Emery Battis (born May 30, 1915, in Arlington, Mass – September 20, 2011, in Marlborough, Mass)[1] was a stage actor, author, and professor of history with an acting career that spanned almost 80 years (from 1933 – 2006). He was the author of an award-winning book about Anne Hutchinson entitled Saints and Sectaries: Anne Hutchinson and the Antinomian Controversy in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.[2]
Battis graduated from Harvard in 1942.[1] He served in the Army Air Forces during World War II, as well as appearing in Moss Hart's play Winged Victory on Broadway (later made into a movie of the same name). After the war, he went to Columbia, earning a master's degree in 1948 and a doctorate in history in 1958. He taught colonial history at Rutgers University from 1948 to 1968. He retired from academia and teaching in his 50s to act full time.[1][3]
Acting career
He started acting in 1933 and was still a working actor up until at least 2006, when he was in his early nineties.[1][3][4] He would often play more than one character in the same production, and was highly skilled at using makeup and other techniques to change his appearance. The Washington Post said he "had a booming, cultivated voice".[1]
His Broadway credits include (1932–1974) Alice in Wonderland, Winged Victory, King Henry VIII, What Every Woman Knows, John Gabriel Borkman, A Pound on Demand / Androcles and the Lion, Yellow Jack, The House of Atreus, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, and The National Health.[5]
He played numerous roles with the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington. The Emery Battis Award is named after him.[1][6][7][8][9] Of the thirty-seven plays in Shakespeare's oeuvre, he was in all but one (Cymbeline).[1][3][10]The New York Times said he was "very good as a weary, cautious Banquo" in a performance of Macbeth.[11] His favourite Shakespearean role was that of King Lear he told Washingtonian Magazine in 1993 because it left room for invention.[1]
In the 1960s, the Cleveland Plain Dealer proclaimed him "the best Lear of our generation."[1] For his role in Anton Chekhov's The Sea Gull, The New York Times said "Mr. Battis turns the enfeebled Sorin's wheelchair into a touching metaphor for the gravitational pull of old age".[13]
Personal life
His first marriage was to Elaine Cunningham, with whom he had five children.[14] His second wife is Elizabeth Neuman. He had three stepchildren, twelve grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.[14]
^ abcdefghijklmSchudel, Matt (October 15, 2011). "Emery Battis, character actor in Shakespearean roles, dies at 96". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
^ abBattis, Emery. "Saints and Sectaries: Anne Hutchinson and the Antinomian Controversy in the Massachusetts Bay Colony". University of North Carolina Press. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
^ abcdef"A Farewell to Emery Battis". dctheatrescene.com. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
^. November 5, 2012. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
^Frankel, Haskel (September 13, 1981). "A 50-ROLE STALWART OF THE LONG WHARF (Published 1981)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
^"Emery Battis". Playbill. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
^"Emery Battis theatre profile". www.abouttheartists.com. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
^ ab"Carson Elrod and Steven Epp receive Emery Battis Acting Award". Shakespeare Theatre Company. September 25, 2012. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
^Goldstein, Jessica (July 30, 2013). "Taffety Punk's Bootleg Shakespeare is like 'having an affair with a play'". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
^Eder, Richard (May 26, 1978). "Stage: 'Macbeth' At Long Wharf (Published 1978)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
^"ST. ELSEWHERE: HAUNTED (TV)". www.paleycenter.org. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
^Brantley, Ben (August 12, 1994). "THEATER REVIEW; Chekhov, Picked Apart and Put Back Together (Published 1994)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
^ abRizzo, Frank. "Longtime Long Wharf Actor Emery Battis Dead at 96". courant.com. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
