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Marian Seldes

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Marian Seldes
Seldes in Ondine (1954)
Born
Marian Hall Seldes

(1928-08-23)August 23, 1928
New York City, U.S.
DiedOctober 6, 2014(2014-10-06) (aged 86)
New York City, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1948–2011
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1953; div. 1961)​
​
​
(m. 1990; died 1999)​
Children1
ParentGilbert Seldes (father)
RelativesGeorge Seldes (uncle)

Marian Hall Seldes (August 23, 1928 – October 6, 2014) was an American actress. A five-time Tony Award nominee, she won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for A Delicate Balance in 1967, and received subsequent nominations for Father's Day (1971), Deathtrap (1978–82), Ring Round the Moon (1999), and Dinner at Eight (2002). She also won a Drama Desk Award for Father's Day.

Her other Broadway credits include Equus (1974–77), Ivanov (1997), and Deuce (2007). She was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1995 and received the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2010.

Early life

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Seldes was born in Manhattan, the daughter of Alice Wadhams Hall, a socialite, and Gilbert Seldes, a journalist, author, and editor.[1] Her uncle was journalist George Seldes. She had one brother, Timothy. Seldes's paternal grandparents were Russian-Jewish immigrants, and her mother was from a "prominent WASP family," the "Episcopalian blue-blooded Halls."[2][3] She grew up in a creative environment, studying acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse. Her maternal aunt, Marian Wells Hall, was a prominent interior decorator.[4]

Career

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Trained for the stage, Seldes made her Broadway debut in 1948 in a production of Medea. She went on to an illustrious career in which she earned five Tony Award nominations, winning her first time out in 1967 for A Delicate Balance. In addition to performing in live theatre, Seldes began acting in television in 1952 in a Hallmark Hall of Fame production that marked the first of many guest star roles. She also performed in a number of movies and in radio plays. In the mid-1960s, Seldes recorded five albums for Folkways Records of famous works of literature, including two recordings of poetry by Robinson Jeffers.[5] Between 1974 and 1982, she appeared in 179 episodes of the CBS Radio Mystery Theater. In 1992, she appeared in an episode of Murphy Brown as the title character’s eccentric Aunt Brooke.

Seldes studied with Sanford Meisner, Katharine Cornell, and Martha Graham. Actor Laura Linney said "Marian is our touchstone to those theatrical ancestors. She provides an inspiration that makes you want to reach outside of yourself to something more potent and powerful."[6] Seldes was a member of the drama faculty of The Juilliard School from 1967 to 1991. Her students included Christopher Reeve, Robin Williams, Kelsey Grammer, Kevin Kline, William Hurt, Patti LuPone,[6] Val Kilmer, and Kevin Spacey.[7] In 2002, Seldes began teaching at Fordham University, Lincoln Center.

Seldes acted in Half Hour to Kill playing Played Joyce Field. Half Hour to Kill was a proposed but unrealized television series mystery show with episodes hosted by Vincent Price and planned to occasionally star him as well. Released to the home movie market as Freedom to Get Lost, with Price playing scientist Gene Wolcott and Seldes playing an undercover security agent tracking him. The episode is available on the DVD titled Vincent Price – The Sinister Image. (1958)[citation needed]

Seldes appeared in every one of the 1,809 Broadway performances of Ira Levin's play Deathtrap, a feat that earned her a mention in the Guinness Book of World Records as "most durable actress".[8][9] Seldes was also well known for her readings of short stories in the "Selected Shorts" series hosted by Isaiah Sheffer at New York City's Symphony Space.

In December 2008, for their annual birthday celebration to "The Master", Noël Coward, the Noël Coward Society invited Seldes as the guest celebrity to lay flowers in front of Coward's statue at New York's Gershwin Theatre, thereby commemorating the playwright’s 109th birthday. Seldes was the recipient of a 2010 Tony Lifetime Achievement Award.[10] "All I've done is live my life in the theater and loved it ... If you can get an award for being happy, that's what I've got."[11]

In 2012, Seldes played the knife-wielding socialite Mabel Billingsly in the film adaptation of Wendy Mass' popular children's book Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life, written and directed by Tamar Halpern.[12]

