Patricia Neal
This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(July 2023) |
Patricia Neal | |
---|---|
Born | Patsy Louise Neal January 20, 1926 Packard, Kentucky,U.S. |
Died | August 8, 2010 | (aged 84)
Resting place | Abbey of Regina Laudis |
Alma mater | Northwestern University |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1945–2010 |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | |
Children | |
Relatives |
|
Patricia Neal(bornPatsy Louise Neal;January 20, 1926 – August 8, 2010) was an American actress of stage and screen. She is well known for, among other roles, playing World War II widow Helen Benson inThe Day the Earth Stood Still(1951), radio journalist Marcia Jeffries inA Face in the Crowd(1957), wealthy matron Emily Eustace Failenson inBreakfast at Tiffany's(1961), and the worn-out housekeeper Alma Brown inHud(1963) (for which she won theAcademy Award for Best Actress). She also featured as the matriarch in the television filmThe Homecoming: A Christmas Story(1971); her role as Olivia Walton was re-cast for the series it inspired,The Waltons.A major star of the 1950s and 1960s, she was the recipient of anAcademy Award,aGolden Globe Award,aTony Award,and twoBritish Academy Film Awards,and was nominated for threePrimetime Emmy Awards.
Early life and education[edit]
Neal was born inPackard, Whitley County, Kentucky,to William Burdette Neal and Eura Mildred (née Petrey) Neal. She had two siblings.[1][2]
Neal grew up inKnoxville, Tennessee,where she attendedKnoxville High School,[3]and studied drama atNorthwestern,where she was a member ofPi Beta Phisorority. At Northwestern, she was crowned Syllabus Queen in a campus-wide beauty pageant.[4]
Career[edit]
Neal gained her first job in New York as an understudy in theBroadwayproduction of theJohn Van DrutenplayThe Voice of the Turtle.Next, she appeared inLillian Hellman'sAnother Part of the Forest(1946), winning the 1947Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play,in the first presentation of the Tony awards.[1]
Neal made her film debut withRonald ReaganinJohn Loves Mary,followed by another role with Reagan inThe Hasty Heart,and thenThe Fountainhead(all 1949). The shooting of the last film coincided with her affair with her married co-star,Gary Cooper,with whom she worked again inBright Leaf(1950).
Neal starred withJohn GarfieldinThe Breaking Point(1950), inThe Day the Earth Stood Still(1951) withMichael Rennie,and inOperation Pacific(also 1951) starringJohn Wayne.She suffered anervous breakdownaround this time, following the end of her relationship with Cooper, and left Hollywood for New York, returning to Broadway in 1952 for a revival ofThe Children's Hour.In 1955, she starred inEdith Sommer'sA Roomful of Roses,staged byGuthrie McClintic.
While in New York, Neal became a member of theActors Studio.Based on connections with other members, she subsequently co-starred in the filmA Face in the Crowd(1957, directed byElia Kazan), the playThe Miracle Worker(1959, directed byArthur Penn), the filmBreakfast at Tiffany's(1961), and the filmHud(1963), directed byMartin Rittand starringPaul Newman.During the same period, she appeared on television in an episode ofThe Play of the Week(1960), featuring an Actors Studio-dominated cast in a double bill of plays byAugust Strindberg,[5]and in a British production ofClifford Odets'Clash by Night(1959), which co-starred one of the first generation of Actors Studio members,Nehemiah Persoff.[6]
Neal won theAcademy Award for Best Actressfor her performance inHud(1963),[7]co-starring withPaul Newman.When the film was initially released it was predicted she would be a nominee in the supporting actress category, but when she began collecting awards, they were always for Best Actress, from the New York Film Critics, the National Board of Review and aBAFTAaward from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.
Neal was re-united with John Wayne inOtto Preminger'sIn Harm's Way(1965), winning her second BAFTA Award. Her next film wasThe Subject Was Roses(1968), for which she was nominated for an Academy Award. She starred as the matriarch in the television filmThe Homecoming: A Christmas Story(1971), which inspired the television seriesThe Waltons;she won aGolden Globefor her performance. In a 1999 interview with theArchive of American Television,WaltonscreatorEarl Hamnersaid he and producers were unsure if Neal's health would allow her to commit to the schedule of a weekly television series; so, instead, they castMichael Learnedin the role of Olivia Walton. Neal played a dying widowed mother trying to find a home for her three children in an episode of NBC'sLittle House on the Prairiebroadcast in 1975.
Neal appeared in a series of television commercials in the 1970s and 1980s, notably for pain relief medicine Anacin and Maxim instant coffee.
