Rosalind Miles (actress)

Rosalind Miles (January 15, 1940 – February 8, 2022) was an American film and television actress and fashion model.[3] Miles was most known for her roles in film during the early to late 1970s. Miles appeared in mostly American blaxploitation films[4] such as; Shaft's Big Score!, The Black Six and Friday Foster.[5][6]

Rosalind Miles
Miles, c. 1970s.
Born
Rosalind Beatrice Medlock[1]

(1940-01-15)January 15, 1940[1]
Houston, Texas, U.S.
DiedFebruary 8, 2022(2022-02-08) (aged 82)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
EducationI.M. Terrell High School
Alma materB.A. Howard University
Occupations
  • Actress
  • fashion model
Years active1967–1982
Known forArna Asby – Shaft's Big Score!
Spouses
James W. Powell
​
​
(m. 1963; div. 1966)​
    Robert L. Miles
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1968; div. 1969)​
      Todd A. Davis
      ​
      ​
      (m. 1979; died 2013)​
      [2]
      Partner(s)Jim Kelly
      (1973–1976)

      Biography

      Early life

      Miles was born Rosalind Beatrice Medlock in Houston, Texas.[1]

      Career

      Miles moved to Los Angeles, California, to pursue her career in acting. Miles worked as a waitress in a local restaurant when she was discovered by a talent scout. In 1971, Miles made her film debut in Russel Vincent's How's Your Love Life? as Julie. Miles had several television appearances before her most notable role. In 1972, Miles played Arna Asby, the girlfriend of Shaft in the action film Shaft's Big Score!.[7] After Shaft, Miles received a lead role as Erica in Al Adamson's 1974 crime film I Spit on Your Corpse (also known as Girls For Rent).[8][9] Miles had roles in such films as The Black Six (1973), The Manhandlers (1974).[10]

      Miles appeared alongside Pam Grier as Cloris Boston, a fashion model, in 1975's blaxploitation film Friday Foster. In 1977, Miles auditioned for the role of Coretta Scott King for the NBC television mini-series based on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. King, but the role was portrayed by Cicely Tyson.[11] Miles last acting role was in Ernest Tidyman's To Kill A Cop in 1978. Miles was a part of the production of Guys and Dolls with her husband Todd Davis in 1981. Miles retired from acting in 1982.

      Personal life and death

      Miles married three times and had no children. Her first marriage was to her high school sweetheart James W. Powell from August 28, 1963, to August 1966. From January 1968 until October 1969, Miles was married to Robert L. Miles then actor Todd Davis from March 1979 until his death in July 2013.[12] Miles dated actor and martial artist Jim Kelly from 1973 to 1976.[13] Miles died at her home in Los Angeles, California, on February 8, 2022, aged 82.[14]

      Filmography

      Film
      Year Title Role Notes
      1971 How's Your Love Life? Julie
      1972 Shaft's Big Score! Arna Asby
      1973 The Black Six Ceal
      1974 I Spit on Your Corpse Erica
      The Manhandlers Mo
      1975 Attack on Terror: The FBI vs. the Ku Klux Klan Rose Jackson Television Movie
      The Turning Point of Jim Malloy Bo-Peep Television Movie
      Friday Foster Cloris Boston
      1977 Benny and Barney: Las Vegas Undercover Alice Television Movie
      1978 To Kill A Cop Ida Television Movie

      Television
      Year Title Role Notes
      1971–1972 Here's Lucy Stewardess/Waitress Episode: Lucy Helps David Frost Go Night-Night
      Episode: The Case of the Reckless Wheelchair Driver
      1972 Columbo Nancy Episode: Short Fuse
      1976 Starsky and Hutch Dorothy Nedloe Episode: Bounty Hunter
      Baretta Big Mama Episode: Can't Win for Losin'

      References
      1. Ancestry – Rosalind Medlock
      2. Ocala Star-Banner – Mar 17, 1979
      3. The Battle Among The Beauties (Ebony Magazine – November, 1973)
      4. Blaxploitation cinema: the essential reference guide
      5. For One Week Only: The World of Exploitation Films
      6. Ebony, November 1973.Retrieved February 12, 2020.
      7. JET Magazine – March 30, 1972
      8. Rosalind Miles: Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television By Bob McCann
      9. New York Beat (Jet Magazine – March 30, 1972)
      10. Rosalind Miles Theiapolis: Rosalind Miles
      11. People Are Talking About (Jet Magazine – May 26, 1977)
      12. The Courier – April 21, 1979
      13. Dokosi, Michael Eli (May 15, 2020). "Remembering Jim Kelly, first black martial arts film star who starred alongside Bruce Lee in 'Enter the Dragon'". Face2Face Africa.
      14. Legacy , Rosalidn Medlock-Miles Obituary (2022)
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