Evelyn Varden facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Evelyn Varden
Varden in the mid 1950s.
Born	Mae Evelyn Hall (1893-06-12)June 12, 1893 Adair, Oklahoma, U.S.
Died	July 11, 1958(1958-07-11) (aged 65) Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Stage, film, television actress
Years active	1900s-1958
Spouse(s)	Charles Coleman ​ ​ (m. 1914; div. 1921)​ William J. Quinn ​ (m. 1921)​

Evelyn Varden (born Mae Evelyn Hall; June 12, 1893 – July 11, 1958) was a talented American actress. She was known for playing interesting and unique characters in plays, movies, and TV shows.

Early Life and Stage Career

Evelyn Varden was born in Adair, Oklahoma. She was part Cherokee and began acting when she was a teenager. In the early 1900s, she toured the western United States with her aunts in a theater group. By 1910, when she was just sixteen, she was already performing on Broadway, which is New York City's famous theater district.

Her stage career really took off in the 1930s. One of her most famous roles was Mrs. Gibbs in the original play Our Town. She played a small-town lady who dreamed of visiting Paris. Evelyn Varden often played strong supporting roles on stage. She also starred in a play called Return Engagement.

In 1950, she had a personal success in the play Hilda Crane. The next year, she played the Nurse in a production of Romeo and Juliet, a classic play by William Shakespeare. Her last Broadway performance was in The Bad Seed, which was one of her most praised roles.

Radio and Television Work

Evelyn Varden also performed on the radio from the early 1940s into the 1950s. She acted in radio versions of plays like Hay Fever, The Silver Cord, and The Glass Menagerie.

Later, in the 1950s, she appeared in several television shows. One of her TV roles was in an adaptation of Cradle Song, where she acted alongside another famous actress, Judith Anderson.

Film Appearances

Evelyn Varden didn't start making movies until 1949, when she was 56 years old. Her first film was Pinky. After that, she made more than a dozen other movies. She even played her stage roles again in the movie versions of Hilda Crane (1956) and The Bad Seed (1956).

Her most well-known movie role was as Icey Spoon in the 1955 film The Night of the Hunter. She played a friendly storekeeper in this classic movie. Her performance received a lot of praise, even from the book's author, Davis Grubb.

Evelyn Varden was still very active in her career when she passed away. Just before she became ill, she was performing in London. She was praised for her role as an American mother in a comedy called Roar Like a Dove. Shortly before her death, she won an award for Best Supporting Performance for her work in that play.

Personal Life

Evelyn Varden was married two times. Her first marriage was to actor Charles Pearce Coleman from 1914 to 1921. After they divorced, she married William J. Quinn in 1921. He was a hotel operator from Baltimore, and they stayed married until her death.

Death

Evelyn Varden died on July 11, 1958, in Manhattan, New York City. She was 65 years old.

Filmography

Broadway Appearances

See also

In Spanish: Evelyn Varden para niños