Moms Mabley
Born 1894 · Age 131
American stand-up comedian and actress. A pioneering Black female comic whose career began on the Chitlin' Circuit/vaudeville in the 1920s and spanned five decades; famed for her 'Moms' persona, raunchy social commentary, many Apollo appearances, recordings and late‑career mainstream TV exposure.
Compare Your Trajectory
See how your career milestones stack up against Moms Mabley and other industry leaders.
Life & Career Timeline
Birth of Loretta Mary Aiken
Born in Brevard, North Carolina; one of a large family (sources cite 12–16 children).
Father (James Aiken) killed in an explosion
Her father, James Aiken (businessman and volunteer firefighter), was killed in an explosion when Loretta was about 11.
Relocated to Cleveland, Ohio; joined vaudeville
Escaped a difficult home situation and moved to Cleveland; began performing with traveling and vaudeville troupes, marking the start of her show-business career.
Stage debut in Pittsburgh ('The Rich Aunt from Utah')
After running away, she made an early stage debut in Pittsburgh in the play 'The Rich Aunt from Utah' (early vaudeville/minstrel show work).
Sexual assaults in adolescence; pregnancies given up
Sources report she was raped twice during adolescence and both resulting children were given up for adoption; traumatic events that affected her life choices.
Adopted stage name 'Jackie Mabley'
Took the surname of an early boyfriend / fellow performer, Jack Mabley, becoming known professionally as Jackie Mabley.
Earned nickname 'Moms' for mothering fellow performers
Became known as 'Moms' because of her protective, motherly role among younger performers on the Chitlin' Circuit.
Joined Theatre Owners Booking Association (TOBA)
Became associated with TOBA (the Black vaudeville booking network); reportedly started on TOBA pay around $12/week early in her career.
Began performing with Butterbeans and Susie; Cotton Club debut
Joined the popular duo Butterbeans and Susie; this association led to her debut in Harlem at venues such as Connie's Inn and the Cotton Club.
Regular performances at Connie's Inn and Cotton Club
By 1923 she was playing Harlem's premier playhouses (Connie's Inn, Cotton Club), establishing her reputation on the Black concert circuit.
Appeared in Blackbirds (Broadway revue) [approx. date]
Sources indicate she appeared on Broadway in productions such as Blackbirds (date not always specified); this entry uses an approximate late‑1920s date.
First female comedian to perform at the Apollo Theater
Became the first female comedian to appear at Harlem's Apollo Theater; would go on to appear there more often than any other entertainer.
Recognized as one of the first successful female stand‑up comedians
By the 1930s she had become widely recognized as the first successful female standup comic in the U.S., pioneering an old‑lady persona used to address taboo subjects.
Worked with Zora Neale Hurston in 'Fast and Furious' revue
Participated in 'Fast and Furious: A Colored Revue in 37 Scenes' with noted writer Zora Neale Hurston (early‑1930s stage collaboration).
Costarred in film 'The Emperor Jones' (stage/film connection) with Paul Robeson
Appeared in Emperor Jones alongside Paul Robeson (1933 production association noted in biographical sources).
Appeared in Broadway production 'Swinging the Dream' [approx. date]
Credited with a Broadway appearance in 'Swinging the Dream' (a large swing/big‑band musical production); date is drawn from sources noting her Broadway work (late‑1930s).
Style: Old‑lady persona and social commentary matured
Developed signature matronly, 'toothless' persona in ragged attire and floppy hats; used it to address race, sex, politics and taboo topics, influencing later comedians.
Film role: 'The Big Timers' (co-star)
Co‑starred in the motion picture 'The Big Timers' (1945) — part of her growing filmography.
Film roles: 'Killer Diller' and 'Boarding House Blues'
Appeared in race‑film productions such as 'Killer Diller' (1948) and is associated with titles like 'Boarding House Blues'—important entries in her film career.
Political activism and NAACP involvement (ongoing)
Longstanding engagement with civil rights politics; sources cite active membership in NAACP and participation in civil‑rights era events (documented by 1966 White House conference).
Earning peak Apollo pay: $10,000/week (by the 1950s)
By the 1950s Mabley was one of the highest‑paid performers at the Apollo, reportedly earning $10,000 per week at the venue at the height of demand for her act.
Most frequent performer in Apollo Theater history (milestone)
By mid‑career she had appeared at the Apollo more often than any other entertainer — a lasting record of her popularity on the Black stage circuit.
Album: 'Moms Mabley, the Funniest Woman in the World' (recorded live)
One of her early commercially released comedy records; sources cite a 1960/1961 period as the start of her recording career that reached wider audiences.
