Nina Foch facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nina Foch
Foch in Escape in the Fog (1945)
Born	Nina Consuelo Maud Fock (1924-04-20)April 20, 1924 Leiden, South Holland, Netherlands
Died	December 5, 2008(2008-12-05) (aged 84) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress, drama teacher
Years active	1943–2007
Spouse(s)	James Lipton ​ ​ (m. 1954; div. 1959)​ Dennis de Brito ​ ​ (m. 1959; div. 1964)​ Michael Dewell ​ ​ (m. 1967; div. 1993)​
Children	1

Nina Foch (born Nina Consuelo Maud Fock; April 20, 1924 – December 5, 2008) was a talented actress from the Netherlands who became an American citizen. She also became a respected teacher. Her acting career lasted for over 60 years. She appeared in more than 50 movies and over 100 TV shows.

Nina Foch was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She also won a National Board of Review Award. In the 1940s, she became known for playing smart and sometimes distant characters.

She was born in Leiden, Netherlands, in 1924. When she was very young, she moved to the United States with her mother. She grew up in New York City. At age 19, she signed a contract with Columbia Pictures. She starred in mystery and suspense films like Escape in the Fog (1945).

Nina Foch also had a successful career on stage. She performed in many Broadway plays. These included plays by William Shakespeare like Twelfth Night (1949). She was also famous for her roles in movies such as An American in Paris (1951) and The Ten Commandments (1956). She also appeared in Spartacus (1960).

Later in her life, Nina Foch became a well-known teacher. She taught drama and film directing at the American Film Institute. She also taught at the University of Southern California for over 40 years. Many famous directors and actors were her students. She continued teaching until she passed away in 2008.

Nina Foch's Early Life and Training

Growing Up and Discovering Acting

Nina Foch was born in 1924 in Leiden, Netherlands. Her birth name was Nina Consuelo Maud Fock. Her mother, Consuelo Flowerton, was an American actress and singer. Her father, Dirk Fock, was a Dutch music conductor.

When Nina was a toddler, her parents divorced. She and her mother moved to the United States. They made their home in New York City.

Nina's mother always encouraged her artistic talents. Nina learned to play the piano and enjoyed art. But she was most interested in acting.

After finishing school, Nina went to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. There, she studied acting with famous teachers like Lee Strasberg.

Nina Foch's Acting Career

Early Films and Stage Work (1943–1950)

Nina Foch as Harriet Hosbon in Johnny O'Clock (1947)

At 19, Nina Foch signed a contract with Columbia Pictures. She made her first movie, The Return of the Vampire (1943), with Béla Lugosi. The next year, she was in Cry of the Werewolf.

She then appeared in other films like A Song to Remember (1945). She also starred in several mystery films. These included Escape in the Fog (1945). In this movie, she played a woman who had a feeling she would be kidnapped.

In the same year, she played the main character in My Name is Julia Ross. This was a mystery about a woman who wakes up in a strange place with a new identity. Nina Foch also appeared in Johnny O'Clock (1947) and The Dark Past (1948).

During this time, she also started her stage career. She made her Broadway debut in 1947 in John Loves Mary. She also performed in Shakespeare plays like Twelfth Night (1949).

Becoming a Recognized Actress (1951–1980)

Nina Foch with Gene Kelly in An American in Paris (1951)

In 1951, Nina Foch acted with Gene Kelly in the musical An American in Paris. This movie won the Academy Award for Best Picture. She also played Marie Antoinette in Scaramouche (1952).

She returned to the theater in 1955. She performed in Measure for Measure and The Taming of the Shrew. Next, Nina Foch starred in Cecil B. DeMille's The Ten Commandments (1956). She played Bithiah, the pharaoh's daughter. Bithiah finds baby Moses and adopts him.

Nina Foch as Bithiah in The Ten Commandments (1956)

Nina Foch was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. This was for her role in the movie Executive Suite (1954). In this film, she played a secretary.

In Spartacus (1960), she played a woman who chose gladiators to fight for entertainment. She also appeared in many TV shows. These included Columbo (1968) and Hawaii Five-O (1973). In 1980, she was nominated for an Emmy Award for her role in Lou Grant.

Later Work and Teaching (1981–2008)

Later in her career, Nina Foch appeared in the TV miniseries War and Remembrance (1988). She also had roles in Tales of the City (1993). Another notable TV role was in Alien Nation: Dark Horizon (1994).

In her final years, Nina Foch appeared on TV shows like Just Shoot Me and NCIS. In NCIS, she played Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard's elderly mother. She also had small roles in movies like Pumpkin (2002).

During this time, Nina Foch continued to teach at the University of Southern California. She also worked as a consultant for Hollywood directors.

Nina Foch's Legacy

Nina Foch has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. These are located at 6300 Hollywood Boulevard and 7000 Hollywood Boulevard.

Many famous people studied with her. These include singer Rod Stewart and actress Julie Andrews. Directors like Amy Heckerling and Randal Kleiser also learned from her.

Julie Andrews remembered Nina Foch as a "tough teacher, but in the best sense." She said Nina always pushed her students to do their best. Randal Kleiser said Nina could combine what she learned from famous directors with her own teaching style.

Filmography

Awards and Nominations

Images for kids

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  Nina Foch in Escape in the Fog (1945)

See also

In Spanish: Nina Foch para niños