Personal life

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Seldes had one child, Katharine, by her first marriage to Julian Claman. They were divorced in 1961. Seldes stated that the marriage to Claman was violent. "If I sound a little vague about that marriage, it's because I don't understand the person in it. Me. I literally didn't know that people could be abusive." Seldes left the marriage after her father noticed marks on her face.[6] Seldes was married to screenwriter/playwright Garson Kanin from 1990 until his death in 1999.[6]

Death

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Seldes died at age 86 on October 6, 2014, in Manhattan.[11]

The cause of her death was not released. However, in 2017, it was reported that a documentary about her life, Marian, by director R.E. "Rick" Rodgers, chronicling Seldes' last years, had created "consternation in the theater world" as a "horrific, intrusive depiction of her slide into dementia".[13][14]

Acting credits

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George Nader and Seldes in The Further Adventures of Ellery Queen, 1959

Films

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1958 The Light in the Forest Kate Owens
1959 Crime and Punishment U.S.A. Debbie Cole
1959 The Big Fisherman Arnon
1965 The Greatest Story Ever Told Herodias
1978 Fingers Ruth
1992 The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag Margaret Armstrong
1995 Truman Eleanor Roosevelt
1995 Tom and Huck Widow Douglas
1996 Tell the Truth and Run: George Seldes and the American Press Herself Documentary
1997 Affliction Alma Pittman
1997 Home Alone 3 Mrs. Hess
1997 Digging to China Leah Schroth
1999 The Haunting Mrs. Dudley
2000 If These Walls Could Talk 2 Abby Hedley HBO film
2000 Duets Harriet Gahagan
2001 Town & Country Eugenie's Mother
2003 Mona Lisa Smile President Jocelyn Carr
2004 Proteus Narrator
2005 Ballets Russes Narrator
2007 August Rush Dean Alice McNeille
2007 The Visitor Barbara
2008 Leatherheads Clerk
2010 The Extra Man Vivian Cudlip

Television

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1950 Our Sister Emily Emily Brontë Television debut; TV movie
1951 Sure As Fate Lady Macduff Episode: Macbeth
1953 Westinghouse Studio One Bell Giles Episode: "The Laugh Maker"
1956 Gunsmoke Mrs. Cullen Episode: "Indian White"
1957 Have Gun – Will Travel Christie Smith Episode: "The Bride"
1958 Mollie Stanton Episode: "The Teacher"
1958 Perry Mason Mary K. Davis Episode: "The Case of the Screaming Woman"
1958 The Court of Last Resort Roberta Farrell Episode: "The Frank Clark Case" (1958)
Mary Morales Episode: "The Mary Morales Case"
1958 Half Hour to Kill Joyce Field Unrealized television series
1958 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Lydia Brailing Episode: "Design For Loving"
1960 The Rifleman Hazel / Margaret Episode: "The Vision"
1965 Branded Neela Episode: "The Bar Sinister"
1991 Law & Order Suzanne Episode: "God Bless the Child"
1991 Who's the Boss Nana Reynolds Episode: "Grandmommie Dearest"
1992 Murder, She Wrote Lydia Winthrop Episode: "The Witch's Curse"
1992 Murphy Brown Aunt Brooke Episode: "I'm Dreaming of a Brown Christmas"
1995 Wings Eleanor Kingsbury Episode: "Death Becomes Him"
1998 One Life to Live Sonya Carter 1 episode
1996-1998 Cosby Elaine 2 episodes
1998 Sex and the City Mrs. Big Episode: "Oh Come All Ye Faithful"
2001 A Nero Wolfe Mystery Mrs. Robilotti Episode: "Champagne for One"
Mrs. Pitcairn Episode: "Door to Death"
2004 Frasier Betty, Ronee's mother Episode: "Miss Right Now"
2007 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Peggy Kendall Episode: "Haystack"
2011 Nurse Jackie Tottie Episode: "When the Saints Go"

