Mary Fickett: Difference between revisions
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| birth_date = {{birth date|1928|5|23}}<ref name=NYTimes>[http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/13/arts/television/mary-fickett-a-pillar-of-all-my-children-dies-at-83.html?_r=1 Mary Fickett, a Pillar of ‘All My |
| birth_date = {{birth date|1928|5|23}}<ref name=NYTimes>[http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/13/arts/television/mary-fickett-a-pillar-of-all-my-children-dies-at-83.html?_r=1 Mary Fickett, a Pillar of ‘All My Children’, Dies at 83]</ref> |
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| birth_place = [[Buffalo, New York]], U.S. |
| birth_place = [[Buffalo, New York]], U.S. |
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| death_date = {{dda|2011|9|8|1928|5|23}} |
| death_date = {{dda|2011|9|8|1928|5|23}} |
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| years_active = 1946–2000 |
| years_active = 1946–2000 |
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'''Mary Fickett''' (May 23, 1928 – September 8, 2011) was an American [[actress]], best-known for her roles in the American television dramas, ''[[The Edge of Night]]'' — as Sally Smith (1961), and as Dr. Katherine Lovell (1967-68) — and as [[Ruth Martin (All My Children)|Ruth Parker Brent]] on ''[[All My Children]]'' (1970-1996; 1999-2000). |
'''Mary Fickett''' (May 23, 1928 – September 8, 2011) was an American [[actress]], best-known for her roles in the American television dramas, ''[[The Edge of Night]]'' — as Sally Smith (1961), and as Dr. Katherine Lovell (1967-68) — and as [[Ruth Martin (All My Children)|Ruth Parker Brent]] on ''[[All My Children]]'' (1970-1996; 1999-2000). |
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==Early life and career== |
==Early life and career== |
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Fickett was born in [[Buffalo, New York]] and raised in [[Bronxville, New York|Bronxville]], a suburb of [[New York City]]. |
Fickett was born in [[Buffalo, New York]] and raised in [[Bronxville, New York|Bronxville]], a suburb of [[New York City]]. She attended [[Wheaton College]], and made her theatrical debut in 1946 on [[Cape Cod]].<ref name=NYTimes>[http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/13/arts/television/mary-fickett-a-pillar-of-all-my-children-dies-at-83.html?_r=1 Mary Fickett, a Pillar of ''All My Children'', Dies at 83]</ref>In 1949, she made her [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] debut appearing in ''I Know My Love'', a comedy starring [[Alfred Lunt]] and [[Lynn Fontanne]].<ref name=Bio /> Fickett studied acting at New York City's [[Neighborhood Playhouse]] under [[Sanford Meisner]] and started her television career working on "Television Theatre" programs like [[Kraft Television Theatre]] in the 1950s. Her first feature film was ''Man on Fire'' alongside [[Bing Crosby]] in 1957. In 1958, she received a [[Tony Award]] nomination as Best Featured Actress in a Play for her performance in ''[[Sunrise at Campobello]]'', opposite [[Ralph Bellamy]]. |
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During the 1960s, she was featured in ''[[Calendar (TV series)|Calendar]]'', a forerunner to CBS' ''[[The Early Show]]''; she appeared alongside host [[Harry Reasoner]]. |
During the 1960s, she was featured in ''[[Calendar (TV series)|Calendar]]'', a forerunner to CBS' ''[[The Early Show]]''; she appeared alongside host [[Harry Reasoner]]. |
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===''All My Children''=== |
===''All My Children''=== |
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In January 1970, the [[American Broadcasting Company]] launched its new soap opera ''[[All My Children]]'', created by [[Agnes Nixon]]. Fickett was an original cast member playing [[Ruth Martin (All My Children)|Ruth Parker Brent]], a nurse at the local hospital and wife of alcoholic car salesman Ted Brent. Her character quickly found an attraction to the widowed Dr. Joe Martin ([[Ray MacDonnell]]). The pair tried to ignore their attraction until Ruth's husband was killed in a car accident. Ruth and Joe married on screen but found their happiness cut short by the [[Vietnam War]]. [[Agnes Nixon]] had always intended for her soap to deal with important issues of the day, so to facilitate [[Richard Hatch (actor)|Richard Hatch]] exiting the role of Phil Brent his character was drafted into service.{{Citation needed|date=September 2011}} |
In January 1970, the [[American Broadcasting Company]] launched its new soap opera ''[[All My Children]]'', created by [[Agnes Nixon]]. Fickett was an original cast member playing [[Ruth Martin (All My Children)|Ruth Parker Brent]], a nurse at the local hospital and wife of alcoholic car salesman Ted Brent. Her character quickly found an attraction to the widowed Dr. Joe Martin ([[Ray MacDonnell]]). The pair tried to ignore their attraction until Ruth's husband was killed in a car accident. Ruth and Joe married on screen but found their happiness cut short by the [[Vietnam War]]. [[Agnes Nixon]] had always intended for her soap to deal with important issues of the day, so to facilitate [[Richard Hatch (actor)|Richard Hatch]] exiting the role of Phil Brent his character was drafted into service. {{Citation needed|date=September 2011}} |
