Actor, Director and Educator. The inspiring late Carol Mitchell-Leon

Wendell Brock of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote,

That Carol Mitchell-Leon “In any role, her honesty was to the bone'

She could be fierce and intimidating onstage, coquettish and fun in real life. Her adoring students called her Mama Leon. Her acting colleagues remember how she'd wear street clothes under her costumes so she could bolt minutes after her bow.

Arriving in Atlanta in the mid-'70s to study at Clark Atlanta University, the Philadelphia native became a favorite of director Frank Wittow at the Academy Theatre.   

Ms. Mitchell-Leon  was married to actor, director, Kenny Leon during his reign at the Alliance Theatre. 

As an actress, she did experimental work by Suzan-Lori Parks and new plays by Atlantan Pearl Cleage. She did classics: Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun," James Baldwin's "The Amen Corner," Alice Childress' "Trouble in Mind" and Edward Albee's "A Delicate Balance," .

Her film credits include “Fried Green Tomatoes” in 1991 “Diary of a Mad Black Woman” in 2005  and “Indlewild “ in 2006.

Mitchell-Leon  felt like she was on the planet more to teach than to act and as an  educator inspired her students to live a "useful life" .

And while Carol didn’t really enjoy doing interviews and relished her privacy, She graciously shared a few thoughts and perspectives with us in 2005 for our Detroit based television program, “Indie Film Cafe”

Carol had a deep reverence for the plays of August Wilson, which became a vehicle for her during the decade that her husband, Kenny Leon ran the Alliance theatre from 1987 to 1998.

Mitchell-Leon suffered from kidney problems for many years and had a kidney transplant in 1990. She suffered from complications after surgery in November of 2007.

During that procedure, her heart stopped beating for 13 minutes, and doctors said she would never regain consciousness. But opened her eyes that Thanksgiving morning of 2007.

Carol Mitchell-Leon passed away at Piedmont hospital on January 19, 2009.

We greatly appreciate her kindness. She was loved and of course will be truly missed.