Claire Niesen

Add links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Claire Niesen
Encino, California
Spouse
​
(m. 1949⁠–⁠1963)​
Children1

Claire Niesen (c. 1920 – October 4, 1963)

radio
.

Early years

Born in Phoenix, Arizona,[2] she wanted to be an actress from age 4.[3]

She was valedictorian of her class at a high school in New York City[4] and attended the Feagin School of Dramatic Art.[5] She had experience in vaudeville before she began working in radio.[6]

Radio

Niesen debuted on radio on a small station when she was 15 years old, having roles in works by Ibsen and Shakespeare.[3] She starred on network soap operas for two decades.[7] She first acted on network radio in Joyce Jordan, M.D.[6] Her roles on radio programs included those shown in the table below.

Program Role
Backstage Wife Mary Noble
Her Honor, Nancy James Laura[8]
The O'Neills Peggy
The Second Mrs. Burton Terry Burton
We Who Dream Dream Girl[9]

Source: Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960,[1] except as noted.

In his book, Historical Dictionary of American Radio Soap Operas,

Jim Cox wrote: "Mary Noble's alter ego, Niesen, consistently projected the appealing inflections required by the role: invariably soft-spoken, tenderhearted, and forgiving. Her empathetic expressions contributed to winning the part and helping her keep it for the final 14 years the serial was on the air (1945-59)."[10]

Other programs in which Niesen was heard included Life Can Be Beautiful, The Right to Happiness,[1] Light of the World, Meet Miss Julia, Into the Light, The Man I Married, We, the People, March of Time and Manhattan at Midnight.[6]

Stage

Niesen's Broadway credits include The Talley Method (1940) and Cue for Passion (1940).[11]

Recognition

In 1943, Niesen won the Philco Hall of Fame Award.[12]

Personal life

Niesen married actor Melville Ruick March 11, 1949, in New York City.[3]

Death

Niesen died of cancer in

Encino, California on October 4, 1963. She was survived by her husband, a daughter and a sister.[13]

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 978-0-7864-2834-2
    , pg. 203.
  2. Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ a b c Gayle, Gene (June 1952). "Claire Niesen -- Backstage Wife" (PDF). Radio-TV Mirror. 38 (1): 36, 89–90. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  4. Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ^ "Say Hello To ..." (PDF). Radio Mirror. 12 (1): 45. May 1939. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  6. ^
    Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  7. ^ "Claire Niesen Dies, Radio's 'Mary Noble'". New Castle News. New Castle, Pennsylvania. United Press International. October 7, 1963. p. 9. Retrieved July 28, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  8. ^ Buxton, Frank and Owen, Bill (1972). The Big Broadcast: 1920-1950. The Viking Press. SBN 670-16240-x. P. 110.
  9. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4
    . P. 350.
  10. ISBN 9780810865235
    . Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  11. ^ "Claire Niesen". Playbill Vault. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  12. ^ "Deaths" (PDF). Billboard. October 14, 1963. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  13. Newspapers.com. Open access icon
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Claire_Niesen&oldid=1218621629"