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Ruth became an anti-war protester and made some of the first anti-Vietnam speeches aired on American Daytime Television. This storyline decision, although troubling to television executives at the time, won Fickett the first [[Emmy Award]] given to a performer in daytime television, in 1973. She received a [[Daytime Emmy Award|Daytime Emmy]] nomination in 1974 for her performance in a storyline that involved her son being missing in action. This was another milestone for daytime TV, as it was the first time a war scene was aired on daytime television. The audience saw Phil being hit by a bullet and going down, then carried away by a young Vietnamese boy (played by the adopted son of a friend of Nixon).{{Citation needed|date=September 2011}} |
Ruth became an anti-war protester and made some of the first anti-Vietnam speeches aired on American Daytime Television. This storyline decision, although troubling to television executives at the time, won Fickett the first [[Emmy Award]] given to a performer in daytime television, in 1973. She received a [[Daytime Emmy Award|Daytime Emmy]] nomination in 1974 for her performance in a storyline that involved her son being missing in action. This was another milestone for daytime TV, as it was the first time a war scene was aired on daytime television. The audience saw Phil being hit by a bullet and going down, then carried away by a young Vietnamese boy (played by the adopted son of a friend of Nixon).{{Citation needed|date=September 2011}} |
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Joe and Ruth were happily married, but found they could not conceive a child together. To have the child they always wanted they began proceedings to adopt Tad Gardner, a child that had been abandoned. A problem arose when Tad's father, Ray Gardner, arrived in town wanting money and filed a lawsuit to stop the adoption proceedings. He then tried to extort money from the Martin family, in exchange for stopping the lawsuit. Joe refused to do this and kicked him out of his house, but Ruth called him back saying they could "sort things out". Fickett's second controversial storyline started when Ray showed up in a drunken rage and [[raped]] Ruth. She received her second [[Daytime Emmy Award|Daytime Emmy]] nomination for this storyline in 1976.{{Citation needed|date=September 2011}} |
Joe and Ruth were happily married, but found they could not conceive a child together. To have the child they always wanted they began proceedings to adopt Tad Gardner, a child that had been abandoned. A problem arose when Tad's father, Ray Gardner, arrived in town wanting money and filed a lawsuit to stop the adoption proceedings. He then tried to extort money from the Martin family, in exchange for stopping the lawsuit. Joe refused to do this and kicked him out of his house, but Ruth called him back saying they could "sort things out". Fickett's second controversial storyline started when Ray showed up in a drunken rage and [[raped]] Ruth. She received her second [[Daytime Emmy Award|Daytime Emmy]] nomination for this storyline in 1976. {{Citation needed|date=September 2011}} |
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==Retirement== |
==Retirement== |
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In the mid-1990s Fickett decided that she wanted to slow down her schedule and spend more time with her family. She allowed her contract to expire and expected to go on recurring status, meaning she could still appear on the program but did not have to meet any contractual obligations or minimum number of appearances. Negotiations with the producers of the program broke down and the role of Ruth Martin was recast with [[Lee Meriwether]] taking on the character in 1996. In 1999 Meriwether was fired and Fickett rehired on recurring status.{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}} |
In the mid-1990s Fickett decided that she wanted to slow down her schedule and spend more time with her family. She allowed her contract to expire and expected to go on recurring status, meaning she could still appear on the program but did not have to meet any contractual obligations or minimum number of appearances. Negotiations with the producers of the program broke down and the role of Ruth Martin was recast with [[Lee Meriwether]] taking on the character in 1996. In 1999, Meriwether was fired and Fickett rehired on recurring status. She resumed the role of Ruth and supported several front burner storylines including son Tad's romance with Dixie and the breakdown of son Jake (Joe) Martin's marriage to Gillian. After another year, Fickett decided to call it quits from the busy schedule of soap opera acting and retired in December 2000. In 2002, the producers wanted to bring the character of Ruth back, but Fickett remained in retirement, so Meriwether was rehired and played Ruth whenever the occasion arose. {{Citation needed|date=January 2010}} |