Neal played thetitle roleinRobert Altman's movieCookie's Fortune(1999). She worked onSilvana Vienne's movieBeyond Baklava: The Fairy Tale Story of Sylvia's Baklava(2007), appearing as herself in the portions of the documentary talking about alternative ways to end violence in the world. In the same year as the film's release, Neal received one of two annually-presented Lifetime Achievement Awards at the SunDeis Film Festival inWaltham, Massachusetts.(Academy Award nomineeRoy Scheiderwas the recipient of the other.)
Having won aTony Awardin their inaugural year (1947) and eventually becoming the last surviving winner from that first ceremony, Neal often appeared as a presenter in later years. Her original Tony was lost, so she was given a surprise replacement byBill Irwinwhen they were about to present the 2006Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a PlaytoCynthia Nixon.In April 2009, Neal received a lifetime achievement award from WorldFest Houston on the occasion of the debut of her film,Flying By.Neal was a long-term actress withPhilip Langner's Theatre at Sea/Sail With the Stars productions with theTheatre Guild.In her final years she appeared in a number of health-care videos.[8]
Neal was inducted into theAmerican Theatre Hall of Famein 2003.[9]She was a subject of the British television showThis Is Your Lifein 1978 when she was surprised byEamonn Andrewsat a cocktail party on London's Park Lane.[citation needed]
Personal life[edit]
During the filming ofThe Fountainhead(1949), Neal began an affair with her married co-starGary Cooper,whom she had met in 1947 when she was 21 and he was 46.[10]At one point in their relationship, Cooper hit her in the face after he caughtKirk Douglastrying to seduce her.[11]During this time, she was aDemocratwho supported the campaign ofAdlai Stevensonduring the1952 presidential election.[12]
Neal met British writerRoald Dahlat a dinner party hosted byLillian Hellmanin 1952, while Dahl was living in New York.[13]They married on July 2, 1953, atTrinity Churchin New York. The marriage produced five children:[1]
- Olivia Twenty(1955–1962);
- Chantal Sophia "Tessa"(born 1957), who became an author, and mother of author, cookbook writer and former modelSophie Dahl
- Theo Matthew(born 1960);
- Ophelia Magdalena(born 1964);
- Lucy Neal(born 1965).[14]
On December 5, 1960, their son Theo, four months old, suffered brain damage when his baby carriage was struck by a taxicab in New York City. In May 1961, the family returned toGipsy HouseinGreat Missenden,Buckinghamshire, where Theo continued his rehabilitation.[15]Neal described the two years of family life during Theo's recovery as one of the most beautiful periods of her life.[15]However, on November 17, 1962, their daughterOliviadied at age 7 frommeasles encephalitis.[16]The story of Olivia's death and how Neal and Dahl coped with the tragedy was dramatized in 2020 as a made-for-TV movie,To Olivia.[17]
Neal was a heavy smoker.[18]She suffered three burstcerebral aneurysmswhile pregnant in 1965 and was in a coma for three weeks.Varietymagazine ran an obituary, but she survived with the assistance of Dahl and a number of volunteers who developed a gruelling style of therapy which fundamentally changed the way that stroke patients were treated.[19]This period of their lives was dramatised in the television filmThe Patricia Neal Story(1981), in which the couple was played byGlenda JacksonandDirk Bogarde.[20] On August 4, 1965, Neal gave birth to a healthy daughter. She subsequently relearned to walk and talk,[15]and after her recovery, was nominated for an Oscar for her 1968 performance inThe Subject Was Roses.
