kids encyclopedia robot

Agnes Moorehead facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Agnes Moorehead
Studio publicity Agnes Moorehead.jpg
20th Century Fox publicity photograph, c. 1964
Born
Agnes Robertson Moorehead

(1900-12-06)December 6, 1900
Died April 30, 1974(1974-04-30) (aged 73)
Resting place Dayton Memorial Park, Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
Occupation Actress
Years active 1933–1974
Spouse(s)
John Griffith Lee
(m. 1930; div. 1952)

(m. 1954; div. 1958)

Agnes Robertson Moorehead (December 6, 1900 – April 30, 1974) was a talented American actress. She worked in radio, on stage, in movies, and on television for over 50 years! Agnes Moorehead won many awards, including an Primetime Emmy Award and two Golden Globe Awards. She was also nominated for four Academy Awards, which are very famous movie awards.

You might know her best as Endora, the funny and sometimes grumpy witch mother on the TV show Bewitched. She played this role from 1964 to 1972. She also had important roles in classic movies like Citizen Kane (1941) and Show Boat (1951).

Template:TOC limit=3

Agnes Moorehead's Early Life

Agnes Robertson Moorehead was born on December 6, 1900, in Clinton, Massachusetts. Her mother, Mary, was a singer, and her father, John Henderson Moorehead, was a church leader. Agnes loved acting from a very young age. She remembered performing for the first time when she was just three years old! She recited a prayer in her father's church.

Her family later moved to St. Louis, Missouri. Agnes's dream of becoming an actress grew stronger there. Her mother encouraged her imagination. Agnes and her younger sister, Peggy, often pretended to be different people, even imitating their father's church members at dinner!

Education and Early Acting

As a young woman, Agnes joined a theater group called "The Muny" in St. Louis. She also loved religion throughout her life. Later, other actors would remember her bringing her Bible to the set along with her script.

Agnes went to Muskingum College in Ohio and earned a degree in biology in 1923. She also acted in college plays. Later, she received an honorary degree from the college. She taught public school for five years in Wisconsin. Then, she earned a master's degree in English and public speaking from the University of Wisconsin. She continued her studies at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and graduated with honors in 1929.

Her Amazing Acting Career

Agnes Moorehead's early acting days were tough. She often couldn't find work, and she once went four days without food. This experience taught her how important money was. She eventually found work in radio and became very popular. She often worked on several radio shows in one day! Agnes believed that radio acting helped her develop her voice and create many different characters.

Joining the Mercury Theatre

Citizen Kane-Agnes Moorehead2
Moorehead in the trailer for Citizen Kane (1940)
Citizen-Kane-Moorehead
Harry Shannon, George Coulouris and Agnes Moorehead in Citizen Kane (1941)
The-Magnificent-Ambersons-1
Richard Bennett, Joseph Cotten, Dolores Costello, Don Dillaway, Agnes Moorehead, and Ray Collins in The Magnificent Ambersons (1942)

By 1937, Agnes Moorehead joined Orson Welles' famous Mercury Players. She was one of his main actors, along with Joseph Cotten. She performed in Welles' radio shows, like The Mercury Theatre on the Air. She also had a regular role as Margo Lane in the radio series The Shadow.

In 1939, Orson Welles and the Mercury Theatre moved to Hollywood. Agnes Moorehead made her movie debut in Welles' first film, Citizen Kane (1941). This movie is considered one of the best films ever made! Moorehead played the mother of the main character, Charles Foster Kane. She also appeared in Welles' second film, The Magnificent Ambersons (1942). For this role, she won an award and was nominated for an Academy Award.

Movies and Radio Stardom

Agnes Moorehead received great reviews for her role in Mrs. Parkington (1944). She won a Golden Globe Award and another Academy Award nomination for it. She also appeared in The Big Street (1942) with Henry Fonda and Lucille Ball.

By the mid-1940s, Moorehead signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), a big movie studio. She was able to earn a good salary and still work on radio shows, which was unusual at the time. She played many different types of characters, including strict older women, nervous single ladies, and funny secretaries. She had supporting roles in movies like Dark Passage (1947) with Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. She also played Aggie McDonald in Johnny Belinda (1948). In 1951, she was in MGM's hit musical Show Boat.

