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Fannie Flagg

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Fannie Flagg
Flagg in 1972
Born
Patricia Neal

(1944-09-21)September 21, 1944(age 79)
Birmingham, Alabama,U.S.
Occupations
  • Actress
  • comedian
  • author
Years active1966–present
Known for

Fannie Flagg(bornPatricia Neal;September 21, 1944)[1]is an American actress, comedian, and author. She is best known as a semi-regularpaneliston the 1973–1982 versions of the game showMatch Gameand for the 1987 novelFried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe,which she adapted into the script for the 1991 motion pictureFried Green Tomatoes.She was nominated for anAcademy Awardfor the screenplay adaptation.[2]Flagg lives in California and Alabama.[3]

Early life[edit]

Born Patricia Neal inBirmingham, Alabama,Flagg is the only child of William Hurbert Neal Jr. and Marion Leona (néeLeGore).

Aside from a brief period on the Gulf Coast near the town ofPoint Clear,Flagg spent her childhood in the Birmingham area.[4]

Encouraged by her father, Flagg became interested in writing and performing at an early age, writing her first play when she was 10. As a teen, she entered theMiss Alabamapageant, where she won a scholarship to a local acting school for one year.[5]She began co-hosting a locally produced "Morning Show" onWBRC-TVin Birmingham, but when she was denied a raise, she quit her job and decided to move to New York City.

As her acting career began, Flagg could not use her birth name professionally, as there was already a well-known actress namedPatricia Nealregistered withActors' Equity.Having only an hour to choose a stage name, she selected the first name "Fannie" at the suggestion of her grandfather, who recalled it being used by many comediennes in the vaudeville circuit, and "Flagg" at the suggestion of a friend.[5][6]

Career[edit]

Writing[edit]

During the 1960s, Flagg began writing skits for the New York nightclub Upstairs at the Downstairs. When one of the performers got sick, Flagg went on in her place and caught the attention ofCandid CameracreatorAllen Funt,who happened to be in the audience that night. Soon after, Flagg was invited to be a staff writer on his show and later became a performer as well.[6]

In 1978, Flagg won first place in fiction for a short story that she had written at the Santa Barbara Writer's Conference. The work became the basis for the novelComing Attractionswhich was published in 1981 following the deaths of her father and mother.[7]The book was reissued in 1992 under the title Flagg originally wanted to use,Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man.The autobiographical coming-of-age novel is written as a diary that starts in 1952 with an 11-year-old protagonist, Daisy Fay Harper. Daisy uses diary entries to tell the story of heralcoholicfather's get-rich-quick schemes and her well-mannered mother.[8]The book stayed onThe New York Timesbestseller listfor 10 weeks.[9]

Perhaps her best-known novel,Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafewas published in 1987 and remained onThe New York Timesbestseller list for 36 weeks.[5]It was praised by bothHarper LeeandEudora Welty.The novel is told in both past and present tense by the characters Ninny Threadgoode (past) and Evelyn Couch (present) and focuses on the town of Whistle Stop, Alabama, circa the 1920s and 1930s. It is about the unlikely bonds forged between women who seemingly have nothing in common except restlessness.[10]Flagg subsequently co-wrote the screenplay based on that book, which became the 1991 filmFried Green Tomatoes.The movie garnered her a nomination for anAcademy Award.Fried Green TomatoesstarredJessica Tandy,Kathy Bates,Mary Stuart Masterson,Mary-Louise ParkerandCicely Tyson.[5]

She has also writtenFannie Flagg's Original Whistle-Stop Café Cookbook(1993),Welcome to the World, Baby Girl!(1998),Standing in the Rainbow(2002),A Redbird Christmas(2004),Can't Wait to Get to Heaven(2006),I Still Dream About You(2010),The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion(2013) andThe Whole Town's Talking(2016).[11]Her latest book,The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop,was published in October 2020, and includes characters fromFried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe.[12]

Acting[edit]

During the 1970s, Flagg was a fixture ongame showpanels. She is best known for her appearances on the game showMatch Game(normally occupying the lower right-hand seat next to regular panelistRichard Dawson).[13]Her stage acting credits include the short-lived 1978 Broadway play Patio/Porch[14]and the original 1978 Broadway production ofThe Best Little Whorehouse in Texas(succeedingCarlin Glynn). She appeared in the filmsFive Easy Pieces(1970),Some of My Best Friends Are...(1971),Stay Hungry(1976),Grease(1978), andCrazy in Alabama(1999).

