Carol Speed, who lit up the screen in the cult blaxploitation film The MackShe died in Muskogee (Okla.) on January 14, at the age of 76.AnnouncementShe died in a statement that was published online but didn’t specify the cause.
Speed came to filmgoer attention in the 1970s in a series of blaxploitation movies, but broke through in 1973’s The MackIn which she was the head prostitute and girlfriend of Max Julien, who passed away earlier this month. Speed was offered roles on television shows such as Speed. Julia Sanford and Son.
Her other big role was in the horror film Abby In 1974, he played the title role. He is possessed and controlled by Eshu, an ancient Nigerian devil. After its Christmas Day release the film was a big hit with moviegoers. Warner Bros. sued and claimed it had stolen the plot from its film The Exorcist.This litigation resulted in AbbyIt was eventually pulled from theatres but the legend of the film survived and became a must-see for all fans of the genre.
Carol Ann Bennett Stewart was a California native, born March 14, 1945 in Bakersfield.
She moved to Reno from there and worked as a backup singer for Bobbie Gentry, a pop star, before she made the move to Hollywood.
Barbara Morrison, a sister and a grandson survive her. No memorial plans were released.