Sylvia Sidney
Sylvia Sidney (born Sophia Kosow;[1] August 8, 1910 – July 1, 1999) was an American stage, screen, and film actress whose career spanned 70 years. She rose to prominence in dozens of leading roles in the 1930s. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams in 1973. She later gained attention for her role as Juno, a case worker in the afterlife, in Tim Burton's 1988 film Beetlejuice, for which she won a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Early life
Sidney was born Sophia Kosow in
Career
During the Depression, Sidney appeared in a string of films, often playing working-class heroines,
Her career diminished somewhat during the 1940s. In 1949, exhibitors voted her "box-office poison".[8] In 1952, she played the role of Fantine in Les Misérables, and although the film itself did not meet the studio's expectations, Sidney received critical praise for her performance.[9]
She appeared three times on Playhouse 90. On May 16, 1957, she appeared as Lulu Morgan, mother of singer Helen Morgan in "The Helen Morgan Story". Four months later, Sidney rejoined her former co-star Bergen on the premiere of the short-lived The Polly Bergen Show.[10] She also worked in television during the 1960s on such programs as Route 66, The Defenders, and My Three Sons.
In 1973, Sidney received an Academy Award nomination for her supporting role in
On television, she appeared in the pilot episode of
Her Broadway career spanned five decades, from her debut performance as a graduate of the Theatre Guild School in June 1926 at age 15, in the three-act fantasy
Personal life
Sidney was married three times, first to publisher
A Democrat, Sidney supported Adlai Stevenson's campaign during the 1952 presidential election.[12]
She published two books on the art of needlepoint, and raised and showed pug dogs.[13]
Death
Sidney died on July 1, 1999 from
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1927 | Broadway Nights | Herself | Lost film |
1929 | Thru Different Eyes | Valerie Briand | |
1930 | Five Minutes from the Station | Carrie Adams | Short film |
1931 | City Streets | Nan Cooley | |
Confessions of a Co-Ed | Patricia Harper | ||
An American Tragedy | Roberta "Bert" Alden | ||
Street Scene |
Rose Maurrant | ||
Ladies of the Big House | Kathleen Storm McNeill | ||
1932 | The Miracle Man | Helen Smith | |
Merrily We Go to Hell | Joan Prentice | ||
Make Me a Star | Unknown | Uncredited | |
Madame Butterfly | Cho-Cho San | ||
1933 | Pick-Up | Mary Richards | |
Jennie Gerhardt | Jennie Gerhardt | ||
1934 | Good Dame | Lillie Taylor | |
Thirty-Day Princess | Nancy Lane / Princess Catterina | ||
Behold My Wife | Tonita Storm Cloud | ||
1935 | Accent on Youth | Linda Brown | |
Mary Burns, Fugitive | Mary Burns | ||
1936 | The Trail of the Lonesome Pine | June Tolliver | |
Fury | Katherine Grant | ||
Sabotage | Mrs. Verloc | ||
1937 | You Only Live Once | Joan Graham | |
Dead End | Drina Gordon | ||
1938 | You and Me | Helen Dennis | |
1939 | ...One Third of a Nation... | Mary Rogers | |
1941 | The Wagons Roll at Night | Flo Lorraine | |
1945 | Blood on the Sun | Iris Hilliard | |
1946 | The Searching Wind | Cassie Bowwman | |
Mr. Ace | Margaret Wyndham Chase | ||
1947 | Love from a Stranger | Cecily Harrington | |
1952 | Les Misérables | Fantine | |
1955 | Violent Saturday | Elsie Braden | |
1956 | Behind the High Wall | Hilda Carmichael | |
1971 | Do Not Fold, Spindle or Mutilate | Elizabeth Gibson | TV movie |
1973 | Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams | Mrs. Pritchett | Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture |
1975 | The Secret Night Caller | Kitty | TV movie |
Winner Take All | Anne Barclay | TV movie | |
1976 | God Told Me To | Elizabeth Mullin | |
Raid on Entebbe | Dora Bloch | TV movie | |
Death at Love House | Clara Josephs | TV movie | |
1976 | I Never Promised You a Rose Garden | Miss Coral | |
Snowbeast | Mrs. Carrie Rill | TV movie | |
1978 | Damien - Omen II | Aunt Marion | |
Siege | Lillian Gordon | TV movie | |
1980 | The Gossip Columnist | Alma Lewellyn | TV movie |
F.D.R.: The Last Year | Cousin Polly | TV movie | |
The Shadow Box | Felicity | TV movie | |
1981 | A Small Killing | Sadie Ross | TV movie |
1982 | Hammett | Donaldina Cameron | |
1983 | Copkiller | Margaret Smith | |
The Brass Ring | Grandmother | TV movie | |
1985 | Finnegan Begin Again | Margaret Finnegan | TV movie |
An Early Frost | Beatrice McKenna | TV movie Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
| |
1987 | Pals | Ferb Stobbs | TV movie |
1987 | The Witching of Ben Wagner | Grammy | TV movie |
1988 | Beetlejuice | Juno | Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress |
1990 | Andre's Mother | Mrs. Downs – Andre's Grandmother | TV movie |
1992 | Used People | Becky | |
1996 | Mars Attacks! | Grandma Florence Norris | Final film role |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1952 | Cameo Theatre | Unknown | Episode: "The Gathering Twilight" |
1952 | Schlitz Playhouse of Stars | Unknown | Episode: "Experiment" |
1952 | Tales of Tomorrow | Natalie | Episode: "Time to Go" |
1952 | Lux Video Theatre | Joyce | Episode: "Night Be Quiet" |