As well as minor roles in various television shows, she appeared as the Amazon Doctor in the 1975pilotThe New Original Wonder Woman withLynda Carter.She is also known for being a regular onThe New Dick Van Dyke Show,where for two seasons she played Mike Preston, sister to Van Dyke's character Dick Preston, and for her role as Cassie Bowman in all 30 episodes of the 1980-81 sitcom version ofHarper Valley PTAstarringBarbara Eden.She also appeared several times as a victim ofalien abductionon the talk show parodyFernwood 2 Nightin 1977. During the 1960s and 1970s, Flagg recorded two comedy albums with various skits that included many parodies ofLady Bird JohnsonandMartha Mitchell.

Other TV appearances[edit]

In addition to her many game show appearances, Flagg has been a guest on severaltalk showsover the years, includingThe Joey Bishop Show,The Dick Cavett Show,The Merv Griffin Show,The Johnny Cash Show,Dinah!,andThe Rosie O'Donnell Show.[15]Flagg also appeared onGood Morning Americato share some recipes from her bookA Redbird Christmas.[16]

Personal life[edit]

Flagg has spoken publicly about beingdyslectic.She has expressed the great challenge of being a writer, saying, "I was, am, severely dyslexic and couldn't spell, still can't spell. So I was discouraged from writing and embarrassed."[17]Even though it was clear that she had an affinity for crafting stories, her dyslexia stalled any possible writing career through most of the 1970s.

It was not until a teacher spotted a pattern in Flagg's misspelled written answers onMatch Gameand sent her a note that she understood she had a learning disability; Flagg later stated she had not heard of the condition prior to this note.[18]Eventually, Flagg was able to overcome her fear associated with the disorder and has since completed several novels.[17]

In the mid-1970s, Flagg shared a house inCharlottesville, Virginia,with American writerRita Mae Brown,whom she met at a party in theHollywood Hillshosted byMarlo Thomas.[19]According to Brown, Flagg also lived for eight years with formerThe Bold and the BeautifulactressSusan Flannery.[20][21]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1970 Five Easy Pieces Stoney
1971 Some of My Best Friends Are... Helen
1976 Stay Hungry Amy Adaptation of the novel of the same name.
1978 Rabbit Test The President's Wife Directed byJoan Rivers.
1978 Grease Nurse Wilkins
1987 My Best Friend Is a Vampire Mrs. Capello Also known asI Was a Teenage Vampire.
1991 Fried Green Tomatoes Teacher (uncredited); alsoScreenwriter Academy Awardscreenplay nomination.[2]
1998 Fried Green Tomatoes: The Moments of Discovery Documentary
1999 Crazy in Alabama Sally

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1967-1982 Match Game Herself Semi-Regular Panelist: 1967–1968; 1973–1982
1972 Love, American Style Sally Episode: "Love and the Bachelor Party" (S 3:Ep 78)
1971–1973 The New Dick Van Dyke Show Michelle "Mike" Preston Main cast
1973–1974 $10,000 Pyramid Herself
  • Fannie Flagg & Bill Cullen guest star (S 1:Ep 22)
  • Fannie Flagg & Wayne Rogers guest star (S 2:Ep 47)
1974 Hollywood Squares Herself Recurring panelist
1975 Tattletales Herself (S 2:Ep22) with Dick Sargent
1975 Wonder Woman Amazon Doctor Episode: "The New Original Wonder Woman" (Pilot)
1975 Home Cookin Adelle TV movie
1975 Match Game PM Herself Semi-Regular Panelist
1976 Word Grabbers Herself
  • TV Movie
  • 2nd pilot
1977 Sex and the Married Woman Virginia Ladysmith TV movie
1977 Fernwood 2 Night Sylvia Miller Recurring
1979 The Love Boat Alicia Finch Episode: "The Decision/Poor Little Rich Girl/Love Me, Love My Dog" (S 2:Ep 22)
1980 Battlestars Herself Guest star
1980 To Tell the Truth Herself Panelist
1981–1982 Harper Valley PTA Cassie Bowman Main Cast
1983 The Love Boat Liz Merritt Episode: "The Zinging Valentine/The Very Temporary Secretary/Final Score" (S 6:Ep 20)
1986 The Love Boat Laurie Ryan Episode: "Father of the Bride/The Best Man/Members of the Wedding" (S 9:Ep 10)
1987 Dolly Screenwriter (S 1:Ep 1–5, 8, 10) Variety show

Bibliography[edit]

Year Title Notes
1981 Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man Originally titledComing Attractions,the title was changed when the book was reissued in 1992
1987 Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe Also wrote the screenplay for the filmFried Green Tomatoes
1993 Fannie Flagg's Original Whistle Stop Cafe Cookbook
1998 Welcome to the World, Baby Girl!
2002 Standing in the Rainbow
2004 A Redbird Christmas
2006 Can't Wait to Get to Heaven
2010 I Still Dream About You
2013 The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion Homage to the AmericanWASPsduring World War II
2016 The Whole Town's Talking
2020 The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop

Accolades[edit]

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref
1992 Academy Award Best Adapted Screenplay Fried Green Tomatoes Nominated [2][22][23][24]
1992 Writers Guild of America Award Best Adapted Screenplay Fried Green Tomatoes Nominated
2012 Harper Lee Award Alabama's Distinguished Writer of the Year [25]

References[edit]

  1. ^Kingsbury, Pam."Fannie Flagg".Encyclopedia of Alabama.RetrievedJuly 9,2022.
  2. ^abc"Fried Green Tomatoes (1991) Awards".Movies & TV Dept.The New York Times.2012. Archived fromthe originalon October 21, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 15,2017.
  3. ^"Fannie Flagg".fannieflaggbooks.com.2018. Archived fromthe originalon April 29, 2019.RetrievedJuly 29,2018.
  4. ^Kazek, Kelly (November 13, 2013)."Fannie Flagg's Quirky Alabama: 7 real oddities and attractions that appear in Birmingham native's novels (Odd Travels with photos)".AL.com.RetrievedJuly 30,2017.
  5. ^abcdPierleoni, Allen (January 27, 2017)."Honey, Fannie Flagg doesn't apologize for anything".The Sacramento Bee.RetrievedJuly 10,2019.
  6. ^abReilly, Sue (November 23, 1981)."Fannie Flagg Unfurls in All Directions: TV's Harper Valley, ERA and a Comic Memoir-Novel".People.16(21).RetrievedJuly 10,2019.
  7. ^Meyers, Kate (January 24, 1992)."Fannie Flagg's career".Entertainment Weekly.RetrievedJuly 30,2017.
  8. ^"Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man by Fannie Flagg".Penguin Random House Network.
  9. ^"PAPERBACK BEST SELLERS: July 5, 1992".The New York Times.July 5, 1992.RetrievedJuly 30,2017.
  10. ^"On the Same Page".Arkansas Educational Television Network.July 18, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon July 18, 2007.RetrievedJuly 30,2017.
  11. ^The Whole Town's Talking.Random House. November 29, 2016.ISBN978-0-3995-8829-7.RetrievedJuly 10,2019.
  12. ^Colurso, Mary (October 27, 2020)."Fannie Flagg takes us back to Whistle Stop in 'Fried Green Tomatoes' sequel".al.com.RetrievedOctober 27,2020.
  13. ^Eakin, Marah; Teti, John; Adams, Erik (June 16, 2014)."Bonus round stars: 9 celebrities who found their greatest fame on game shows".The A.V. Club.RetrievedJune 20,2014.
  14. ^"Patio / Porch".Playbill.com.2023.RetrievedJune 20,2023.
  15. ^Flagg, Fannie (September 1, 2016).Conversations On The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion: A Novel By Fannie Flag.dailyBooks. p. 9.ISBN978-1-5239-7490-0.
  16. ^"Fannie Flagg's Corn Casserole".ABC News.Archived fromthe originalon July 30, 2017.RetrievedJuly 29,2017.
  17. ^abHillard, Gloria (January 12, 1999)."High hurdles didn't stop Fannie Flagg".CNN.Archived fromthe originalon April 28, 2001.RetrievedJanuary 15,2017.
  18. ^Tarabella, Leslie Anne."Dyslexia helps Fannie Flagg develop a story of perseverance".The Birmingham News.RetrievedJuly 29,2017.
  19. ^Mansfield, Stephanie (August 13, 1981)."Rita Mae Brown, Martina Navratilova &".The Washington Post.RetrievedJuly 29,2018.
  20. ^Brown, Rita Mae (1997).Rita Will: Memoir of a Literary Rabble-Rouser.New York City: Bantam Books. pp.311–312.ISBN978-0-5530-9973-7.OCLC37398012.
  21. ^Gaffney, Austyn (May 4, 2022)."The Bee Charmer: A case for re-queering the Fried Green Tomatoes franchise".Oxford American.RetrievedMay 22,2022.
  22. ^1992|Oscars.org
  23. ^The Silence of the Lambs Wins Adapted Screenplay: 1992 Oscars
  24. ^Fried Green Tomatoes - Awards - IMDb
  25. ^"Harper Lee Award".Alabama's Writers' Forum.Archived fromthe originalon November 14, 2016.RetrievedJanuary 9,2017.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fannie_Flagg&oldid=1230508216"