Shirley Booth
Shirley Booth | |
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Mount Hebron Cemetery | |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1915–1974 |
Spouses |
Shirley Booth (born Marjory Ford; August 30, 1898 – October 16, 1992) was an American actress. One of 24 performers to achieve the
Primarily a theater actress, Booth began her career on
From 1961 to 1966, she played the title role in the sitcom Hazel, for which she won two Primetime Emmy Awards. She was acclaimed for her performance in the 1966 television production of The Glass Menagerie. Her final role was providing the voice of Mrs. Claus in the 1974 animated Christmas television special The Year Without a Santa Claus.
Early life
Booth was born in New York City
When she was age 7, Booth's family moved to Philadelphia, where she first became interested in acting after seeing a stage performance. When Booth was a teenager, her family moved to Hartford, Connecticut, where she became involved in
Career
Booth began her stage career as a teenager, acting in stock company productions. She was a prominent actress in Pittsburgh theatre for a time, performing with the Sharp Company.[7] Her debut on Broadway was in the play Hell's Bells, with Humphrey Bogart, on January 26, 1925.[5][8] Booth first attracted major notice as the female lead in the comedy hit Three Men on a Horse, which ran from 1935 to 1937.[9] During the 1930s and 1940s, she achieved popularity in dramas, comedies and later musicals. She acted with Katharine Hepburn in The Philadelphia Story (1939), originated the role of Ruth Sherwood in the 1940 Broadway production of My Sister Eileen, and performed with Ralph Bellamy in Tomorrow the World (1943).[10]
Booth also starred on the popular radio series
Booth received her first
Her success in Come Back, Little Sheba was followed by the musical A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1951), based on the popular novel, in which she played the feisty, but lovable Aunt Sissy, which proved to be another major hit. Her popularity was such that, at the time, the story was skewed from the original so that Aunt Sissy was the leading role (rather than Francie). Booth then went to Hollywood and reprised her stage role in the 1952 film version of Come Back, Little Sheba with Burt Lancaster playing Doc.[15] After that movie was completed — her first of only five films in her career[16] — she returned to New York and played Leona Samish in Arthur Laurents' play The Time of the Cuckoo (1952) on Broadway.[17]
Booth received the
Booth was age 54 when she made her first movie, but she had successfully shaved almost a decade off her real age, with her publicity stating 1907 as the year of her birth. Her correct year of birth was known by only her closest associates, until her correct year of birth, 1898, was announced at the time of her death.[20] Her second starring film, About Mrs. Leslie, a romantic drama opposite Robert Ryan, was released in 1954 to good reviews, but was poorly received by audiences.[21] In 1953, Booth had made a cameo appearance as herself in the all-star comedy/drama movie Main Street to Broadway. She spent the next few years commuting between New York and California. On Broadway, she scored personal successes in the musical By the Beautiful Sea (1954) and the comedy Desk Set (1955). Although Booth had become well known to moviegoers during this period, the movie roles for The Time of the Cuckoo (re-titled as Summertime for the film in 1955),[22] and Desk Set (1957), both went to Katharine Hepburn.[23]
In 1957, Booth won the Sarah Siddons Award for her work on the stage in Chicago.[24] She returned to the Broadway stage in 1959, starring as the long-suffering title character in Marc Blitzstein's musical Juno, an adaptation of Seán O'Casey's 1924 play Juno and the Paycock.[25][26] In 1961, director Frank Capra approached Booth about starring in Pocketful of Miracles, an updated version of Capra's 1933 comedy-drama Lady for a Day starring May Robson. Booth informed him that she was unable to match Robson's Oscar-nominated performance in the original film and declined the role. Capra instead cast Bette Davis, who was unfavorably compared to Robson by most reviewers when the film was released.[27]
Booth starred in two more films for Paramount Pictures, playing Dolly Gallagher Levi in the 1958 film adaptation of Thornton Wilder's romance/comedy The Matchmaker (the source text for the musical Hello, Dolly!), and to play Alma Duval in the drama Hot Spell (1958).[28][29] For her performances in both films, Booth was nominated as the year's Best Actress by the New York Film Critics Circle).[30]
Hazel
In 1961, Booth was cast in the title role on the sitcom
In 1963, Booth told the Associated Press at the height of Hazel's popularity,
I liked playing Hazel the first time I read one of the scripts, and I could see all the possibilities of the character—the comedy would take care of itself. My job was to give her heart. Hazel never bores me. Besides, she's my insurance policy.[4]
Over the course of its five-year run, Booth won two
In 1965, NBC canceled the series.
