Cornelia Otis Skinner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cornelia Otis Skinner
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Skinner in 1955
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| Born | May 30, 1899 |
| Died | July 9, 1979 (aged 80) |
| Occupation | Actress, playwright, screenwriter |
| Years active | 1920–1970 |
| Spouse(s) | Alden Sanford Blodget (1928–1964; his death) |
| Children | 1 |
| Parent(s) | Otis Skinner Maud Durbin |
Cornelia Otis Skinner (born May 30, 1899 – died July 9, 1979) was a talented American writer and actress. She was known for her unique one-woman shows and humorous books.
Contents
Life and Career of Cornelia Otis Skinner
Cornelia Otis Skinner was the only child of famous actors, Otis Skinner and Maud Durbin. She studied at the Baldwin School and Bryn Mawr College. She also learned about theatre at the Sorbonne in Paris, France.
Starting on Stage
Cornelia made her first professional stage appearance on September 20, 1921. She acted as Dona Sarasate in the play Blood and Sand. This play was shown at the Empire Theatre on Broadway.
One-Woman Shows and Writing
After acting in several plays, Cornelia started something new. From 1926 to 1929, she toured the United States with her own one-woman show. In these shows, she performed short character sketches that she had written herself.
She also wrote many funny stories for magazines like The New Yorker. These stories were later put together into several books. Some of her popular books include Nuts in May, Dithers and Jitters, Excuse It Please!, and The Ape in Me.
Her one-woman shows were very special. They were sometimes called "monologue-dramas." These were like longer versions of "linked monologues" created by another performer, Ruth Draper. Cornelia's shows were unique because she created and performed full-length shows. These shows were often based on the lives of important historical figures. This made her a very important part of one-person shows in America.
In 1939, she starred in a successful play called "Candida" by George Bernard Shaw. This play toured different cities before opening on Broadway. She also appeared on a radio play called "American Cavalcade: The Things We Have" in 1939. She performed alongside Orson Welles on The Campbell Playhouse.
Writing Adventures
Cornelia Otis Skinner also co-wrote a book with Emily Kimbrough. The book was called Our Hearts Were Young and Gay. It was a funny story about their trip to Europe after college.
This book was so popular that it was made into a movie. Cornelia and Emily even went to Hollywood to help with the film. The movie was called Our Hearts Were Young and Gay, and Gail Russell played Cornelia. The book was also turned into a TV series in 1950, called The Girls.
In 1952, Cornelia's one-woman show Paris '90 opened on Broadway. It featured music and lyrics by Kay Swift. Later, Cornelia wrote a biography about the famous actress Sarah Bernhardt, called Madame Sarah. She also wrote Elegant Wits and Grand Horizontals, which was about the exciting Belle Epoque period.
Cornelia once shared a funny story about her performances. She used to call herself a "diseuse," which is a French word for a female storyteller or performer. But after reading a newspaper that accidentally called her "the American disease," she decided to stop using that term!
Family Life
Cornelia Otis Skinner married Alden Sanford Blodget on October 5, 1928. They got married in Warm Springs, Virginia. On August 28, 1930, she had her only child, a son named Otis Skinner Blodget. He passed away in 2007.
Film and TV Appearances
Cornelia Otis Skinner also acted in several movies and television shows.
- The Uninvited (1943) - Played Miss Holloway
- General Electric Guest House (1951, TV episode)
- Paris '90 (1952)
- The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing (1955) - Played Mrs. Thaw
- Max Liebman Presents: Dearest Enemy (1955, TV Episode) - Played Mrs. Murray
- The Alcoa Hour (1956, Episode: "Merry Christmas, Mr. Baxter") - Played Susan Baxter
- The Swimmer (1968) - Played Mrs. Hammar
She also appeared as herself in various TV shows:
- Stage Door Canteen (1943)
- Toast of the Town (later The Ed Sullivan Show) - Several episodes from 1950 to 1953
- Faye Emerson's Wonderful Town (1951, TV episode)
- What's It For? (1957, TV episode)
- What's My Line? (1959, TV episode)
- This Is Your Life (1959, Charlie Ruggles TV episode)
See also
In Spanish: Cornelia Otis Skinner para niños
