Actress. Her father was an investment banker, she received her education at a private school. She chose to pursue a career in the entertainment industry, as a result of her parents often taking her to the theater during her youth for which sparked an interest. She studied at the Yale School of Drama and furthered her learning at the Actors Studio. She marked her Broadway debut in the short-lived play "It's a Gift" (1945) and proceeded to establish a lengthy association with the stage, as she performed in a wide range of production during the next five decades as she garnered an astonishing five Tony Awards for her efforts in "I Am a Camera" (1952), "The Lark" (1956), "Forty Carats" (1969), "The Last of Mrs. Lincoln" (1973) and "The Belle of Amherst" (1977). Among directors and fellow actors, she was highly-regarded and greatly admired for her gift of stage presence. She was equally comfortable in motion pictures as she made an immediate impression in 1952 as Frances in "A Member of the Wedding" (her film debut) for which earned her an Academy Award nomination. She will perhaps be remembered mostly by movie audiences for playing Abra in the classic "East of Eden" (1955). Among her other memorable films include "Requiem for a Heavyweight" (1962), "The Haunting" (1963), "Reflections in a Golden Eye" (1967) and "Voyage of the Damned" (1976). She played the role of Lilimae Clements in the TV series "Knots Landing" from 1980 until 1987 and received an Emmy Award nomination in 1982. She was honored by the Kennedy Center in 2005.
Actress. Her father was an investment banker, she received her education at a private school. She chose to pursue a career in the entertainment industry, as a result of her parents often taking her to the theater during her youth for which sparked an interest. She studied at the Yale School of Drama and furthered her learning at the Actors Studio. She marked her Broadway debut in the short-lived play "It's a Gift" (1945) and proceeded to establish a lengthy association with the stage, as she performed in a wide range of production during the next five decades as she garnered an astonishing five Tony Awards for her efforts in "I Am a Camera" (1952), "The Lark" (1956), "Forty Carats" (1969), "The Last of Mrs. Lincoln" (1973) and "The Belle of Amherst" (1977). Among directors and fellow actors, she was highly-regarded and greatly admired for her gift of stage presence. She was equally comfortable in motion pictures as she made an immediate impression in 1952 as Frances in "A Member of the Wedding" (her film debut) for which earned her an Academy Award nomination. She will perhaps be remembered mostly by movie audiences for playing Abra in the classic "East of Eden" (1955). Among her other memorable films include "Requiem for a Heavyweight" (1962), "The Haunting" (1963), "Reflections in a Golden Eye" (1967) and "Voyage of the Damned" (1976). She played the role of Lilimae Clements in the TV series "Knots Landing" from 1980 until 1987 and received an Emmy Award nomination in 1982. She was honored by the Kennedy Center in 2005.
Bio by: C.S.
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