First Black Actress to win an Emmy for Outstanding Performance in a Dramatic Series in 1970

Born in 1935 in Plainfield, New Jersey. In 1970 Gail Fisher became the very first African American Actress to win an Emmy award for acting, when she received the Emmy for Oustanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Peggy Fair in "Mannix".

Also, during the early 1960s, she appeared in a television commercial for All laundry detergent, which she said made her "the first black female—no, make that black, period—to make a national TV commercial, on camera, with lines.

Understudied Ruby Dee on Broadway in "Purlie Victorious".

Has two daughters by her first husband.

Studied with Lee Strasberg and was later a member of the Repertory Theater at Lincoln Center where she worked with Elia Kazan. Her stage work included "A Raisin In The Sun," "Purlie Victorious" and "Danton's Death".

One of TV's most visible black actors of the late 60s, Gail was nominated for four Emmy Awards for her stylish secretary, winning once, and for three Golden Globe Awards, winning twice.

CBS was hesitant to cast Gail as the widow and altruistic secretary Peggy Fair of detective Joe Mannix, but actor Mike Connors and "Mannix" producer Bruce Geller persisted.

She battled drugs in the popular show's aftermath and eventually sought rehab after being arrested in 1978 for cocaine possession.

Became one of the first black actresses to appear in a national TV commercial with speaking lines when she did an ad for All detergent in 1961.

Gail did not make her appearance on "Mannix" (1967) until the show's second season, after Mannix left the detective firm Intertect and set up his own shop as private investigator.

Landed her first television appearance at age 25 in the 1960 syndicated program, "Play of the Week".

On December 2, 2000, Gail Fisher passed away at home from lung cancer. Twelve hours later, her brother Clifton, a businessman, died of heart failure.

Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS; NY Times; Internet Movie Database (1973)