Elizabeth Wilson
Elizabeth Welter Wilson (April 4, 1921 – May 9, 2015) was an American actress whose career spanned nearly 70 years, including memorable roles in film and television. In 1972 she won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for her role in Sticks and Bones. Wilson was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2006.[1][2][3]
Elizabeth Wilson | |
|---|---|
Wilson in 2011 | |
| Born | Elizabeth Welter Wilson April 4, 1921 Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | May 9, 2015 (aged 94) New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1953–2012 |
Early life edit
Wilson was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the daughter of insurance agent Henry Dunning Wilson and Marie Ethel (née Welter) Wilson.[3] Her maternal grandfather was a wealthy German immigrant, and Wilson was raised in a large mansion.[4][5] She attended the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia, and then studied with Sanford Meisner at The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City.
According to Wilson, she was a lifelong liberal Democrat and she adhered to the Methodist faith.[6]
Career edit
Wilson was a versatile character actress, appearing in over 30 movies and many Broadway plays. The Los Angeles Times noted: "Tall and elegant, Wilson often played women who had or sought authority."[7]
Wilson made her Broadway debut in Picnic in 1953. Her stage credits include Desk Set (1955), The Good Woman of Szechuan (1970), Sticks and Bones (1972), Uncle Vanya (1973), Threepenny Opera (1976), The Importance of Being Earnest (1977), Morning's at Seven (1980), You Can't Take It with You (1983), Ah, Wilderness! (1988), and A Delicate Balance (1996).[8]
Wilson made her screen debut reprising her stage role in the 1955 film adaptation of Picnic as Christine Schoenwalder.[9] Additional films include Patterns (1956), The Goddess (1958),[10] The Tunnel of Love (1958),[11] A Child Is Waiting (1963,[12] The Birds (1963),[13] The Graduate (1967),[14] Jenny (1970), Catch-22 (1970)[15] Little Murders (1971), The Day of the Dolphin (1973),[16] Man on a Swing (1974), The Prisoner of Second Avenue (1975),[17] 9 to 5 (1980),[18] Grace Quigley (1984),[19] Regarding Henry (1991),[20] The Addams Family (1991),[21] and Quiz Show (1994).[22] Her last film role was as Sara Delano Roosevelt in Hyde Park on Hudson (2012).[23]
Wilson's television credits include early anthology series such as Kraft Television Theatre, The United States Steel Hour, and Armstrong Circle Theatre. She was a regular on the primetime drama East Side/West Side and the sitcom Doc, and appeared in Dark Shadows, The Secret Storm, Another World, All in the Family, Murder, She Wrote, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent. She also appeared in television movies, including The Boys Next Door (1996).[24] She appeared in the miniseries Nutcracker: Money, Madness and Murder in March 1987 as the mother of Frances Schreuder (played by Lee Remick),[25] as well as the miniseries Alex Haley's Queen.
Death edit
On May 9, 2015, at age 94, Wilson died at her home in New Haven, Connecticut. She is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with her parents.