Theatre

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Year Title Role Venue Ref.
1947 Medea Attendant to Medea National Theatre, Broadway [15]
1947 Crime and Punishment Dounia National Theatre, Broadway [16]
1949 Medea Second Woman of Corinth City Center, Broadway [17]
1949 That Lady Anichu at 18 Martin Beck Theatre, Broadway [18]
1950 The Tower Beyond Tragedy Electra ANTA Playhouse, Broadway [19]
1951 The High Ground Nurse Phillips 48th Street Theatre, Broadway [20]
1954 Ondine Bertha 46th Street Theatre, Broadway [21]
1955 The Chalk Garden Olivia Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway [22]
1960 The Wall Sympka Berson Billy Rose Theatre, Broadway [23]
1962 A Gift of Time Susan Loring Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway [24]
1964 The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore Blackie Brooks Atkinson Theatre, Broadway [25]
1964 Tiny Alice Miss Alice Billy Rose Theatre, Broadway [26]
1966 A Delicate Balance Julia Martin Beck Theatre, Broadway [27]
1968 Before You Go Woman Henry Miller's Theatre, Broadway [28]
1969 Mercy Street Daisy Theater at St. Clement's Church, Off-Broadway
1971 Father's Day Marian John Golden Theatre, Broadway [29]
1974 Next Time I'll Sing You Director Billy Rose Theatre, Broadway [30]
1974 Equus Hester Saloman Plymouth Theatre, Broadway [31]
1977 The Merchant Rivka Folner Plymouth Theatre, Broadway [32]
1978 Deathtrap Myra Bruhl Music Box Theatre, Broadway [33]
1983 Painting Churches Fanny Church South Street Theatre, Off-Broadway
1983 Richard II Margaret Delacorte Theatre, Off-Broadway
1986 Gertrude Stein and a Companion Alice B. Toklas Lucille Lortel Theatre, Off-Broadway
1993 Three Tall Women A Vineyard Theatre, Off-Broadway
1997 Ivanov Zinaida Savishna Vivian Beaumont Theatre, Broadway [34]
1999 Ring Round the Moon Madame Desmermortes Belasco Theatre, Broadway [35]
2000 The Torch-Bearers J. Duro Pampinelli Greenwich House, Off-Broadway
2001 The Play About the Baby Woman Century Center For The Performing Arts
2001 45 Seconds from Broadway Rayleen Richard Rodgers Theatre, Broadway [36]
2002 Helen Servant The Public Theatre, Off-Broadway [37]
2003 Dinner at Eight Carlotta Vance Vivian Beaumont Theatre, Broadway [38]
2004 The Royal Family Fannie Cavandish Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles [39]
2005 It's a Wonderful Life Mrs. Hatch Sam S. Shubert Theatre, Broadway [40]
2005 Dedication or The Stuff of Dreams Annabelle Willard 59E59 Theatre, Off-Broadway
2007 Deuce Midge Barker Music Box Theatre, Broadway [41]
2008 La fille du régiment The Duchess Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center [42]

Radio

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Awards and nominations

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Year Association Category Project Result Ref.
1967 Tony Award Best Featured Actress in a Play A Delicate Balance Won [44]
1971 Best Actress in a Play Father's Day Nominated [45]
1978 Best Featured Actress in a Play Deathtrap Nominated [46]
1999 Best Actress in a Play Ring Round the Moon Nominated [47]
2003 Best Featured Actress in a Play Dinner at Eight Nominated [48]
2010 Tony Lifetime Achievement Award Received [49]
1971 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Performance Father's Day Won
1998 Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play Ivanov Nominated
1999 Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play Ring Round the Moon Nominated
2001 Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play The Butterfly Collection Nominated
2001 Outstanding Actress in a Play The Play About the Baby Nominated
2006 Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play Dedication or The Stuff of Dreams Nominated
1964 Obie Award Distinguished Performance The Ginger Man Won
2001 Sustained Achievement received
1983 Outer Circle Critics Award Best Actress in a Play Painting Churches Won

Discography

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  • The Roan Stallion by Robinson Jeffers (1963)
  • The Making of Americans by Gertrude Stein (1963
  • Theodore Bikel: "Songs of Songs" and other Bible Prophecies featuring Marian Seldes as Shulamite (1964))
  • Tower Beyond Tragedy by Robinson Jeffers (1964)
  • Phèdre by Jean Racine (1964)
  • Prayers from the Ark: French and English Poems (1964)