emery, battis, born, 1915, arlington, mass, september, 2011, marlborough, mass, stage, actor, author, professor, history, with, acting, career, that, spanned, almost, years, from, 1933, 2006, author, award, winning, book, about, anne, hutchinson, entitled, sai. Emery Battis born May 30 1915 in Arlington Mass September 20 2011 in Marlborough Mass 1 was a stage actor author and professor of history with an acting career that spanned almost 80 years from 1933 2006 He was the author of an award winning book about Anne Hutchinson entitled Saints and Sectaries Anne Hutchinson and the Antinomian Controversy in the Massachusetts Bay Colony 2 Emery BattisBornMay 30 1915Arlington Massachusetts Contents 1 Early life 2 Acting career 3 Personal life 4 Awards and nominations 5 References 6 External linksEarly life EditBattis graduated from Harvard in 1942 1 He served in the Army Air Forces during World War II as well as appearing in Moss Hart s play Winged Victory on Broadway later made into a movie of the same name After the war he went to Columbia earning a master s degree in 1948 and a doctorate in history in 1958 He taught colonial history at Rutgers University from 1948 to 1968 He retired from academia and teaching in his 50s to act full time 1 3 Acting career EditHe started acting in 1933 and was still a working actor up until at least 2006 when he was in his early nineties 1 3 4 He would often play more than one character in the same production and was highly skilled at using makeup and other techniques to change his appearance The Washington Post said he had a booming cultivated voice 1 His Broadway credits include 1932 1974 Alice in Wonderland Winged Victory King Henry VIII What Every Woman Knows John Gabriel Borkman A Pound on Demand Androcles and the Lion Yellow Jack The House of Atreus The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui and The National Health 5 He played numerous roles with the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington The Emery Battis Award is named after him 1 6 7 8 9 Of the thirty seven plays in Shakespeare s oeuvre he was in all but one Cymbeline 1 3 10 The New York Times said he was very good as a weary cautious Banquo in a performance of Macbeth 11 His favourite Shakespearean role was that of King Lear he told Washingtonian Magazine in 1993 because it left room for invention 1 His final role aged 91 was a performance of Love Labour s Lost in Stratford upon Avon Shakespeare s birthplace in 2006 1 He mainly focused on the stage but also had some television roles in St Elsewhere The Adams Chronicles and Great Performances 3 12 In the 1960s the Cleveland Plain Dealer proclaimed him the best Lear of our generation 1 For his role in Anton Chekhov s The Sea Gull The New York Times said Mr Battis turns the enfeebled Sorin s wheelchair into a touching metaphor for the gravitational pull of old age 13 Personal life EditHis first marriage was to Elaine Cunningham with whom he had five children 14 His second wife is Elizabeth Neuman He had three stepchildren twelve grandchildren and four great grandchildren 14 He lived in Washington for over twenty five years and would often volunteer at the Smithsonian American Art Museum 1 Awards and nominations EditHe received an award in 1963 from the Institute of Early American History and Culture for his book about Anne Hutchinson 2 Received the Helen Hayes Award in 2002 for lifetime contributions to Washington theatre 1 3 The Emery Battis Award is named after him 1 3 5 9 References Edit a b c d e f g h i j k l m Schudel Matt October 15 2011 Emery Battis character actor in Shakespearean roles dies at 96 Washington Post ISSN 0190 8286 Retrieved February 5 2021 a b Battis Emery Saints and Sectaries Anne Hutchinson and the Antinomian Controversy in the Massachusetts Bay Colony University of North Carolina Press Retrieved February 5 2021 a b c d e f A Farewell to Emery Battis dctheatrescene com Retrieved February 5 2021 A Noble Heart For Emery Battis 88 The Curtain Is Still Up on a Long and Distinguished Career The Washington Post HighBeam Research November 5 2012 Archived from the original on November 5 2012 Retrieved February 6 2021 a b Emery Battis Broadway Cast amp Staff IBDB www ibdb com Retrieved February 5 2021 Frankel Haskel September 13 1981 A 50 ROLE STALWART OF THE LONG WHARF Published 1981 The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved February 5 2021 Emery Battis Playbill Retrieved February 5 2021 Emery Battis theatre profile www abouttheartists com Retrieved February 5 2021 a b Carson Elrod and Steven Epp receive Emery Battis Acting Award Shakespeare Theatre Company September 25 2012 Retrieved February 5 2021 Goldstein Jessica July 30 2013 Taffety Punk s Bootleg Shakespeare is like having an affair with a play Washington Post ISSN 0190 8286 Retrieved February 5 2021 Eder Richard May 26 1978 Stage Macbeth At Long Wharf Published 1978 The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved February 5 2021 ST ELSEWHERE HAUNTED TV www paleycenter org Retrieved February 5 2021 Brantley Ben August 12 1994 THEATER REVIEW Chekhov Picked Apart and Put Back Together Published 1994 The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved February 6 2021 a b Rizzo Frank Longtime Long Wharf Actor Emery Battis Dead at 96 courant com Retrieved February 5 2021 External links EditEmery Battis at IMDb Emery Battis on IBDB Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Emery Battis amp oldid 1129067305, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