Later career and retirement
Shortly after the end of Hazel, Booth appeared in the television production of The Glass Menagerie that aired on the anthology series CBS Playhouse. She won critical acclaim for her performance and was nominated for another Primetime Emmy Award.[37]
Booth's final Broadway appearances were in a revival of Noël Coward's play Hay Fever and the musical Look to the Lilies, both in 1970. In 1971, she returned to Chicago to star with Gig Young in a revival of Harvey at the Blackstone Theater.[38] In 1973, Booth returned to episodic television in the ABC series A Touch of Grace. The series was based on the British sitcom For the Love of Ada.[39] A Touch of Grace was canceled after one season.[40]
In 1974, Booth provided the voice for the character of Mrs. Claus in the animated television special The Year Without a Santa Claus.[41] It was Booth's final acting role after which she retired to her home in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.[4]
Personal life
On November 23, 1929, Booth married Ed Gardner, who later gained fame as the creator and host of the radio series Duffy's Tavern, with Booth originating the role of man-hungry Miss Duffy in the series. They divorced in 1942.[6] She married William H. Baker Jr., a corporal in the U.S. Army, the following year. Booth and Baker remained married until his death from heart disease in 1951. She never remarried and had no children from either marriage.[4]
For her contributions to the film industry, Booth has a motion pictures star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6850 Hollywood Boulevard.[42]
After retiring from acting in 1974, Booth moved to North Chatham, Massachusetts, where she lived with her pet poodle and two cats.
Death
By 1976, Booth's health began to decline. She reportedly suffered a stroke that caused mobility issues and blindness. After her death, Booth's sister said she had broken her hip in 1979, which restricted her mobility.[20] On October 16, 1992,
Booth died at the age of 94 at her home in North Chatham.
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1952 | Come Back, Little Sheba | Lola Delaney | Academy Award for Best Actress Cannes Film Festival Award for Special Mention Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama National Board of Review Award for Best Actress New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actress |
1953 | Main Street to Broadway | Herself | |
1954 | About Mrs. Leslie | Mrs. Vivien Leslie | Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actress |
1958 | Hot Spell | Alma Duval | Nominated – New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress |
1958 | The Matchmaker | Dolly 'Gallagher' Levi | Nominated – New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1954–1961 | The United States Steel Hour | 2 Episodes | |
1957 | Playhouse 90 | Perle Mesta | Episode: "The Hostess with the Mostess" |
1961–1966 | Hazel | Hazel Burke | 154 Episodes Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead) (1962–1963) Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Television Star – Female (1964) Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead) (1964) |
1966 | CBS Playhouse | Amanda Wingfield | Episode: "The Glass Menagerie" Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Single Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Drama |
1967 | CBS Playhouse | Heloise Michaud | Episode: "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night" |
1968 | The Smugglers | Mrs. Hudson | TV movie |
1969 | The Ghost & Mrs. Muir | Spiritualist Madame Tibaldi | Episode: "Medium Well Done" |
1973 | A Touch of Grace | Grace Simpson | 13 Episodes |
1974 | The Year Without a Santa Claus | Mrs. Claus (voice) | TV movie |
Theatre
Date | Production | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
January 26 – May 1925 | Hell's Bells | Nan Winchester | |