Filmography edit
Film edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | Picnic | Christine Schoenwalder | |
| 1956 | Patterns | Marge Fleming | |
| 1958 | The Goddess | Harding | |
| 1958 | The Tunnel of Love | Miss MacCracken | |
| 1959 | Happy Anniversary | Millie | |
| 1963 | A Child Is Waiting | Miss Fogarty | |
| 1963 | The Birds | Helen Carter | |
| 1967 | The Graduate | Mrs. Braddock | |
| 1970 | Jenny | Mrs. Marsh | |
| 1971 | Little Murders | Marjorie Newquist | |
| 1973 | The Day of the Dolphin | Mrs. Rome | |
| 1974 | Man on a Swing | Dr. Anna Willson | |
| 1975 | The Prisoner of Second Avenue | Pauline | |
| 1975 | The Happy Hooker | Mrs. Gordon | |
| 1980 | 9 to 5 | Roz | |
| 1981 | The Incredible Shrinking Woman | Dr. Ruth Ruth | |
| 1984 | Grace Quigley | Emily Watkins | |
| 1986 | Where Are the Children? | Dorothy Prentiss | |
| 1987 | The Believers | Kate Maslow | |
| 1989 | Nora's Christmas Gift | Madeline Mumford | Video |
| 1991 | Regarding Henry | Jessica | |
| 1991 | The Addams Family | Abigail Craven / Dr Pinder-Schloss | |
| 1994 | Quiz Show | Dorothy Van Doren | |
| 1994 | Nobody's Fool | Nora | |
| 2001 | Rocky Road | Grandma Louise | |
| 2012 | Hyde Park on Hudson | Sara Roosevelt |
Television edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1954, 1959–60 | The United States Steel Hour | Mrs. Watson, Grace Ferguson, Cora Wylie | Episodes: "Welcome Home", "The Pink Burro", "Queen of the Orange Bowl" |
| 1955 | Kraft Television Theatre | Marge Fleming | Episode: "Patterns" |
| 1956 | Star Tonight | Ma Kirby | Episode: "Happy Journey" |
| 1960 | Interpol Calling | Michele | Episode: "The Girl with Grey Hair" |
| 1960 | The Detectives | Beatrice Faustina | Episode: "Song of Songs" |
| 1961 | Armstrong Circle Theatre | Esther Harding | Episode: "Black Market Babies" |
| 1963–1964 | East Side/West Side | Frieda Hechlinger | Main role |
| 1965 | The Nurses | Dr. Lanz | Episode: "Sixteen Hours to Chicago" |
| 1966 | Dark Shadows | Mrs. Hopewell | Episodes: "1.1", "1.8" |
| 1969 | NET Playhouse | Miss Moray | Episode: "Let Me Hear You Whisper" |
| 1970 | The Secret Storm | Felicia Stringer | TV series |
| 1974 | Another April | Ruth Weston | TV film |
| 1975 | Miles to Go Before I Sleep | Kate Stanton | TV film |
| 1975 | All in the Family | Amelia DeKuyper | Episode: "Amelia's Divorce" |
| 1975 | The Easter Promise | Mrs. Coyle | TV film |
| 1975–1976 | Doc | Annie Bogert | Main role (season 1) |
| 1979 | Another World | Ethel Banta | Episode: "1.3746" |
| 1979 | Sanctuary of Fear | Mrs. Glidden | TV film |
| 1980 | Once Upon a Family | Norma Solomon | TV film |
| 1982 | Million Dollar Infield | Sally Ephron | TV film |
| 1982 | Tucker's Witch | Jewel Porter | Episode: "Big Mouth" |
| 1982 | Morning's at Seven | Aaronetta Gibbs | TV film |
| 1984 | Great Performances | Penny Sycamore | Episode: "You Can't Take It with You" |
| 1986 | Morningstar/Eveningstar | Kathy Kelly | TV series, 7 episodes |
| 1987 | Nutcracker: Money, Madness and Murder | Berenice Bradshaw | TV miniseries |
| 1987 | A Conspiracy of Love | Lilly Woldarski | TV film |
| 1990 | Burning Bridges | Freda | TV film |
| 1993 | Skylark | Harriet Wheaton | TV film |
| 1993 | Delta | Rosiland Dupree | Episodes: "Mom Comes to Town", "Amateur Night", "Red Hot Mama", "Delta's Little Dilemma" |
| 1994 | In the Best of Families: Marriage, Pride & Madness | Annie Klenner | TV film |
| 1994 | Spring Awakening | Mrs. Pierson | TV film |
| 1994 | Scarlett | Eulalie Robillard | TV miniseries |
| 1995 | Murder, She Wrote | Serena Haynes | Episode: "Home Care" |
| 1996 | The Boys Next Door | Mary Fremus | TV film |
| 1996 | Special Report: Journey to Mars | President Elizabeth Richardson | TV film |
| 1997 | Dellaventura | Eloise Berg | Episode: "Clean Slate" |
| 1998 | Promised Land | Evelyn Hooper | Episode: "Recycled" |
| 2000 | Gideon's Crossing | Camellia Kellogg | Episode: "Father Knows Best" |
| 2002 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Lucille Mobray | Episode: "Chinoiserie" |
Awards and nominations edit
- Awards
- 1972 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play for Sticks and Bones[8]
- 1980 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance for Morning's at Seven[8]
- Nominations
- 1957 BAFTA Film Award for Most Promising Newcomer for Patterns
- 1976 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical for Threepenny Opera[8]
- 1985 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play for Salonika[8]
- 1987 Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Special for Nutcracker: Money, Madness & Murder[26]
References edit
- ^ Belcher, David (May 10, 2015). "Elizabeth Wilson, a Vivid Actress in Many Character Roles, Dies at 94". The New York Times. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
- ^ Gans, Andrew. "LuPone, Hearn, Wilson and the Late Wasserstein and Wilson Among Theater Hall of Fame Inductees", playbill.com, October 10, 2006.