Agnes Moorehead was very popular on radio, especially on the CBS show Suspense. She appeared in more episodes of Suspense than any other actor. She was often called the "first lady of Suspense." Her most famous radio performance was in a play called Sorry, Wrong Number (1943). In this play, she played a woman who accidentally overhears a murder plot on the phone and realizes she is the target! She performed this role many times.

Agnes Moorehead in The Bat
Moorehead in The Bat (1959)

Later Films and Television

In the 1950s and 1960s, Moorehead continued to work in movies and on stage. She was in the big movie The Conqueror (1956) with John Wayne. She also starred in The Bat (1959) with Vincent Price. She played the very picky Mrs. Snow in Disney's popular film Pollyanna (1960). In 1964, she starred with Bette Davis in Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte. For this role, she was nominated for another Academy Award.

In 1959, Moorehead started appearing on many TV shows. She was in an episode of The Twilight Zone called "The Invaders" (1961). In this episode, she played a woman whose farm is attacked by mysterious creatures. She had almost no lines, but her acting was amazing! She also won an Emmy Award for her role in an episode of The Wild Wild West in 1967.

Agnes Moorehead Dick York Elizabeth Montgomery Bewitched 1964
Moorehead with Bewitched castmates Dick York and Elizabeth Montgomery
Agnes Moorehead Bewitched 1969
Moorehead as Endora in Bewitched

Starring in Bewitched

In 1964, Agnes Moorehead took on the role of Endora in the TV comedy Bewitched. Endora was Samantha's (Elizabeth Montgomery) magical mother who often didn't like humans. Moorehead didn't expect the show to be so popular, but it became a huge hit! She was able to negotiate her contract so she only had to appear in some episodes, which allowed her to work on other projects.

Bewitched was one of the top 10 TV shows for several years. This role made Agnes Moorehead very famous. She received six Emmy Award nominations for playing Endora. Even though she enjoyed the role, she sometimes felt it wasn't challenging enough. She stayed with Bewitched until it ended in 1972. She said she liked working with the show's star, Elizabeth Montgomery.

Later Years and Voice Acting

In the 1970s, Agnes Moorehead's health started to decline. She appeared in the horror film What's the Matter with Helen? (1971) and had a main role in Dear Dead Delilah (1972). This was her last starring role in a movie.

She also lent her voice to the friendly "Goose" in Hanna-Barbera's 1973 animated movie Charlotte's Web. This was based on the popular children's book. Her last acting roles were in two episodes of a radio show called CBS Radio Mystery Theater in January 1974, just a few months before she passed away.

Personal Life

Agnes Moorehead was married twice. In 1930, she married actor John Griffith Lee, but they later divorced in 1952. She then married actor Robert Gist in 1954, and they divorced in 1958.

She rarely talked about her political beliefs in public. However, she supported Franklin Delano Roosevelt and her close friend Ronald Reagan.

Death

Agnes Moorehead passed away from uterine cancer on April 30, 1974, in Rochester, Minnesota. She was 73 years old. Her mother, Mary, lived until 1990 and was 106 years old.

Agnes Moorehead is buried in a crypt at Dayton Memorial Park in Dayton, Ohio. In 1994, she was honored by being added to the St. Louis Walk of Fame.

She left money to Muskingum College for scholarships. She also gave half of her writings to Muskingum and the other half to the University of Wisconsin. Her family's farm in Ohio went to John Brown University.