In 1983, following Dahl's 11-year affair with Felicity D'Abreu,[21]a set designer he met when she worked with Neal on a Maxim Coffee advertisement, Neal's marriage ended in divorce.[22]She returned to live in the US. In her autobiography,As I Am(1988), Neal wrote: "A strong positive mental attitude will create more miracles than any wonder drug."[23]
Death[edit]
Neal died at her home inEdgartown, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts,on August 8, 2010, fromlung cancer.She was 84 years old.[24]
She had become aCatholicfour months before she died[25]and was buried in theAbbey of Regina LaudisinBethlehem, Connecticut,where the actressDolores Hart,her friend since the early 1960s, had become a nun and ultimately prioress. Neal had been a longtime supporter of the abbey's open-air theatre and arts program.[26]
Legacy[edit]
In 1978, Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center in Knoxville dedicated thePatricia Neal Rehabilitation Centerin her honor. The center provides intense treatment for stroke, spinal cord, and brain injury patients. It serves as part of Neal's advocacy for paralysis victims. She regularly visited the center in Knoxville, providing encouragement to its patients and staff. Neal appeared as the center's spokeswoman in advertisements until her death.[27]
Filmography[edit]
Film[edit]
Television[edit]
Year | Project | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1954 | Goodyear Playhouse | episode:Spring Reunion | |
1958 | Suspicion | Paula Elgin | episode:Someone Is After Me |
1957–1958 | Playhouse 90 | Rena Menken Margaret |
episode:The Gentleman from Seventh Avenue episode:The Playroom |
1954–1958 | Studio One in Hollywood | Caroline Mann Miriam Leslie |
episode:Tide of Corruption episode:A Handful of Diamonds |
1958 | Pursuit | Mrs. Conrad | episode:The Silent Night |
1959 | Rendezvous | Kate Merlin | episode:London-New York |
Clash by Night | Mia Wilenski | ||
1960 | The Play of the Week | Mistress Grace Wilson |
episode:Strindberg on Love episode:The Magic and the Loss |
1961 | Special for Women: Mother and Daughter | Ruth Evans | |
1962 | Drama 61-67 | Beebee Fenstermaker | episode:Drama '62: The Days and Nights of Beebee |
Checkmate | Fran Davis | episode:The Yacht-Club Gang | |
The Untouchables | Maggie Storm | episode:The Maggie Storm Story | |
Westinghouse Presents: That's Where the Town Is Going | Ruby Sills | ||
Winter Journey | Georgie Elgin | ||
Zero One | Margo | episode:Return Trip | |
1963 | Ben Casey | Dr. Louise Chapelle | episode:My Enemy Is a Bright Green Sparrow |
Espionage | Jeanne | episode:The Weakling | |
1971 | The Homecoming: A Christmas Story | Olivia Walton | Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Television Series Drama Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Single Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role |
1972 | Circle of Fear | Ellen Alexander | episode:Time of Terror |
1974 | Kung Fu | Sara Kingsley | episode:Blood of Dragon |
Things in Their Season | Peg Gerlach | ||
1975 | Eric | Lois Swensen | TV movie |
Little House on the Prairie | Julia Sanderson | episode:Remember Me | |
Movin' On | Maddie | episode:Prosperity #1 | |
1976 | The American Woman: Portraits of Courage | Narrator | |
1977 | Tail Gunner Joe | Sen. Margaret Chase Smith | Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Comedy or Drama Special |
1978 | A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story | Mrs. Gehrig | |
The Bastard | Marie Charboneau | ||
1979 | All Quiet on the Western Front | Paul's Mother | Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Special |
1984 | Glitter | Madame Lil | episode:Pilot |
Love Leads the Way: A True Story | Mrs. Frank | TV movie | |
Shattered Vows | Sister Carmelita | TV movie | |
1990 | Caroline? | Miss Trollope | TV movie |
Murder, She Wrote | Milena Maryska | episode:Murder in F Sharp | |
1992 | A Mother's Right: The Elizabeth Morgan Story | Antonia Morgan | |
1993 | Heidi | Grandmother |
Stage[edit]
Run | Play | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
November 20, 1946 – April 26, 1947 | Another Part of the Forest | Regina Hubbard | Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play Theatre World Award |
December 18, 1952 – May 30, 1953 | The Children's Hour | Martha Dobie | |
October 17, 1955 – December 31, 1955 | A Roomful of Roses | Nancy Fallon | |
October 19, 1959 – July 1, 1961 | The Miracle Worker | Kate Keller |
Bibliography[edit]
- Encyclopedia of Kentucky.New York, New York:Somerset Publishers. 1987. pp. 182–83.ISBN0-403-09981-1.
- Neal, Patricia (1988).As I Am: An Autobiography.New York, New York:Simon & Schuster.ISBN0-671-62501-2.
- Shearer, Stephen Michael (2006).Patricia Neal: An Unquiet Life.Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky.ISBN0-8131-2391-7.
References[edit]
- ^abcAston-Wash, Barbara; Pickle, Betsy (August 8, 2010)."Knoxville friends mourn loss of iconic actress Patricia Neal".Knoxnews.com. Archived fromthe originalon August 16, 2010.RetrievedAugust 8,2010.
- ^Pylant, James (2010)."Patricia Neal's Deep Roots in the Bluegrass State".GenealogyMagazine.com. Archived fromthe originalon September 13, 2010.RetrievedSeptember 1,2010.
- ^John Shearer,Famous alumni from Knoxville High School,Knoxville News Sentinel,May 28, 2010.
- ^Canning Blackwell, Elizabeth (March 10, 2013)."Reel Life".northwestern.edu.University Archives.RetrievedOctober 14,2019.
