Veteran Actress Irma P. Hall, ‘Soul Food’ Star, Dies At 91

Veteran American actress Irma P. Hall, best known for portraying Big Mama in the 1997 film Soul Food, has died at the age of 91.

Hall died on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, in Dallas, Texas, where she lived with her family. Her death was announced by her family on Wednesday. No cause of death was disclosed.

In a statement, her family described her as a beloved actress, author, poet, educator and public speaker whose contributions touched countless lives throughout her remarkable career.

Hall gained widespread recognition for her portrayal of Josephine “Big Mama” Joseph in Soul Food, a role that earned her the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture in 1998. She later reprised the character in the television adaptation of the movie.

Her other notable film appearances included A Family Thing, The Ladykillers, Beloved, Patch Adams, Collateral, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns.

In 2004, she received the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival for her performance as Marva Munson in The Ladykillers, in which she starred alongside Hollywood actor Tom Hanks.

Born Irma Dolores Player on June 3, 1935, in Beaumont, Texas, Hall spent more than two decades teaching English and foreign languages in Dallas public schools before pursuing acting full-time.

Her journey into the entertainment industry began after actor and director Raymond St. Jacques discovered her during a poetry reading and cast her in the 1973 film Book of Numbers.

Beyond acting, Hall contributed to the development of the arts community in Dallas and helped establish the Dallas Minority Repertory Theatre.

Her family expressed appreciation for the support and condolences received from fans, friends and colleagues, adding that details of her funeral and memorial arrangements would be announced later.

Hall leaves behind a legacy spanning film, television, theatre, education and community development.