Acting Credits

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1941 Citizen Kane Mary Kane
1942 The Magnificent Ambersons Fanny Minafer
The Big Street Violette Shumberg
1943 Journey into Fear Mrs. Mathews
The Youngest Profession Miss Featherstone
Government Girl Adele – Mrs. Delancey Wright
Jane Eyre Mrs. Reed
1944 Since You Went Away Mrs. Emily Hawkins
Dragon Seed Third Cousin's Wife
The Seventh Cross Madame Marelli
Mrs. Parkington Baroness Aspasia Conti
Tomorrow, the World Aunt Jesse Frame
1945 Keep Your Powder Dry Lieut. Colonel Spottiswoode
Our Vines Have Tender Grapes Bruna Jacobson
Her Highness and the Bellboy Countess Zoe
1947 Dark Passage Madge Rapf
The Lost Moment Juliana Borderau
1948 Summer Holiday Cousin Lily
The Woman in White Countess Fosco
Station West Mrs. Caslon
Johnny Belinda Aggie MacDonald
1949 The Stratton Story Ma Stratton
The Great Sinner Emma Getzel
Without Honor Katherine Williams
1950 Caged Ruth Benton
Captain Blackjack Mrs. Emily Birk
1951 Fourteen Hours Christine HIll Cosick
Adventures of Captain Fabian Aunt Jezebel
Show Boat Parthy Hawks
The Blue Veil Mrs. Palfrey
1952 The Blazing Forest Jessie Crain
1953 The Story of Three Loves Aunt Lydia Segment: "The Jealous Lover"
Scandal at Scourie Sister Josephine
Main Street to Broadway Mildred Waterbury
Those Redheads From Seattle Mrs. Edmonds
1954 Magnificent Obsession Nancy Ashford
1955 Untamed Aggie
The Left Hand of God Beryl Sigman
All That Heaven Allows Sara Warren
1956 The Conqueror Hunlun
Meet Me in Las Vegas Miss Hattie
The Swan Queen Maria Dominika
The Revolt of Mamie Stover Bertha Parchman
Pardners Mrs. Matilda Kingsley
The Opposite Sex Countess de Brion
1957 The True Story of Jesse James Mrs. Samuel
Jeanne Eagels Nellie Neilson
Raintree County Ellen Shawnessy
The Story of Mankind Queen Elizabeth I
1958 The Tempest Vassilissa Mironova
1959 Night of the Quarter Moon Cornelia Nelson
The Bat Cornelia van Gorder
1960 Pollyanna Mrs. Snow
1961 Twenty Plus Two Mrs. Eleanor Delaney
Bachelor in Paradise Judge Peterson
1962 Jessica Maria Lombardo
How the West Was Won Rebecca Prescott
1963 Who's Minding the Store? Mrs. Phoebe Tuttle
1964 Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte Velma Cruther
1966 The Singing Nun Sister Cluny
1969 The Ballad of Andy Crocker Lisa's Mother
1971 What's the Matter with Helen? Sister Alma
1972 Dear Dead Delilah Delilah Charles
1973 Charlotte's Web The Goose Voice

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1952 Poor Mr. Campbell Adrice Campbell Television movie
1953 The Revlon Mirror Theater Martha Adams Episode: "Lullaby"
1955 The Colgate Comedy Hour Aunt Minnie Episode: "Roberta"
1956 Matinee Theatre Mrs. Barnes Episode: "reybeards and Witches"
Studio 57 Mrs. Tolliver Episode: "Teacher"
1957 Climax! Irene Episode: "Locked in Fear"
Wagon Train Mary Halstead Episode: "The Mary Halstead Story"
1958 The DuPont Show of the Month Madame Defarge Episode: "A Tale of Two Cities"
Playhouse 90 Rose Ganun Episode: "The Dungeon"
Suspicion Katherine Searles Episode: "The Protege"
1959 G.E. True Theatre Ana Konrad Bethlen Episode: "Deed of Mercy"
Alcoa Theatre Mrs. Adams Episode: "Man of His House"
The Rebel Mrs. Martha Lassiter Episode: "In Memoriam"
1960 Startime Carmen Lynch Episode: "Closed Set"
The Millionaire Katherine Boland Episode: "Millionaire Katherine Boland"
The Chevy Mystery Show Elizabeth Marshall Episode: "Trial by Fury"
Adventures in Paradise Jikiri Episode: "The Krismen"
Rawhide Sister Frances Episode: "Incident at Poco Tiempo"
Shirley Temple's Storybook Hepzibah Pyncheon
Mombi the Witch
Witch
3 episodes
The Rifleman Alberta 'Bertie' Hoakam Episode: "Miss Bertie" season 3, episode 14
1961 The Twilight Zone Woman Episode: "The Invaders"
My Sister Eileen Aunt Harriet 2 episodes
1963–1965 Burke's Law Pauline Moss
Dona Ynez Ortega y Esteban
Liz Haggerty
2 episodes
1964 Channing Professor Amelia Webster Episode: "Freedom Is a Lovesome Thing God Wot"
The Greatest Show on Earth Millie Episode: "This Train Don't Stop Till It Gets There"
1964–1972 Bewitched Endora 146 episodes; Main role
1966 The Lone Ranger Black Widow Episode: "The Trickster/Crack of Doom/The Human Dynamo"
1966 Password Herself Game Show Contestant / Celebrity Guest Star
1967 The Wild Wild West Emma Valentine Episode: "The Night of the Vicious Valentine"
Custer Watoma Episode: "Spirit Woman"
1969 Lancer Mrs. Normile Episode: "A Person Unknown"
The Red Skelton Show Bertha Bluenose Episode: "He Wanted to Be a Square Shooter But He Found That his Barrel was Round"
1970 Barefoot in the Park Mrs. Wilson Episode: "Pilot"
The Virginian Emma Garvey Episode: "Gun Quest"
1971 Night Gallery Emma Brigham 2 episodes
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color Mrs. Pringle Episode: "Strange Monster of Strawberry Cove"
Love, American Style Mrs. Cooper Segment: "Love and the Particular Girl"
1971 Marriage: Year One Grandma Duden Television movie
Suddenly Single Marlene Television movie
The Strange Monster of Strawberry Cove Mrs. Pringle Television movie
1972 Marcus Welby, M.D. Mrs. Ramsey Episode: "He Could Sell Iceboxes to Eskimos"
Rolling Man Grandmother Television movie
Night of Terror Bronsky Television movie
1973 Frankenstein: The True Story Mrs. Blair Television movie
1974 Rex Harrison Presents Stories of Love Hercules's Wife Television movie