- ^""Play of the Week" Strindberg on Love (TV Episode 1960) ".IMDb.February 25, 1960.
- ^Tom Goldie:"Tom Goldie's Telenews: Steel on Your Screen,"The Times(Tuesday, July 7, 1959), p. 8. "Producer John Jacobs had a hard time filling the role of the husband. He wantedErnest Borgnine,orKarl Malden,orAnthony Quinn,but none of them was available. Then he saw Persoff playing a featured role in the film,Al Capone,and promptly invited him to come over from America specially forClash by Night.
- ^Bernstein, Adam (August 10, 2010)."Patricia Neal dies: Oscar winning star of 'Hud' was 84".The Washington Post.RetrievedJuly 20,2014.
- ^"Danamar Productions".Archived fromthe originalon May 17, 2014.RetrievedOctober 9,2010.
- ^"Theater honors put women in the spotlight".Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived fromthe originalon March 4, 2016.RetrievedFebruary 13,2014.
- ^Wendy Smith (July 9, 2006)."Patricia Neal: An Unquiet Life".Variety.
- ^Meyer, JeffreyGary Cooper: American Hero(1998)
- ^Motion Picture and Television Magazine,November 1952, page 33, Ideal Publishers
- ^Sturrock, Donald (2010).Storyteller: The Life Of Roald Dahl.London: HarperCollins. pp. 316–317.ISBN978-0-00-725476-7.
- ^"'Dad also needed happy dreams': Roald Dahl, his daughters and the BFG ".The Daily Telegraph.August 6, 2010.Archivedfrom the original on January 11, 2022.RetrievedSeptember 16,2014.
- ^abc"Roald Dahl on the death of his daughter".No. February 3, 2015. The Telegraph.Archivedfrom the original on January 11, 2022.
- ^People's Magazine,online reprint on Roald Dahl Fan Site
- ^"Hugh Bonneville becomes Roald Dahl in first look trailer for 'To Olivia'".December 24, 2020.
- ^Corliss, Richard (August 11, 2010)."A Life of Tragedy and Triumph: Patricia Neal (1926–2010)".Time– via content.time.com.
- ^"Big Sometimes Friendly Giant".NYMag.com.September 3, 2010.RetrievedSeptember 22,2016.
- ^David Thomson (August 9, 2010)."Patricia Neal: a beauty that cut like a knife".The Guardian.RetrievedSeptember 16,2014.
- ^"We thought we could keep our affair secret, says Roald Dahl's second wife".November 12, 2008.
- ^"Celebrity Corner".Knight-Ridder.October 24, 1983.RetrievedApril 12,2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^Ronald Bergan(August 9, 2010)."Patricia Neal: Obituary".The Guardian.RetrievedNovember 25,2020.
- ^"Actress Patricia Neal dies at age 84".NPR.August 9, 2010.RetrievedAugust 9,2010.
- ^"Mother Dolores Hart Talks About Patricia Neal, Gary Cooper".NCR.August 25, 2010.RetrievedJune 14,2024.
- ^Drake, Tim (August 25, 2010)."Mother Dolores Hart Talks About Patricia Neal, Gary Cooper".National Catholic Register.EWTN News, Inc.RetrievedDecember 22,2018.
Four months ago, when she was hospitalized with her illness, she called me and said she wanted to be a Catholic. She made the step at that time. She had waited a long time and finally threw in her towel on March 30, 2010.
- ^Snodgrass, Mary Ellen (2008).Beating the Odds: A Teen Guide to 75 Superstars Who Overcame Adversity.ABC Clio.ISBN9780313345654.RetrievedOctober 14,2019.
External links[edit]
- Patricia Nealat theInternet Broadway Database
- Patricia NealatIMDb
- Patricia Nealat theTCM Movie Database
- Death Announcement for Patricia NealonYouTube
- Patricia Neal papersat theUniversity of Wisconsin'sActors Studio Audio collection
- Patricia Neal profileatAllmovie
- Patricia Nealinterview on BBC Radio 4Desert Island Discs,August 19, 1988
- 1926 births
- 2010 deaths
- Actresses from Kentucky
- Actresses from Tennessee
- American expatriates in the United Kingdom
- American film actresses
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- Best Foreign Actress BAFTA Award winners
- Best Actress Academy Award winners
- Best Drama Actress Golden Globe (television) winners
- Converts to Roman Catholicism from Anglicanism
- Deaths from lung cancer in Massachusetts
- Donaldson Award winners
- Northwestern University School of Communication alumni
- Actors from Knoxville, Tennessee
- People from Whitley County, Kentucky
- Tony Award winners
- 20th-century American actresses
- 21st-century American actresses
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