References

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  1. ^ "Fifteenth Census of the United States: 1930 Population", enumeration page including household of Gilbert Seldes and documentation relating to his 19-month-old daughter Marian H. Seldes, Manhattan Borough, New York City, April 11, 1930; digital image of original 1930 enumeration page, U.S. Bureau of the Census. Retrieved image of cited document via FamilySearch online archive, January 7, 2023.
  2. ^ "Marian Seldes to headline her latest stage return". The Villager. New York. Archived from the original on September 2, 2013. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  3. ^ "Marian Seldes". Yahoo! Movies. April 20, 2011. Archived from the original on May 22, 2011. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  4. ^ "Marian Wells Hall, Decorator, Was 76". The New York Times. March 2, 1972.
  5. ^ "Seldes discography". Smithsonian Folkways. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d Witchel, Alex (June 14, 2010). "The 60-Year Stage Life of Marian Seldes". The New York Times.
  7. ^ Spacey, Kevin (October 10, 2014). "Kevin Spacey pays tribute to the Juilliard teacher who gave him 'wings'". New York Post. Archived from the original on April 28, 2016.
  8. ^ Simonson, Robert (November 13, 2007). "Ira Levin, Author of Hit Mystery Play Deathtrap, Dies at 78". Playbill. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  9. ^ "No. 4 in Long Play Runs, 'Deathtrap' Will Close". The New York Times. June 8, 1982.
  10. ^ "Spotlight On: The 2012–2013 Broadway Season". TonyAwards.com. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  11. ^ a b Berkvist, Robert (October 7, 2014). "Theater: Marian Seldes, Regal Presence of Broadway, Dies". The New York Times. No. 56647. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  12. ^ Buckwald, Bethany (October 6, 2014). "Tony Award and American Theatre Hall of Fame Inductee Marian Seldes Has Died". Theatermania. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  13. ^ Riedel, Michael (September 26, 2017). "Broadway insiders horrified by documentary on theater icon's sad final days". New York Post. Retrieved October 7, 2017.
  14. ^ Rosky, Nicole. "Rick McKay Pens Open Letter to Marian Seldes Documentary Filmmaker". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved October 7, 2017.
  15. ^ "Medea (Broadway, 1947)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  16. ^ "Crime and Punishment (Broadway, 1947)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  17. ^ "Medea (Broadway, 1949)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  18. ^ "That Lady (Broadway, 1949)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  19. ^ "The Tower Beyond Tragedy (Broadway, 1950)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  20. ^ "The High Ground (Broadway, 1951)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  21. ^ "Ondine (Broadway, 1954)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  22. ^ "The Chalk Garden (Broadway, 1955)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  23. ^ "The Wall (Broadway, 1960)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  24. ^ "A Gift of Time (Broadway, 1962)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  25. ^ "The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore (Broadway, 1964)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  26. ^ "Tiny Alice (Broadway, 1964)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  27. ^ "A Delicate Balance (Broadway, 1966)". April 18, 2024.
  28. ^ "Before You Go (Broadway, 1968)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  29. ^ "Father's Day (Broadway, 1971)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  30. ^ "Next Time I'll Sing You (Broadway, 1974)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  31. ^ "Equus (Broadway, 1974)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  32. ^ "The Merchant (Broadway, 1977)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  33. ^ "Deathtrap (Broadway, 1978)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  34. ^ "Ivanov (Broadway, 1997)". April 18, 2024.
  35. ^ "Ring Round the Moon (Broadway, 1999)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  36. ^ "45 Seconds from Broadway (Broadway, 2001)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  37. ^ "Helen". Abouttheartist. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  38. ^ "Dinner at Eight (Broadway, 2003)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  39. ^ "The Royal Family". Abouttheartist. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  40. ^ "It's a Wonderful Life (Broadway, 2005)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  41. ^ "Deuce (Broadway, 2007)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  42. ^ "7 Scene-Stealing Performances in the Comic Opera "La Fille du Régiment"". PBS. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  43. ^ "Those Were the Days". Nostalgia Digest. 41 (2): 32–41. Spring 2015.
  44. ^ "1967 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  45. ^ "1971 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  46. ^ "1978 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  47. ^ "1999 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  48. ^ "2003 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  49. ^ "2010 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
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