November 2, 1925 – June 1926 | Laff That Off | Peggy Bryant | |
October 7 – October 1926 | Buy, Buy Baby | Betty Hamilton | |
October 6 – October 1927 | High Gear | Mary Marshall | |
September 24 – December 1928 | The War Song | Emily Rosen | |
April 21 – April 1931 | School for Virtue | Marg | |
October 2 – October 1931 | The Camels are Coming | Bobby Marchante | |
November 30, 1931 – January 1932 | Coastwise | Annie Duval | |
May 8 – June 1933 | The Mask and the Face | Elisa Zanotti | Revival |
February 7 – February 1934 | After Such Pleasures | ||
January 30, 1935 – January 9, 1937 | Three Men on a Horse | Mabel | |
April 9 – July 1937 | Excursion | Mrs. Loschavio | |
November 15 – November 1937 | Too Many Heroes | Carrie Nolan | |
March 28, 1939 – March 30, 1940 | The Philadelphia Story | Elizabeth Imbrie | |
December 26, 1940 – January 16, 1943 | My Sister Eileen | Ruth Sherwood | |
April 14, 1943 – June 17, 1944 | Tomorrow the World | Leona Richards | |
May 31 – July 14, 1945 | Hollywood Pinafore | Louhedda Hopsons | |
December 11–14, 1946 | Land's End | Susan Pengilly | |
January 16–17, 1948 | The Men We Marry | Maggie Welch | |
November 17 – December 24, 1949 | Goodbye, My Fancy | Grace Woods | Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play[45] |
November 7–19, 1949 | Love Me Long | Abby Quinn | |
February 15 – July 29, 1950 | Come Back, Little Sheba | Lola | Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play[45] |
April 19 – December 8, 1951 | A Tree Grows in Brooklyn | Cissy | |
October 15, 1952 – May 30, 1953 | The Time of the Cuckoo | Leona Samish | Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play[22][45] |
April 8 – November 27, 1954 | By the Beautiful Sea | Lottie Gibson | |
October 24, 1955 – July 5, 1956 | Desk Set | Bunny Watson | |
December 26, 1957 – February 8, 1958 | Miss Isobel | Mrs. Ackroyd | |
March 9–21, 1959 | Juno | Juno Boyle | |
April 13 – May 7, 1960 | A Second String | Fanny | |
March 29 – April 18, 1970 | Look to the Lilies | Mother Maria | |
November 9–28, 1970 | Hay Fever | Judith Bliss | Revival |
Awards and nominations
See also
Bibliography
- Tucker, David C. (2008). Shirley Booth: A Biography and Career Record. Jefferson, NC: McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-3600-2.
- Manago, Jim; Manago, Donna (2008). Love is the Reason for It All: The Shirley Booth Story. Albany, GA: BearManorMedia. ISBN 978-1-59393-146-9.
- Manago, Jim (2010). For Bill His Pinup Girl: The Shirley Booth & Bill Baker Story. U.S.: Jim & Donna Manago Books. ISBN 978-0-615-42181-0.
References
- ^ a b A copy of her birth certificate reflecting the true birth name and date is located in Booth's clippings file on the third floor of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center.
- ^ "Ancestry Library Edition". Search.ancestrylibrary.com. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
- ^ "Ancestry Library Edition". Search.ancestrylibrary.com. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
- ^ a b c d e "Actress Shirley Booth, Star of TV's Hazel, Dies". The Seattle Times. October 21, 1980.
- ^ ISSN 0024-3019.
- ^ ISBN 0-199-84045-8. Retrieved 2019-08-16.
- ISBN 978-0-8229-4330-3.
- ^ "Hell's Bells on Broadway". Playbill.
- ISBN 978-0-7172-0130-3.
- ^ Meegan, Jean (May 16, 1943). "Shirley Booth Never Lets Herself Get Into Stage Roles". St. Petersburg Times. p. 14. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
- ISBN 978-0-520-22303-5.
- ISBN 978-1-4766-0528-9. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ a b Buck, Jerry (April 7, 1973). "Shirley Booth Has Lots of Character". Schenectady Gazette. p. 17. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
- ISBN 978-1-55783-566-6.
- ^ Bean, Margaret (March 18, 1953). "Shirley Booth Scores In Role". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. 5. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
- ISBN 978-1-55783-551-2.