Recorded politically topical albums ('At the U.N.' / 'Geneva Convention')
Recorded albums with political framing/titles ('Moms Mabley at the U.N.', 'Moms Mabley at the Geneva Convention') that blended comedy and social commentary.
Began crossover to white mainstream audiences
Her Carnegie Hall and subsequent TV appearances in the 1960s built a white mainstream audience for her comedy and commentary.
Recorded 'The Funniest Woman Alive' and 'Moms Mabley at the U.N.' (chart success)
'Moms Mabley at the U.N.' (1961) cracked the Billboard Top 20; her recording output began to bring her to national attention beyond live venues.
Headlined Carnegie Hall (first woman comic to do so)
Her 1962 Carnegie Hall engagement helped introduce her to mainstream (white) audiences and is cited as a major crossover milestone.
Guest at White House Conference to Fulfill These Rights
A political engagement reflecting her activism and involvement with civil rights causes (sources link her to NAACP and political events of the 1960s).
Television debut on ABC's Stage 67 ('A Time for Laughter')
Harry Belafonte helped bring her to national television in 1967 on an all‑Black comedy variety presentation; credited as her TV breakthrough.
Television appearances helped inspire later comics
Her late‑career TV exposure and recorded work influenced comedians including Richard Pryor, Redd Foxx, Whoopi Goldberg and Eddie Murphy (recognition of influence).
Appearances on mainstream TV: The Ed Sullivan Show, The Smothers Brothers, Merv Griffin, Flip Wilson
Following her TV debut and Carnegie Hall, she began regular appearances on mainstream variety shows and late‑night programs in the late 1960s.
Chart success with 'Abraham, Martin and John' (Top 40 hit #35)
At an advanced age for a pop chart artist, she was the oldest person to reach the Top 40 with her recording of 'Abraham, Martin And John' which peaked at #35 on July 19, 1969.
Career recording milestone: ~20 comedy albums recorded
By the end of her recording career she had recorded around 20 comedy albums (sources cite 'two dozen' or 'over 20' releases across the 1960s–70s).
Filmed starring role in 'Amazing Grace'; suffered heart attack during filming
Had her first starring cinematic role in 'Amazing Grace' (filmed 1974); suffered a heart attack during production and had a pacemaker implanted; filming was postponed and later completed.
Death in White Plains, New York
Died following a heart attack in White Plains, NY (May 23, 1975). Sources differ on exact birth year, which changes reported age; with birthYear 1894 she was 81.
Documentary release: 'Whoopi Goldberg Presents Moms Mabley' (HBO)
Whoopi Goldberg produced an HBO documentary about Moms Mabley (also titled 'Moms Mabley: I Got Somethin' to Tell You'), bringing renewed attention to her legacy.
Inducted into the Apollo Theater Walk of Fame (posthumous)
In 2015 Moms Mabley (along with Redd Foxx and Richard Pryor) was inducted into the Apollo Walk of Fame — the first time non‑musical artists received the honor.
Named one of 31 icons by Equality Forum
Posthumous recognition: named one of 31 icons by the Equality Forum (2015), honoring her role in LGBTQ and cultural history.
Key Achievement Ages
Explore what Moms Mabley and others achieved at these notable ages:
Similar Trajectories
Norman Vincent Peale
Born 1898 · Age 127
American Protestant clergyman, author, and popularizer of positive thinking; longtime pastor of Marble Collegiate Church; author of The Power of Positive Thinking; co-founder and editor of Guideposts.
Golda Meir
Born 1898 · Age 127
Israeli politician; signatory of Israel's Declaration of Independence; Minister of Labour (1949–56), Foreign Minister (1956–66) and Prime Minister (1969–74).
Helen Taussig
Born 1898 · Age 127
American cardiologist; founder of pediatric cardiology; co-originator of the Blalock-Thomas-Taussig shunt; advocate in banning thalidomide; long-time Johns Hopkins clinician and professor.
James Thurber
Born 1894 · Age 131
American cartoonist, writer, humorist, journalist, and playwright best known for his New Yorker cartoons and short stories (e.g., "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty", "The Catbird Seat").
Ben Graham
Born 1894 · Age 131
British-born American financial analyst, economist, accountant, investor and professor; called the 'father of value investing'. Author of Security Analysis (1934) and The Intelligent Investor (1949). Mentor to Warren Buffett.
Charlie Chaplin
Born 1889 · Age 136
English comic actor, filmmaker, composer and global film icon best known for his Tramp persona; career spanned 1899–1975. Co‑founder of United Artists and a major creative force in silent and early sound cinema.