Carol Sutton Dies From COVID-19: ‘Queen Sugar’ Actress Was 76

Carol Sutton (Credit: IMDb)

Carol Sutton, a veteran actress who had roles in the film Steel Magnolias and on television shows, including Queen Sugar, has died. She was 76.

Sutton passed away Friday from complications of a coronavirus infection, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported.

“Among actors in New Orleans, there was Carol Sutton — and there was everybody else,” said David Cuthbert, a retired Times-Picayune critic. “She opened her mouth, and out came truth. Wherever she was on stage, that was center stage.”

Related Story: Tommy ‘Tiny’ Lister Dies After Battling COVID-19, ‘Friday’ Actor Was 62

Born Carol Dickerson in New Orleans, she began her acting career in local stage productions.

“Carol Sutton was practically the Queen of New Orleans theater, having graced the stages across the city for decades,” New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell shared on Twitter. “The world may recognize her from her performances in movies and on TV — whether it’s Treme or Claws, or Runaway Jury or Queen Sugar.”

Ava DuVernay, creator of the OWN series Queen Sugar, also paid tribute to Sutton.

“On behalf of the Queen Sugar family, we celebrate the life of the stellar Carol Sutton. It was our honor to welcome this veteran actress of stage + screen to our show as Aunt Martha in Episode 409,” tweeted DuVernay. “May she rise and rest in peace and power.”

Sutton is survived by her son, Archie Sutton Jr. of Houston;  her daughter Aunya Sutton of New Orleans; her brother Oris Buckner of Houston; a sister, Adrienne Jopes of Houston; and five grandchildren.