Judy Pace, the groundbreaking actress known for her roles in 1970s Blaxploitation films and her performance in Brian’s Song, has died at the age of 83.
A Pioneering Career
Born June 15, 1942, in Los Angeles, Pace began her career as a model, becoming the youngest participant in the Ebony Fashion Fair in 1961. She broke barriers in Hollywood as the first Black woman contracted at Columbia Studios, making her film debut in William Castle’s 13 Frightened Girls (1963).
Throughout the 1960s, she appeared in popular television series including I Spy, Batman, Bewitched, Days of Our Lives, The Flying Nun, The Mod Squad, Tarzan, and Peyton Place.
Acclaimed Roles
From 1969 to 1971, Pace starred as Pat Walters in The Young Lawyers, earning an NAACP Image Award for Best Actress. She later became a fixture in Blaxploitation cinema, with standout performances in Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970) and The Slams (1973).
Her most widely recognized role came in Brian’s Song (1971), where she portrayed the wife of football legend Gale Sayers. The film remains one of television’s most beloved sports dramas.
Advocacy and Legacy
Beyond acting, Pace was a philanthropist. In 1971, she co-founded the Kwanza Foundation with Star Trek actress Nichelle Nichols. The organization supported Black women working in film and provided scholarships to minority students pursuing careers in the arts.
Family and Tributes
Her daughters, Shawn and Julia Pace Mitchell, announced that she “died peacefully in her sleep” while visiting family in Marina Del Rey. Pace is survived by her daughters, grandson Stephen Lamar Hightower III, son-in-law Otto Strong, and many cherished relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to the NAACP in her honor. Judy Pace leaves behind a legacy of resilience, talent, and trailblazing achievements that opened doors for generations of Black actresses in Hollywood.
