal as Betty Hemings
2000		The Courage to Love as Pouponne

1999		Twice in a Lifetime (2 episodes) as Jael
1999		Jackie's Back! as Diahann Carroll
1999		Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years as Sadie Delany

1998		The Sweetest Gift as Mrs. Wilson
1998		Motown 40: The Music is Forever as Self

1997

as Elzora

1995		Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (1 episode) as Crow (voice)
1995		Jirimpimbira: An African Folk Tale as Narrator

1994		Touched by an Angel (1 episode) as Grace Willis
1994		Perry Mason: The Case of the Lethal Lifestyle as Lydia Bishop
1994		Burke's Law (1 episode) as Grace Gibson

1993

(1 episode) as Self

1992

as Self

1991		Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker as Vivian Thurlow (archive footage) (uncredited)
1991		Sunday in Paris as Vernetta Chase
1991		The Five Heartbeats as Eleanor Potter

1990		Mo' Better Blues as Jazz Club Singer (uncredited)
1990		Murder in Black and White as Margo Stover

1989

as Maggie

1988		Joan Rivers and Friends Salute Heidi Abromowitz
1988		Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC as Self

1987

(7 episodes) as Marion Gilbert

1985		The Colbys (7 episodes)
1985		The Best of Broadway as Herself
1985		Night of 100 Stars II as Self

1983

(1 episode) as Herself - Narrator (voice)

1982		Sister, Sister as Carolyne Lovejoy
1982		Night of 100 Stars as Self

1981

(110 episodes) as Dominique Devereaux

1980

(1 episode) as Self

1979		I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings as Vivian
1979		Roots: The Next Generations (7 episodes) as Zeona Haley

1978

as Mermeia

1977		The Beatles Forever as Self
1977		The Love Boat (1 episode) as Roxy Blue

1976		Telly...Who Loves Ya, Baby? as Self
1976		The Sonny & Cher Show (1 episode)

1975

as Betty May

1974

as Claudine Price

1972

(1 episode) as Self

1971

(4 episodes) as Self

1970		The Flip Wilson Show (2 episodes) as Self
1970		King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis as Self (archive footage)

1968		The Dean Martin Christmas Show as Self (uncredited)
1968		Francis Albert Sinatra Does His Thing as Self - Singer
1968		The Split as Ellen "Ellie" Kennedy
1968		Julia (86 episodes) as Julia Baker
1968		The Dick Cavett Show (1 episode) as Self - Guest

1967		The Carol Burnett Show (2 episodes) as Self - Guest
1967		Hurry Sundown as Vivian Thurlow

1966

(2 episodes) as Self

1964		Not Only... But Also (1 episode) as Self
1964		The Hollywood Palace (1 episode) as Self (3 episodes) as Self - Singer

1963		The Judy Garland Show (1 episode) as Herself
1963		The Danny Kaye Show (6 episodes) as Self

1962		The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (4 episodes) as Self
1962		The Merv Griffin Show (1 episode) as Self

1961		The Mike Douglas Show (1 episode) as Self - Co-Host
1961		Paris Blues as Connie Lampson
1961		Goodbye Again as Nightclub Singer

1959

as Clara

1958		Naked City (1 episode) as Ruby Jay
1958		Peter Gunn (1 episode)

1957		DuPont Show of the Month (1 episode) as Self
1957		Tonight Starring Jack Paar (2 episodes) as Self

1956		The Steve Allen Show (1 episode) as Self - Singer (1 episode) as Self - Guest
1956		Tony Awards (1 episode) as Self - Presenter/Performer (1 episode) as Self - Host (3 episodes) as Self - Presenter (1 episode) as Self - Performer

1954		Carmen Jones as Myrt
1954		Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (1 episode) as Self

1953		Coke Time with Eddie Fisher (1 episode)
1953		The Oscars (3 episodes) as Self

1952

(1 episode)

1951

(1 episode) as Self

1950		The Bob Hope Show (2 episodes) as Self
1950		What's My Line? (1 episode) as Self - Mystery Guest

1948

(4 episodes) as Self - Singer (1 episode) as Self