1952 | Lux Video Theatre | Laura Barrie | Episode: "Pattern for Glory" |
1953–1955 | The Ford Television Theatre | Unknown | 2 episodes |
1954 | The Philco Television Playhouse | Unknown | Episode: "Catch My Boy on Sunday" |
1955 | Star Stage | "famous stage actress" | title unknown[15] |
1955–1956 | Celebrity Playhouse | Meg Fraser | 2 episodes |
1955–1957 | Climax! | Louella Wheedron | 2 episodes |
1957 | Kraft Television Theatre | Unknown | Episode: "Circle of Fear" |
1960 | The DuPont Show with June Allyson | Beulah | Episode: "Escape" |
1961 | Naked City | Florence | Episode: "A Hole in the City" |
1961 | Route 66 | Hannah Ellis | Episode: "Like a Motherless Child" |
1962 | The Defenders | Adela Collins | 2 episodes Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series |
1963 | The Eleventh Hour | Mrs. Arnold | Episode: "Five Moments Out of Time" |
1964 | Route 66 | Lonnie Taylor | Episode: "Child of a Night" |
1964 | The Nurses |
Mrs. Sands | Episode: "To All My Friends on Shore" |
1969 | My Three Sons | Miss Houk | Episode: "Teacher's Pet" |
1975–1976 | Ryan's Hope | Sister Mary Joel | 3 episodes |
1976 | Starsky & Hutch | Olga Grossman | Episode: "Gillian" |
1977 | Westside Medical | Unknown | Episode: "Tears for Two Dollar Wine" |
1977 | Eight Is Enough | Evelin (Abby’s Aunt) | 2 episodes |
1978 | WKRP in Cincinnati | Mother Carlson | Episode: "Pilot – Part 1" |
1978 | Kaz | Molly | Episode: "A Fine Romance" |
1979 | Supertrain | Agatha | Episode: "Superstar" |
1979 | California Fever | Mother | Episode: "Movin' Out" |
1981 | The Love Boat | Natalie | Episode: "I Love You Too, Smith" |
1982 | American Playhouse | Mrs. Flanner | Episode: "Come Along with Me" |
1983 | Magnum, P.I. | Elizabeth Barrett | Episode: "Birdman of Budapest" |
1984 | Domestic Life | Mrs. Moscewicz | Episode: "Small Cranes Court" |
1984 | Whiz Kids | Dolly | Episode: "The Lollipop Gang Strikes Back" |
1984 | Trapper John, M.D. | Mildred Prosser | Episode: "Aunt Mildred Is Watching" |
1986 | Morningstar/Eveningstar | Binnie Taylor | 7 episodes |
1988 | Dear John | Mrs. Lumenski | Episode: "Dancing in the Dark" |
1989 | The Equalizer | Judge | Episode: "Trial by Ordeal" |
1989 | Thirtysomething | Rose Waldman | Episode: "Be a Good Girl" |
1993 | Diagnosis: Murder | Alice | Episode: "Miracle Cure" |
1998 | Fantasy Island | Clia | 7 episodes, (final appearance) |
Radio appearances
Year | Program | Episode/source |
---|---|---|
1941 | Philip Morris Playhouse | Angels with Dirty Faces[16] |
1941 | Philip Morris Playhouse | Wuthering Heights[17] |
References
- ^ a b c "Sylvia Sidney, 30's Film Heroine, Dies at 88". The New York Times. July 2, 1999. Archived from the original on June 26, 2008. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
- ^ Bergan, Ronald (July 6, 1999). "Obituary: Sylvia Sidney". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on March 3, 2024. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
- ^ "Sylvia Sidney Sued By Father". The New York Times. November 19, 1933. p. 20. Archived from the original on May 1, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
- ISBN 978-1593939434
- ^ "Actress Sylvia Sidney born". Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
- ^ Vallance, Tom (July 21, 1999). "Obituary: Sylvia Sidney". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on May 26, 2022.
- ^ "Sylvia Sidney Interview". YouTube. October 30, 2015. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
- The Mail. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. January 29, 1949. p. 3 Supplement: Sunday Magazine. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
- ISBN 978-1593939434
- ^ "The Polly Bergen Show". Classic Television Archives. Archived from the original on October 8, 2011. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
- ^ "Prunella Charming in Guild Youths' Hands". The New York Times. June 16, 1926. p. 23.
- ^ Motion Picture and Television Magazine, November 1952, page 33, Ideal Publishers
- from the original on February 7, 2019. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- ^ "Actress Sylvia Sydney Talks with Designer Mel Odom 1999". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
- Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Johnny Presents". Harrisburg Telegraph. September 19, 1941. p. 17. Archived from the original on August 3, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Raymond Massey and Sylvia Sidney in 'Wuthering Heights'". Harrisburg Telegraph. October 11, 1941. p. 26. Archived from the original on November 12, 2018. Retrieved July 21, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
Sources
- Miller, Sally, Sylvia: A Memoir Of Hollywood Star Sylvia Sidney, Synergy Book Service (September 15, 2004), ISBN 978-0975858103
- Sylvia Sidney at IMDb
- Sylvia Sidney at the Internet Broadway Database
- Sylvia Sidney at the TCM Movie Database
- Sylvia Sidney at AllMovie
- Sidney accepting her Golden Globe (1986) on YouTube
External links
- Cum a ajuns Sylvia Sydney, fiica unei croitorese din Bacău, să ia minţile bărbaţilor de la Hollywood. Românca era văzută ca simbol al frumuseţii perfecte, 21 May 2016, Ionela Stănilă, Adevărul