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She resumed the role of Ruth and supported several front burner storylines including son Tad's romance with Dixie and the breakdown of son Jake (Joe) Martin's marriage to Gillian. After another year, Fickett decided to call it quits from the busy schedule of soap opera acting and retired in December 2000. In 2002, the producers wanted to bring the character of Ruth back, but Fickett remained in retirement. Meriwether played the role of Ruth when the occasion called for it afterwards.{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}} |
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==Health== |
==Health== |
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In 2007, Fickett moved in with her daughter, Bronwyn Congdon, in [[Colonial Beach, Virginia]], where she remained bedridden.<ref>[http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2008/072008/07192008/395566 News re Fickett's move to her daughter's home]</ref> Fickett died September 8, 2011, aged 83 at her [[Callao, Virginia]] home, from complications of Alzheimer's disease, according to her daughter.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/13/arts/television/mary-fickett-a-pillar-of-all-my-children-dies-at-83.html?_r=1 |
In 2007, Fickett moved in with her daughter, Bronwyn Congdon, in [[Colonial Beach, Virginia]], where she remained bedridden.<ref>[http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2008/072008/07192008/395566 News re Fickett's move to her daughter's home]</ref> Fickett died September 8, 2011, aged 83, at her [[Callao, Virginia]] home, from complications of [[Alzheimer's disease]], according to her daughter.<ref name=NYTimes>[http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/13/arts/television/mary-fickett-a-pillar-of-all-my-children-dies-at-83.html?_r=1 Mary Fickett, a Pillar of ‘All My Children’, Dies at 83]</ref><ref name=Bio>[http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2011/092011/09102011/650918 Actress Mary Fickett dies at Callao home]</ref><ref>[http://www.soapcentral.com/amc/news/2011/0910-fickett_obit.php Notice of death of actress Mary Fickett]</ref> ABC will dedicate the September 21, 2011 episode of ''All My Children'' in Fickett's memory.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mary Fickett From “All My Children” Dies at 83|url=http://www.backstageol.com/television-news/mary-fickett-from-all-my-children-dies-at-83|work=Mary Fickett From “All My Children” Dies at 83|publisher=BackstageOL|accessdate=September 13, 2011}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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[[Category:American soap opera actors]] |
[[Category:American soap opera actors]] |
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[[Category:American stage actors]] |
[[Category:American stage actors]] |
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[[Category:Deaths from Alzheimer's disease]] |
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[[Category:Disease-related deaths in Virginia]] |
[[Category:Disease-related deaths in Virginia]] |
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[[Category:Emmy Award winners]] |
[[Category:Emmy Award winners]] |
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Revision as of 13:11, 16 September 2011
Mary Fickett | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | May 23, 1928[1] Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
| Died | September 8, 2011 (aged 83) Callao, Virginia, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1946–2000 |
Mary Fickett (May 23, 1928 – September 8, 2011) was an American actress, best-known for her roles in the American television dramas, The Edge of Night — as Sally Smith (1961), and as Dr. Katherine Lovell (1967-68) — and as Ruth Parker Brent on All My Children (1970-1996; 1999-2000).
Early life and career
Fickett was born in Buffalo, New York and raised in Bronxville, a suburb of New York City. She attended Wheaton College, and made her theatrical debut in 1946 on Cape Cod.[1]In 1949, she made her Broadway debut appearing in I Know My Love, a comedy starring Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne.[2] Fickett studied acting at New York City's Neighborhood Playhouse under Sanford Meisner and started her television career working on "Television Theatre" programs like Kraft Television Theatre in the 1950s. Her first feature film was Man on Fire alongside Bing Crosby in 1957. In 1958, she received a Tony Award nomination as Best Featured Actress in a Play for her performance in Sunrise at Campobello, opposite Ralph Bellamy.
