Marietta Canty facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marietta Canty
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| Born | September 30, 1905 Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
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| Died | July 9, 1986 (aged 80) Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
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| Occupation | actress |
| Years active | 1933-1955 |
Marietta Canty (born September 30, 1905 – died July 9, 1986) was an American actress. She was also a community leader and won many awards for helping people.
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About Marietta Canty
Marietta Canty was born in Hartford, Connecticut. Her parents, Mary and Henry Canty, were active in their church and supported the Republican Party. Marietta followed their example, becoming very involved in her community.
Helping Her Community
Marietta Canty cared a lot about her hometown. In the early 1960s, she even ran for a spot on the Hartford City Council. This shows she wanted to make a difference in local government.
She received several special awards for her work. These included the Humanitarian Award from the Hartford Section of the National Council of Women. She also got a certificate and award from the American Red Cross for her service.
The Marietta Canty House
A historic house in Hartford is named in her honor. The Marietta Canty House was built around 1897 in the Queen Anne style. Marietta's parents bought this house in 1930. It stands as a reminder of her family's history and her own contributions.
Her Acting Career
Marietta Canty started her acting journey on Broadway in 1933. Broadway is famous for its live theater shows in New York City.
Movies and Roles
Later, she appeared in about 40 films between 1940 and 1955. Most of her movie roles were smaller, supporting parts. Like many African-American actresses of her time, she often played characters like family maids.
Two of her early films were The Lady is Waiting (1942) and The Spoilers (1942). Both of these movies starred the famous actress Marlene Dietrich.
Marietta Canty is probably best known for playing Delilah. Delilah was the housemaid for Spencer Tracy's character in the comedy Father of the Bride (1950). She also appeared in the sequel, Father's Little Dividend (1951).
Retirement from Acting
Marietta Canty stopped acting in films in 1955. Her very last role in Hollywood was in the movie Rebel Without a Cause. This film starred James Dean. In it, she played the family maid for Sal Mineo's character, a role many people remember.
