Acting Icon Roxie Roker Was a Proud Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha

Alpha Kappa Alpha’s Roxie Roker is widely remembered for her role as Helen Willis on The Jeffersons, one of television’s most iconic and enduring sitcoms. Her portrayal brought grace, intellect, and warmth to the screen, solidifying her place in cultural history during a pivotal era for Black representation in entertainment.

But Roker’s legacy extends well beyond television. Before she became a fixture on American screens, she was a student at Howard University, where she pledged the Alpha Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. At Howard, she studied under celebrated drama instructors Anne Cooke Reid and Owen Dodson and performed alongside future cultural powerhouses like Toni Morrison and Shauneille Perry. In 1949, she toured internationally with the Howard Players as part of a U.S. State Department cultural diplomacy initiative backed by Eleanor Roosevelt.

Roker’s career was grounded in both artistry and civic responsibility. She earned a Tony Award nomination for her performance in The River Niger, won an Obie Award, and appeared in landmark works such as Roots, Claudine, A Different World, and Punky Brewster. During the 1970s, she worked as a reporter for WNEW-TV in New York, where she also hosted the public affairs show Inside Bed-Stuy, covering the events and stories of the Brooklyn neighborhood she called home.

Her commitment to community uplift was not performative, it was personal and consistent. Later honored by the City of Los Angeles for her advocacy on behalf of children, Roker exemplified the mission of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. through a life lived in service and excellence.

Roker’s legacy extended beyond her own career. She was the mother of musician Lenny Kravitz and the grandmother of actress Zoë Kravitz, both of whom have continued the creative path she helped model. She was also a cousin of Today Show anchor Al Roker. Roxie Roker passed away in 1995 at the age of 66, following a battle with breast cancer, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire across generations.

Growing Up Kravitz | Oprah’s Master Class | Oprah Winfrey Network

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