Connie Gilchrist

Rose Constance "Connie" Gilchrist (February 2, 1901 – March 3, 1985) was an American actress. She is known for her roles in the films Cry 'Havoc' (1943), A Letter to Three Wives (1949), Little Women (1949), Tripoli (1950), Houdini (1953), Some Came Running (1958), and Auntie Mame (1958).

Not to be confused with Connie Gilchrist, Countess of Orkney.
Connie Gilchrist
Gilchrist in a trailer for Cry 'Havoc' (1943)
Born
Rose Constance Gilchrist

(1901-02-02)February 2, 1901
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedMarch 3, 1985(1985-03-03) (aged 84)
Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S.
Resting placeSanta Fe National Cemetery
OccupationActress
Years active1917–1969
Spouse(s)Edwin O'Hanlon
(1922-December 13, 1983; his death)
Children1 daughter

Early years

Gilchrist was born in Brooklyn, New York and attended Assumption Academy. Her mother, Martha Daniels, was an actress.

Career

Gilchrist made her stage debut in London at age 16 in 1917. She eventually made her way to Hollywood, where she was signed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to a 10-year contract in 1939.[1]

After playing Purity Pinker in the 1954 film Long John Silver, she reprised her role, as did Robert Newton, in the television series The Adventures of Long John Silver. She is perhaps best known today for her role as Norah Muldoon in the 1958 film Auntie Mame, and her role in the 1949 film, A Letter to Three Wives. She was also seen on television's General Electric Theater.[2]

Gilchrist's Broadway credits include Ladies and Gentlemen, Work Is for Horses, Excursion, and Mulato.[3]

Personal life

Gilchrist married Edward O'Hanlon[4] in 1922. Their daughter, Dorothy, was also an actress.[5]

She was involved in a lawsuit in 1961, charging that a hair dresser had permanently damaged her scalp when tinting her hair. A news report said, "She contended that she is now confined to grandmotherly roles because her scalp will stand no more dyeing."[6] She sought $50,000 in damages but received $5,000 ($42,800 today) in a settlement.[6]

Gilchrist was of the Roman Catholic faith[7] and a lifelong Democrat who supported Adlai Stevenson's campaign during the 1952 presidential election.[8]

Death

Connie Gilchrist died on March 3, 1985, aged 84, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Her husband died on December 13, 1983.[9]

Complete filmography

Film

Television
  • Leave It To Beaver (CBS-TV, 1957) as Minerva, a maid, in the episode "Captain Jack"
  • The Real McCoys (ABC-TV, 1961) as Mrs. Jensen
  • The Tall Man as Big Mamacita in the episode "The Great Western" (NBC-TV, 1961)
  • Going My Way (1963, in "Blessed Are the Meek", ABC-TV) as Mrs. Reardon
  • The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, two appearances in 1963

References
  1. Hal Erickson. "Connie Gilchrist biography". Allmovie. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
  2. "'Camel's Foot' Tonight Has Vera Miles, Connie Gilchrist". Texas, Galveston. The Galveston Daily News. October 23, 1960. p. 19. Retrieved March 22, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ""Connie Gilcrist" search". Playbill. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  4. Hopper, Hedda (April 16, 1948). "Looking at Hollywood". Illinois, Chicago. Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 8. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  5. Hedda Hopper's Staff (June 12, 1947). "Looking at Hollywood". Illinois, Chicago. p. 32. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  6. "Hair Tinting Suit Settled for Cash". New Mexico, Hobbs. Hobbs Daily News-Sun. March 31, 1961. p. 4. Retrieved March 22, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. Morning News, January 10, 1948, Who Was Who in America (Vol. 2)
  8. Motion Picture and Television Magazine, November 1952, page 33, Ideal Publishers
  9. Connie Gilchrist on IMDb
  10. "The Human Comedy". American Film Institute.
  11. "Thousands Cheer". American Film Institute.
  12. "See Here, Private Hargrove". American Film Institute.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.