Nola Fairbanks
Nola Fairbanks | |
|---|---|
| Born | Nola Jo Modine December 10, 1924 Santa Paula, California, U.S. |
| Died | February 8, 2021 (aged 96) |
| Spouse | James Larkin (1954 - 1990, divorced) |
| Children | 4 |
| Relatives | Matthew Modine (nephew) |
Nola Fairbanks (born Nola Jo Modine; December 10, 1924 – February 8, 2021) was an American actress. She was also the aunt of actor Matthew Modine.[1]
Early life
Fairbanks was born Nola Jo Modine in Santa Paula, California, on December 10, 1924,[1] the daughter of Zella Vonola Fairbanks and Alexander Revard Modine. She is the granddaughter of Mormon pioneers Ralph Jacobus Fairbanks (aka R.J. "Dad" Fairbanks) and Celestia Adelaide (Johnson) Fairbanks, from Payson, Utah and Death Valley, California. She is a descendant of Jonathan Fairbanks, whose 17th century wood-frame house still stands in Dedham, Massachusetts.[citation needed]
As a child, she joined the Meglin Kiddies Dance Troupe[1] where Shirley Temple was also a student. While her father, Alexander Revard Modine, worked for the Texaco Oil Company, Nola Jo's mother, Zella Vonola Fairbanks Modine, washed clothes to pay for her singing and dancing lessons during the Great Depression.[citation needed]
Career
Her only movie role was as a "glorified extra" in The Corn Is Green in 1945,[2] starring Bette Davis. Soon after, she joined the Lionel Barrymore production of the musical, Halloween at the Hollywood Bowl, and performed on The Standard Hour in addition to the Hollywood Canteen for servicemen.
Next, she went on tour as a soloist with the
Her Broadway debut was in 1950 in the chorus of
In 1952, she starred in the first musical production at the new
After a winning performance on The Arthur Godfrey Radio Show, she appeared on his television show.[citation needed] Her final Broadway performance came when she was asked to replace Florence Henderson in the lead role in Fanny, co-starring Ezio Pinza.
She revived her career in 1978 with appearances in a short-lived sketch comedy TV series, Madhouse Brigade, produced by her husband. In 1981, he produced an off-Broadway show called Romance Is[5] where Fairbanks performed with an ensemble cast. The show closed after a few performances.
Personal life
Fairbanks married James Larkin in 1954 and had four children. They divorced in 1990. She died on February 8, 2021,[1] at the age of 96,[6] in Greenwich, Connecticut.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Nola Fairbanks, 96". Classic Images. November 2021. p. 42.
- ^ Credited as Nola Modine (Schoolgirl) in The Corn is Green on TCM
- ^ Howdy Mr. Ice Playbill on Playbillvault.com
- ^ Out of This World Playbill on Playbillvault.com
- ^ New York Times
- ^ Nola Larkin obituary
External links
- Nola Fairbanks at the Internet Broadway Database
- Mike Todd's A Night in Venice on Amazon.com
- Review of A Night in Venice in the San Antonio Express
- Nola Fairbanks website
- New York Times review of Romance Is (1981)
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