- ^ a b "Elizabeth Wilson Biography (1921-)". FilmReference.com. Advameg, Inc.
- ^ Goldberg, Bonnie (July 17, 2014). "Well-Played". Daily Nutmeg. New Haven, Connecticut. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
- ^ Jean, Pat Grand. "First Q&A: Elizabeth Wilson" March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine Connecticut Magazine, April 2012
- ^ An Interview With Elizabeth Wilson, Skip E. Lowe, 1992
- ^ Chawkins, Steve. "Elizabeth Wilson dies at 94; actress often played women of authority", Los Angeles Times, May 11, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e "Elizabeth Wilson Broadway Credits", playbillvault.com, accessed May 11, 2015
- ^ Picnic Overview, Cast and Crew, tcm.com; accessed May 11, 2015.
- ^ " The Goddess Cast and Crew", allmovie.com, accessed May 13, 2015.
- ^ " The Tunnel of Love Cast and Crew", tcm.com, accessed May 13, 2015.
- ^ " A Child Is Waiting Cast and Crew", allmovie.com, accessed May 13, 2015.
- ^ " The Birds Cast and Crew", tcm.com, accessed May 14, 2015.
- ^ " The Graduate Cast and Crew", tcm.com, accessed May 12, 2015.
- ^ " Catch-22 Cast and Crew", tcm.com, accessed May 14, 2015.
- ^ " The Day of the Dolphin Cast and Crew", tcm.com, accessed May 12, 2015
- ^ Passafiume, Andrea. The Prisoner of Second Avenue, tcm.com, accessed May 12, 2015.
- ^ " Nine to Five Overview", tcm.com, accessed May 12, 2015.
- ^ Thomas, Kevin. "Movie Reviews. 'Quigley': Hepburn, Nolte Light Up A Black Comedy", articles.latimes.com, December 13, 1985; accessed May 12, 2015.
- ^ " Regarding Henry Cast and Crew", allmovie.com, accessed May 12, 2015
- ^ Staff."Review: 'The Addams Family'" Variety, December 31, 1990.
- ^ Quiz Show Overview, Cast and Crew, tcm.com, accessed May 11, 2015.
- ^ Hyde Park on Hudson Cast and Crew", allmovie.com, accessed May 11, 2015.
- ^ Horowitz, Lisa A. "Review: The Boys Next Door", Variety.com, February 4, 1996.
- ^ O'Connor, John J. "Murder, Reheated By a Star". The New York Times. March 22, 1987. p.H29
- ^ "Emmy Award Search. Elizabeth Wilson Nominations" 2015-05-18 at the Wayback Machine, emmys.com, accessed May 12, 2015.
External links edit
- Elizabeth Wilson at IMDb
- Elizabeth Wilson at the Internet Broadway Database
- Elizabeth Wilson at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
- Obituary, HollywoodReporter.com