During the 1960s, she was featured in Calendar, a forerunner to CBS' The Early Show; she appeared alongside host Harry Reasoner.
Personal life
Fickett had two children from her three marriages. Her third and final marriage was to Allen Fristoe (a daytime TV director) from June 1979 until his death in 2008.
All My Children
In January 1970, the American Broadcasting Company launched its new soap opera All My Children, created by Agnes Nixon. Fickett was an original cast member playing Ruth Parker Brent, a nurse at the local hospital and wife of alcoholic car salesman Ted Brent. Her character quickly found an attraction to the widowed Dr. Joe Martin (Ray MacDonnell). The pair tried to ignore their attraction until Ruth's husband was killed in a car accident. Ruth and Joe married on screen but found their happiness cut short by the Vietnam War. Agnes Nixon had always intended for her soap to deal with important issues of the day, so to facilitate Richard Hatch exiting the role of Phil Brent his character was drafted into service. [citation needed]
Ruth became an anti-war protester and made some of the first anti-Vietnam speeches aired on American Daytime Television. This storyline decision, although troubling to television executives at the time, won Fickett the first Emmy Award given to a performer in daytime television, in 1973. She received a Daytime Emmy nomination in 1974 for her performance in a storyline that involved her son being missing in action. This was another milestone for daytime TV, as it was the first time a war scene was aired on daytime television. The audience saw Phil being hit by a bullet and going down, then carried away by a young Vietnamese boy (played by the adopted son of a friend of Nixon).[citation needed]
Joe and Ruth were happily married, but found they could not conceive a child together. To have the child they always wanted they began proceedings to adopt Tad Gardner, a child that had been abandoned. A problem arose when Tad's father, Ray Gardner, arrived in town wanting money and filed a lawsuit to stop the adoption proceedings. He then tried to extort money from the Martin family, in exchange for stopping the lawsuit. Joe refused to do this and kicked him out of his house, but Ruth called him back saying they could "sort things out". Fickett's second controversial storyline started when Ray showed up in a drunken rage and raped Ruth. She received her second Daytime Emmy nomination for this storyline in 1976. [citation needed]
Retirement
In the mid-1990s Fickett decided that she wanted to slow down her schedule and spend more time with her family. She allowed her contract to expire and expected to go on recurring status, meaning she could still appear on the program but did not have to meet any contractual obligations or minimum number of appearances. Negotiations with the producers of the program broke down and the role of Ruth Martin was recast with Lee Meriwether taking on the character in 1996. In 1999, Meriwether was fired and Fickett rehired on recurring status. She resumed the role of Ruth and supported several front burner storylines including son Tad's romance with Dixie and the breakdown of son Jake (Joe) Martin's marriage to Gillian. After another year, Fickett decided to call it quits from the busy schedule of soap opera acting and retired in December 2000. In 2002, the producers wanted to bring the character of Ruth back, but Fickett remained in retirement, so Meriwether was rehired and played Ruth whenever the occasion arose. [citation needed]
Health
In 2007, Fickett moved in with her daughter, Bronwyn Congdon, in Colonial Beach, Virginia, where she remained bedridden.[3] Fickett died September 8, 2011, aged 83, at her Callao, Virginia home, from complications of Alzheimer's disease, according to her daughter.[1][2][4] ABC will dedicate the September 21, 2011 episode of All My Children in Fickett's memory.[5]
References
- ^ a b c Mary Fickett, a Pillar of ‘All My Children’, Dies at 83 Cite error: The named reference "NYTimes" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ a b Actress Mary Fickett dies at Callao home
- ^ News re Fickett's move to her daughter's home
- ^ Notice of death of actress Mary Fickett
- ^ "Mary Fickett From "All My Children" Dies at 83". Mary Fickett From “All My Children” Dies at 83. BackstageOL. Retrieved September 13, 2011.
External links
- Mary Fickett at IMDb