Irma P. Hall, the actress who played the beloved family matriarch Big Mama in the 1997 filmSoul Food, has died. She was 91.
Hall died Tuesday (November 10) in Dallas, where she lived with her family Her death was announced Wednesday (November 11)
A cause of death has not been disclosed.
In Soul Food, Hall portrayed Josephine “Big Mama Joe” Joseph, whose Sunday dinners were a longstanding tradition for her Chicago family. The film starred Vanessa L. Williams, Vivica A. Fox, and Nia Longas three sisters navigating family conflicts.
The role earned Hall an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture.
Her other film credits included Beloved, Collateral and Tyler Perry‘s Meet the Browns. She also starred opposite Tom Hanks in the 2004 comedy The Ladykillers, earning a Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
Hall’s connection to Soul Foodcontinued long after the film’s release.
In June 2025, actor Brandon Hammond, who played her grandson Ahmad, celebrated her 90th birthday by sharing memories of their reunion in Texas.
According to PEOPLE, Hammond reunited with Hall a few years earlier while working on a Soul Fooddocumentary. He recalled how she treated him like her grandson during filming, and the two shared another dinner together during their reunion.
Before finding success in Hollywood, Hall taught languages at Dallas schools, including Madison High School. She also helped create opportunities for Black actors in Texas.
Hall reportedly co-founded the Dallas Minority Repertory Theatre with Reginald Montgomery in the 1970s. In 2007, she joined Regina Washington and Vince McGill to establish the African American Repertory Theater, which launched in DeSoto, Texas.
“Irma P Hall was a beloved actress, author, poet, educator, and public speaker whose contributions touched countless lives throughout her remarkable career,” her family said in a statement “Her legacy of talent, dedication, and compassion will continue to inspire generations to come.”
Hall’s family thanked fans, friends and colleagues for their support. Memorial arrangements will be announced at a later date.
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