- ^ Parsons, Louella O. (May 15, 1953). "Warm, Friend Shirley Booth Dubious About Oscar; Cites Effect On Stars". St. Petersburg Times. p. 11C. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
- ^ "Shirley Booths Adds 'Tony' To 'Oscar'". The Milwaukee Sentinel. March 30, 1953. p. 8. Retrieved June 28, 2015.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Actress Shirley Booth Dies". The Prescott Courier. October 21, 1992. p. 3A. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f Tucker 2008, p. 136
- ISBN 978-0-8131-5951-5.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7864-9134-6.
- ^ Thomas, Bob (February 12, 1957). "New School Of Acting Old Hat Says Shirley". The Blade. Toledo, Ohio. p. 20. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
- ^ Dorothy, Kilgallen. "The Voice of Broadway". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. July 21, 1957. p. 4. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
- ISBN 978-1-4422-3504-5.
- ^ Glover, William (July 15, 1958). "Actress Shirley Booth Is Getting Her First Cinema Chance At Comedy". Ocala Star-Banner. p. 11. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
- ISBN 978-0-7864-2017-9.
- ISBN 978-0-8101-1994-9.
- ^ Dick 2015, p. 139
- ^ Nash, Jay Robert; Ross, Stanley Ralph (1987). The Motion Picture Guide. Vol. 1–2. Cinebooks. p. A–64.
- ^ Thomas, Bob (January 24, 1962). "Shirley Booth's 'Hazel' One Of the Big Hits Of Year". The Sumter Daily Item. p. 4–C. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
- ^ a b "Actress Shirley Booth dies; Tony, Emmy, Oscar winner". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. October 21, 1992. p. 4–A. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
- ^ Tucker 2008, p. 116
- ^ a b Fanning, Win (August 25, 1965). "Hazel's New Family Are Baxters, Too". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
- ^ Hall, Ken (November 2007). "Lynn Borden Collects Frog and Elephant Figures". Southeastern Antiquing and Collectng. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
- ^ Tucker 2008, p. 120
- ^ "Miss Booth Is Moved By Emmy Honor". The Gettysburg Times. May 4, 1967. p. 16. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
- ^ Jack, Gaver (October 22, 1971). "Two stage hits beginning tours". Rome News-Tribune. p. 7. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
- ^ "Shirley Booth Lured Into New TV Series". Reading Eagle. January 25, 1973. p. 37. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
- ISBN 978-0-7864-9305-0.
- ISBN 978-0-7864-3146-5.
- ^ Folkart, Burt A. "Hollywood Star Walk: Shirley Booth". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Johnston, Laurie (November 19, 1979). "Theater Hall of Fame Enshrines 51 Artists". The New York Times. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
- ^ Flint, Peter B. (October 21, 1992). "Shirley Booth, Star of TV, Radio, Stage and Screen, Is Dead at 94". The New York Times. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8264-1284-3.
- ^ "The 25th Academy Awards (1953) Nominees and Winners". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved August 20, 2011.
- ^ "BAFTA Awards: Film in 1954". British Academy Film Awards. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "BAFTA Awards: Film in 1955". British Academy Film Awards. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "COME BACK, LITTLE SHEBA – Festival de Cannes". Cannes Film Festival. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "Shirley Booth". Golden Globe Awards. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "Past Men and Women of the Year". Hasty Pudding Theatricals. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "Jussi Winners". Jussi Awards. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "1952 Award Winners". National Board of Review. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "Awards – New York Film Critics Circle". New York Film Critics Circle. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "Shirley Booth". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "1949 Tony Awards". Tony Awards. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "1950 Tony Awards". Tony Awards. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "1953 Tony Awards". Tony Awards. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
External links
- Shirley Booth at the Internet Broadway Database
- Shirley Booth at IMDb
- Shirley Booth at AllMovie
- Shirley Booth infosite Archived 2015-04-16 at the Wayback Machine
- Historic film footage of Booth at the American Theatre Wing Merchant Seaman's Club, New York, during World War II, criticalpast.com; accessed May 18, 2014.