Gail Fisher
Born beautiful in 1935, Black American actor Gail Fisher became famous because of her talent. Now, she’s best known for the ‘firsts’ she accomplished during her career.
Fisher started out as a beauty queen. As Miss Black New Jersey, she won a scholarship to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. She was a member of the Repertory Theater at Lincoln Center and trained under director Elia Kazan.
Fisher found work as a model as she studied acting on stage. Her glamorous face appeared in print advertisements. This segued to her first ‘first’ as the first Black actor with a speaking part in a national advertising campaign. Nobody had ever seen anything like it, back in 1961, when Fisher appeared on national TV in an ad for All detergent.
Fisher’s next set of ‘firsts’ almost didn’t happen.
The year was 1968, and “Mannix” a TV detective-action series, was entering its second season with new cast member: Gail Fisher. Mike Connors, who played the white tough-guy detective, said CBS initially balked at casting Fisher as his trusted Black sidekick, Peggy Fair. The network said Fisher would be immediately fired if there was any public backlash. There was none.
In 1970, Gail Fisher became the first Black American woman to receive an Emmy for outstanding performance by an actress in a dramatic supporting role. In 1971, Fisher became the first Black American woman to win a Golden Globe. She won her second in 1973.
