- Marguerite Belafonte is a Scottish-American who was known for her acting career.
- Her fame actually grew when she was linked romantically to the renowned singer, actor, and activist known as Harry Belafonte and bore him two daughters.
- After her career in acting, she became quite involved in health-related activities and won several awards for her contributions.
Marguerite Belafonte is an American actress who was born on the 12th of October 1923. She was quite famous for her roles in movies such as ‘Night of the Quarter Moon’. Additionally, Marguerite Belafonte gained notoriety when she married the famous Jamaican-American pop star known as Harry Belafonte. However, she carved a niche for herself after her acting stint.
Marguerite became involved in community volunteer activities and contributed a lot to so many causes. Frances wasn’t just a celebrity wife who went below the radar after a while. She remained quite busy as she delved into a different aspect of her life.
Who Was Marguerite Belafonte Before Her Death?
Born Frances Marguerite Byrd on the 12th of October 1923, she rose to be an entertainer in the movie industry. Byrd was of Scottish-Jamaican descent and her parents were known as Robert Byrd and Martena Blue. She had a brother named Charles R. Byrd and a sister named Beatrice B. Gilkes. Byrd grew up in Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America, and her family was what was termed a ‘Middle-Class Family’.
Byrd attended Dunbar High School and graduated in 1941. Afterward, she attended the Hampton Institute located in Washington, D.C. While at the Institute, she studied ‘Early Childhood Education’. Frances then went on to get a Master’s degree in Human Relations and Clinical Psychology from New York University.
The actress did not begin her career in acting though, she started off practicing what she learned in school. It was after this phase that she eventually got to break into the entertainment industry and became an actress.
Prior to her death, she was an outstanding actress whose fame rose when she got married to the singer and actor known as Harry Belafonte. Harry Belafonte was born Harold George Bellanfanti Jr.
She died as Frances Marguerite Mazique on the 15th of February 1998. Though people cite the cause of her death to be a heart ailment, others say she died a mysterious death.
Marguerite Belafonte’s Marriage To Harry Belafonte
The ex-couple met way back when Frances was still studying in the Institute and Harry was serving in the Navy. She was described as a ‘Campus beauty’ who caught the attention of the uniform young man.
Frances was said to have been a sorority sister and class officer. Though her relationship with Harold started off on a weird note as both were often arguing about racial and political issues, they still found love in their differences.
By 1948, polar opposites turned lovers got married and started a love journey. The next year, in 1949, they welcomed their first child named Adrienne. A few years later, they had a second daughter named Shari Belafonte.
Through the years of their marriage, Frances and her daughters became very invested in the pop star’s political activities. Harry even took his daughters to events and concerts when they came of age.
However, in less than five years, Belafonte’s marriage to his first wife came crashing. He became really successful after the movie ‘Carmen Jones’ and his attitude changed. Byrd said she found herself at odds with his new lifestyle.
After being married for a few years, Harry met a woman of Russian-Jewish ancestry. She was a dancer named Julie Robinson and worked with the Katherine Dunham Company. Briefly, after they met, they became quite close and Harold was fascinated by her knowledge of African-American folk culture.
After Marguerite gave birth to her second child, she found a lot of letters written to her husband by Robinson. This was the base for their separation and eventual divorce, a couple of years later.
The actress and her activist husband got divorced in 1957 after being separated for a while.
Here Are Some Other Facts About Marguerite Belafonte
1. Before Delving Into Entertainment She Worked As A Teacher
Marguerite Belafonte was a school teacher before she became an actress. Upon her graduation and acquiring Master’s degree, she taught in a school in New York. However, she moved from New York to Washington and that was when her journey in entertainment began.
2. Frances Byrd Remarried After Her Divorce From Harry
After Frances’ marriage to Harold Belafonte ended in 1957, she moved back to Washington. She picked up a career in Health, Education, and Welfare and even became a director of the department in the ‘Head Start’ program. She also worked with Native American programs.
Subsequently, she met a man named Edward Mazique who was a medical doctor and was the former president of the Howard Medical Alumni Association. He also presided over the Howard University Alumni federation.
Her husband died in 1987 and prior to his death, he was an internist and civil rights leader.
3. Her Daughters Are Quite Successful
Late Mrs. Byrd’s daughters carved different niches for themselves and excelled in them. Adrienne Belafonte Biesemeyer, the oldest of her daughter graduated from West Virginia State College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Art. She also had her Master’s degree in Community Counseling.
She is a licensed professional counselor as well as an approved licensed professional supervisor. Byrd became quite successful at her career that she headed several counseling boards and her own private counseling practice.
Adrienne and her daughter, Rachel Blue even started the Anir Foundation in 1997. She has a wide range of achievements to her name and has been acknowledged for her help to certain causes.
Shari Belafonte, the second daughter, is an American actress, model, writer, and singer. She started off as a fashion model who broke into the movie scene by 1982. Her major screen debut was in the 1982 drama titled ‘If You Could See What I hear’.
Shari is also known for her role in the ABC drama series ‘Hotel’ where she played the role of Julie Gillette. She also released two studio albums by the 1980s and acted in a stage play. Additionally, she was a great photographer.
4. She Became Involved In A Lot Of Health-Related Activities
When Byrd Frances Mazique moved back to Washington and her acting career ended, she became more involved in health care. At 74 years, she had retired from being a federal government education official and had gotten a lot of awards for her works.
However, her job with the government which started in 1964 did not end until she retired in 1988. By 1994, Frances worked as an adjunct professor of ‘Early Childhood Education’ at the University of the District of Columbia. She also served as the past president of the National Association Auxiliary. In addition to these, Mrs. Mazique was part of several boards including the Morehouse Medical School, the Providence Health Foundation, and the Providence Women’s Board.
Due to her stellar contributions to all the aforementioned causes, Marguerite received awards from former D.C Mayor Walter Washington as well as Former HEW Secretary Elliot Richardson, and even the Catholic University.
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5. Marguerite Belafonte Mazique Had Two Grandchildren By Her Death
Prior to her death in 1998 in Washington D.C. at the age of 74, she was blessed to see two of her grandkids. The names of these grandkids are Rachel and Brian Biesemeyer from her daughter Adrienne’s marriage with David Biesemeyer.
