Barbara Bel Geddes facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Barbara Bel Geddes
Bel Geddes in 1952
Born	(1922-10-31)October 31, 1922 New York City, U.S.
Died	August 8, 2005(2005-08-08) (aged 82) Northeast Harbor, Maine, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1941–1990
Spouse(s)	Carl Sawyer ​ ​ (m. 1944; div. 1951)​ Windsor Lewis ​ ​ (m. 1951; died 1972)​
Parent(s)	Norman Bel Geddes (father)

Barbara Bel Geddes (born October 31, 1922 – died August 8, 2005) was an American actress, artist, and author. She worked for nearly 50 years in movies, on stage, and on TV. Many people remember her best as Miss Ellie Ewing in the popular TV show Dallas.

Barbara Bel Geddes also played Maggie in the first Broadway play of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof in 1955. Some of her famous movies include I Remember Mama (1948) and Vertigo (1958). She won several awards for her acting during her long career.

Early Life and Family

Barbara Bel Geddes was born in New York City on October 31, 1922. Her father, Norman Bel Geddes, was a famous stage and industrial designer. Her mother was Helen Belle Schneider.

Barbara married Carl Sawyer in 1944, and they had a daughter named Susan. Later, in 1951, she married stage director Windsor Lewis. They had a daughter named Betsy. When Windsor Lewis became sick in 1967, Barbara paused her acting career to take care of him. He passed away in 1972.

Acting Career

Bel Geddes as Maggie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1955)

Barbara Bel Geddes was a talented actress who worked in many different areas.

On Broadway

Barbara became well-known in 1946 for her role in the Broadway play Deep Are the Roots. This performance earned her several awards, including the Clarence Derwent Award.

From 1951 to 1953, she performed in 924 shows of the comedy The Moon Is Blue. In 1955, she created the role of Maggie "The Cat" in the original Broadway show of Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

In 1961, she played the main character in the play Mary, Mary. This play became one of Broadway's longest-running shows, with over 1,500 performances. Both "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and "Mary, Mary" earned her nominations for the prestigious Tony Award. She also acted with famous actors like Henry Fonda in other plays.

In 1993, after acting in 15 Broadway productions, Barbara Bel Geddes was honored. She was added to the American Theater Hall of Fame. Her father, Norman Bel Geddes, was also in the Hall of Fame.

In Hollywood Films

Bel Geddes in Elia Kazan's Panic in the Streets (1950)

Barbara Bel Geddes started her film career in 1947 with the movie The Long Night. The next year, she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in I Remember Mama.

She also appeared in the movie Panic in the Streets in 1950. In 1958, she starred with James Stewart in the famous Alfred Hitchcock movie Vertigo. She also acted alongside Danny Kaye and Louis Armstrong in the musical film The Five Pennies.

During the 1950s, Barbara faced some challenges in her film career. This led her to focus more on her work on Broadway and occasional TV roles. She appeared in four episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents. She also acted in other TV shows like Playhouse 90 and Dr. Kildare. In 1977, she starred in a highly praised TV version of the classic play Our Town.

Starring in Dallas

Bel Geddes as Miss Ellie Ewing in the television series Dallas

In 1978, Barbara Bel Geddes was the first actor chosen for the TV series Dallas. Her role as Miss Ellie Ewing, the kind and strong mother of the family, made her famous around the world.

She appeared in almost every season of the show, in a total of 276 episodes from 1978 to 1990. She is the only Dallas cast member to win both an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for her role. In 1985, she also won Germany's Golden Camera Award.

Larry Hagman, who played her son J.R. Ewing on the show, said she was "the rock of Dallas." He added that she was "a really nice woman and a wonderful actress." He felt she was "the glue that held the whole thing together."

In 1979, Barbara had surgery for breast cancer. She bravely used this experience in her role as Miss Ellie during the 1979–1980 season of Dallas. This performance helped her win the Emmy Award. She was also honored by former First Lady Betty Ford for helping people learn more about breast cancer.

In 1983, Barbara had a serious heart issue that required heart surgery. Because of this, she missed some episodes of Dallas and another actress filled in for a season. However, her health improved, and she returned to play Miss Ellie in 1985. She continued in the role until 1990.

Life After Acting

Barbara Bel Geddes stopped acting in 1990. She moved to her home in Northeast Harbor, Maine. There, she continued to work as a fine artist, creating beautiful paintings.

She also wrote two children's books, I Like to Be Me and So Do I. She even created a popular line of greeting cards.

Later Years

Barbara Bel Geddes passed away from lung cancer on August 8, 2005, at her home in Maine. She was 82 years old. Her ashes were scattered into the harbor waters near her home.

When Dallas was brought back in 2012, Patrick Duffy, who played her youngest son Bobby Ewing, spoke about her. He said, "Barbara is a big piece of our history, and it's important to me to honor her." He also mentioned that Miss Ellie was often talked about in the new show, especially in connection with the family ranch, Southfork.

Credits

Broadway

Film

Television

See also

In Spanish: Barbara Bel Geddes para niños