Roxie Roker: Iconic Actress & Proud Alpha Kappa Alpha Soror

Roxie Roker is widely celebrated not only for her powerful presence on screen, but also as a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Her legacy as an actress and trailblazer remains deeply inspirational. ([watchtheyard.com](https://www.watchtheyard.com/akas/acting-icon-roxie-roker-was-a-member-of-alpha-kappa-alpha-sorority/))

She attended Howard University, where she pledged the Alpha Chapter of AKA. While there, she trained in drama under distinguished mentors like Anne Cooke Reid and Owen Dodson, performing alongside peers such as Toni Morrison and Shauneille Perry. ([watchtheyard.com](https://www.watchtheyard.com/akas/acting-icon-roxie-roker-was-a-member-of-alpha-kappa-alpha-sorority/))

On television, Roker is most remembered for portraying **Helen Willis** on *The Jeffersons* — a role that gave her a place in cultural history as one half of one of the first interracial couples in a recurring TV series. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Her acting career also spanned the stage and other media. She earned an Obie Award and was nominated for a Tony Award for her work in The River Niger. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1} She also appeared in major projects like *Roots*, *Punky Brewster*, *A Different World*, and *Claudine*. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2} Beyond acting, she served as a reporter for WNEW-TV in New York and hosted a public affairs show addressing issues in her Brooklyn community. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Roker’s impact extended off screen. She was honored by the City of Los Angeles for her advocacy work, especially on behalf of children. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4} She also left a generational legacy: she was the mother of musician **Lenny Kravitz** and grandmother of actress **Zoë Kravitz**. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5} She was also a cousin of TV personality Al Roker. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

Roxie Roker passed away in 1995 at age 66 after a battle with breast cancer. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7} Her resilience, talent, and commitment to sisterhood endure as part of the AKA heritage and the broader narrative of Black excellence in entertainment.

Source & inspiration: WatchTheYard.com