Kim Stanley facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kim Stanley
Photograph by Carl Van Vechten, 1961
Born	Patricia Kimberley Reid (1925-02-11)February 11, 1925 Tularosa, New Mexico, U.S.
Died	August 20, 2001(2001-08-20) (aged 76) Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S.
Alma mater	Actors Studio University of New Mexico
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1950–1985
Spouse(s)	Bruce Hall ​ ​ (m. 1945; div. 1946)​ Curt Conway ​ ​ (m. 1949; div. 1956)​ Alfred Ryder ​ ​ (m. 1958; div. 1964)​ Joseph Siegel ​ ​ (m. 1964; div. 1967)​
Children	3

Kim Stanley (born Patricia Kimberley Reid; February 11, 1925 – August 20, 2001) was a talented American actress. She was well-known for her work in theatre and television. She also appeared in several movies.

Kim Stanley started her acting journey in theatre. She later studied at the famous Actors Studio in New York City. She won the 1952 Theatre World Award for her role in The Chase. She also starred in popular Broadway plays like Picnic (1953) and Bus Stop (1955). She was even nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play twice.

In the 1950s, Kim Stanley was a busy television actress. She later moved into films. She gave a great performance in The Goddess (1959). She was also the narrator for the classic movie To Kill a Mockingbird (1962). For her role in Séance on a Wet Afternoon (1964), she won an award and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress.

Later in her career, she had success in films like Frances (1982) and The Right Stuff (1983). She won an Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress – Miniseries or a Movie in 1985. This was for her role as Big Mama in a TV version of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. In the same year, she joined the American Theatre Hall of Fame.

Early Life and Education

Kim Stanley was born in Tularosa, New Mexico. Her mother, Ann, was an interior decorator. Her father, J. T. Reid, was a professor at the University of New Mexico. He taught philosophy and education.

She had three older brothers and a half-sister. Kim Stanley studied drama at the University of New Mexico. She also trained at the Pasadena Playhouse. She chose her maternal grandmother's last name, Stanley, as her stage name.

Acting Career Highlights

Theatre Performances

Kim Stanley became a very successful actress on Broadway. Early in her career, critics praised her work. She trained at the Actors Studio with famous teachers like Elia Kazan and Lee Strasberg.

She won the 1952 Theatre World Award for her role in The Chase. She also starred in major Broadway shows. These included Picnic (1953) and Bus Stop (1955).

She received nominations for the Tony Award for Best Actress. This was for her roles in A Touch of the Poet (1959) and A Far Country (1962). She also played Maggie "The Cat" in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof in London.

Television Roles

In the 1950s, Kim Stanley was a popular star in live television dramas. These shows were very common in New York City. On October 17, 1950, she appeared in "The Vanishing Lady" on The Trap.

She also played Wilma, a 15-year-old girl, in A Young Lady of Property. This show aired on The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse in 1953. She won an Emmy Award in 1963. This was for her role in an episode of the TV series Ben Casey.

Film Appearances

Kim Stanley's first movie was The Goddess (1958). In 1964, she starred in Séance on a Wet Afternoon. For this role, she won the National Board of Review Award for Best Actress. She also won the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for this film.

She appeared in a filmed version of The Three Sisters (1966). In this movie, she acted alongside other famous actors from the Actors Studio. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1982. This was for her role as Frances Farmer's mother in Frances. She also played Pancho Barnes in The Right Stuff (1983).

Kim Stanley was the uncredited narrator in the movie To Kill a Mockingbird (1962). She voiced the adult version of the character Jean Louise Finch, also known as Scout. She won another Emmy Award in 1984. This was for her role as Big Mama in the TV movie Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

Later Life and Family

In her later years, Kim Stanley focused on teaching acting. She taught in New York City, Los Angeles, and Santa Fe, New Mexico.

She was married four times, and each marriage ended in divorce. She had three children. During her marriage to Alfred Ryder, she converted to Judaism.

Death

Kim Stanley passed away on August 20, 2001. She was 76 years old. She died from uterine cancer in Santa Fe, New Mexico. A book about her life, Female Brando: the Legend of Kim Stanley, was published in 2006.

Filmography

Film

Television

See also

In Spanish: Kim Stanley para niños

• List of American film actresses
• List of American television actresses