Estelle Parsons facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Estelle Parsons
Parsons in a Love, American Style episode in 1973
Born	(1927-11-20) November 20, 1927 (age 97) Lynn, Massachusetts, U.S.
Education	Connecticut College (BA) Boston University
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1956–present
Known for	Roseanne The Conners Bonnie and Clyde
Spouse(s)	Richard Gehman (m. 1953; div. 1958) Peter Zimroth ​ ​ (m. 1983; died 2021)​
Children	3

Estelle Parsons is an American actress born on November 20, 1927. Before becoming an actress, she studied law and even sang with a band. She worked on the TV show Today and started acting on stage in 1961.

In the 1960s, she became well-known on Broadway, which is New York's famous theater district. She then started acting in movies. Parsons won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the movie Bonnie and Clyde (1967). She was also nominated for another Academy Award for her work in Rachel, Rachel (1968).

Parsons continued to work a lot in movies and theater during the 1970s. She also directed several Broadway plays. Many people know her best as Beverly Harris, the mother of the main character, on the TV show Roseanne. She later appeared in its spin-off show, The Conners. Parsons has been nominated five times for the Tony Award, which is a very important award for theater actors. In 2004, she was honored and added to the American Theatre Hall of Fame.

Early Life and Education

Estelle Parsons was born in Lynn, Massachusetts. She was the younger of two children. Her mother, Elinor, was from Sweden, and her father, Eben, was of English descent. Estelle's older sister, Elaine, was born in 1923.

Parsons went to Oak Grove School for Girls in Maine. After finishing her studies at Connecticut College in 1949, she first studied law at Boston University School of Law. Then, she worked as a singer with a band. In the early 1950s, she decided to become an actress. In 1983, she appeared on The Tonight Show and shared that actor Jack Lemmon was her first boyfriend when they were teenagers.

Acting Career Highlights

Parsons moved to New York City. She worked as a writer, producer, and commentator for The Today Show. Her first appearance on Broadway was in 1956 in the musical Happy Hunting. She started acting in Off-Broadway plays in 1961. She won a Theatre World Award in 1963 for her acting.

In 1964, Parsons won an Obie Award for Best Actress. This was for her performances in two Off-Broadway plays. She also starred in the first show of Joseph Heller's play We Bombed in New Haven in 1967.

Theater Performances

Parsons has received Tony Award nominations for many of her theater roles. These include plays like The Seven Descents of Myrtle (1968) and Morning's at Seven (2002). She also performed in famous operas and plays. For example, she was in Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny (1970). She also played Mrs. Peachum in Threepenny Opera. In 1978, she played Lady Macbeth in a local theater production. She also appeared in The Pirates of Penzance on Broadway in 1981. From 2008 to 2009, she played Violet Weston in the play August: Osage County. She continued this role on the show's national tour.

Directing Plays

In 1979, Parsons directed a play called Antony and Cleopatra in New York. She was the first woman to direct at the New York Shakespeare Festival. As a director, Parsons has worked on several Broadway shows. These include Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, and As You Like It in 1986. She also directed plays Off-Broadway. She was the Artistic Director of the Actors Studio for five years, from 1998 to 2003.

In 2016, she starred in a new play called Out of the Mouths of Babes. In 2004, Parsons was inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame.

Film Roles

Estelle Parsons won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. This was for her role as Blanche Barrow in Bonnie and Clyde (1967). She was also nominated for an Oscar for Rachel, Rachel (1968). She received a BAFTA Award nomination for her role in Watermelon Man (1970). Her other movies include I Never Sang for My Father (1970), Two People (1973), For Pete's Sake (1974), Dick Tracy (1990), and Boys on the Side (1995).

Television Appearances

On television, Parsons played the role of Beverly Harris. Beverly was the mother of the main character on Roseanne. Her character Beverly was the daughter of Nana Mary, played by Shelley Winters. Parsons has also appeared in many other TV shows. These include The Patty Duke Show, Love, American Style, All in the Family, Frasier, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. She also appeared in The UFO Incident: The Story of Betty and Barney Hill. She played Babe in three episodes of Grace and Frankie.

In 2009, she received a Woman of Achievement Award. In 2010, she performed in London in the play Deathtrap. Her most recent Broadway appearances include Good People (2011) and Nice Work If You Can Get It (2012). In April 2018, Parsons returned to television. She played Beverly Harris again in season 10 of Roseanne. She continued this role in The Conners until 2024.

Personal Life

Estelle Parsons married author Richard Gehman in 1953. They had twin daughters, Abbie and Martha Gehman. They divorced in 1958. Her grandson, Eben Britton, is a former professional football player.

In January 1983, she married her partner of 10 years, Peter Zimroth. They adopted a son named Abraham. Peter Zimroth passed away on November 8, 2021.

Filmography

Film

Television

Audio dramas

See also

In Spanish: Estelle Parsons para niños