Theater

Year Play Role
1928 Courage Understudy
1929 Soldiers and Women Understudy
1929 Scarlet Pages Company
1929 Candle Light Company
1934 All the King's Horses Company
1951 Don Juan In Hell Doña Ana.
1954 An Evening with Agnes Moorehead Herself
1957 The Rivalry Mrs. Stephen A. Douglas. Moorehead toured with the play but dropped out before its New York debut.
1959 The Pink Jungle Eleanor West
1962 Prescription: Murder Claire Fleming
1962 Lord Prego Miss Swanson
1963 High Spirits Madame Acanti
1973 Gigi Aunt Alicia

Radio

Year Program Role
1929–1930 Believe It or Not Ensemble
1930–1933 Sherlock Holmes Ensemble
1931 The Ben Bernie Show Ensemble
1932–1933 Mysteries In Paris Nana
1933–1934 Evenings In Paris Anna
1933–1936 The Armour Hour Ensemble
1934 The Gumps Min
1934–1935 Heartthrobs of the Hills Ensemble
1935–1937 Dot and Will Rose
1935–1936 The New Penny
1936 Way Down East
1936–1938 The March of Time Ensemble / Eleanor Roosevelt.
1937 Terry and the Pirates The Dragon Lady
1937–1939 The Shadow Margo Lane
1938 The Mercury Theatre on the Air Ensemble
1938 The Campbell Playhouse Ensemble
1938–1941 Cavalcade of America Ensemble
1939–1940 Brenda Curtis Brenda's mother
1939–1940 The Aldrich Family Mrs. Brown
1940 The Adventures of Superman Lara
1941–1942 Bringing Up Father Maggie
1941–1942 Bulldog Drummond Ensemble
1942–1949 Mayor of the Town Marilly
1942–1960 Suspense Mrs. Elbert Stevenson
1974 CBS Radio Mystery Theater Ada Canby, Lorna Kitteridge

Awards and Nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result
1942 Academy Award Best Supporting Actress The Magnificent Ambersons Nominated
New York Film Critics Circle Best Actress Won
1944 Academy Award Best Supporting Actress Mrs. Parkington Nominated
Golden Globe Award Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture Won
1948 Academy Award Best Supporting Actress Johnny Belinda Nominated
1964 Academy Awards Best Supporting Actress Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte Nominated
Golden Globe Award Best Supporting Actress Won
1966 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Bewitched Nominated
1967 Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated
1968 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated
1969 Nominated
1970 Nominated
1971 Nominated
1967 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series The Wild Wild West Won

See Also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Agnes Moorehead para niños

kids search engine
Agnes Moorehead Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.