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Patricia Neal
Patricia Neal - 1952.jpg
Neal in 1952
Born
Patsy Louise Neal

(1926-01-20)January 20, 1926
Died August 8, 2010(2010-08-08) (aged 84)
Resting place Abbey of Regina Laudis
Alma mater Northwestern University
Occupation Actress
Years active 1945–2009
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s)
(m. 1953; div. 1983)
Children Olivia, Tessa, Theo, Ophelia and Lucy
Relatives Sophie Dahl (granddaughter)
Phoebe Dahl (granddaughter)

Patricia Neal (born Patsy Louise Neal, January 20, 1926 – August 8, 2010) was a famous American actress. She starred in many movies and plays. Patricia Neal won several important awards for her acting. These include an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Tony Award. She also won two British Academy Film Awards.

Some of her most well-known movie roles were in The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) and Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961). She also won an Academy Award for her role in Hud (1963). Later, she appeared in the TV film The Homecoming: A Christmas Story (1971). This film later inspired the popular TV series The Waltons.

Early life and acting training

Patricia Neal was born in Packard, Whitley County, Kentucky. Her parents were William Burdette Neal and Eura Mildred Neal. She grew up with two siblings.

She spent her childhood in Knoxville, Tennessee. There, she went to Knoxville High School. Patricia loved drama and decided to study it further. She attended Northwestern University to pursue her acting dreams.

A career on stage and screen

Patricia Neal started her acting career in New York City. Her first job was as an understudy in a Broadway play called The Voice of the Turtle. She then appeared in another play, Another Part of the Forest (1946). For this role, she won a Tony Award in 1947. This was at the very first Tony Awards ceremony.

Operation Pacific-Patricia Neal & John Wayne
John Wayne and Patricia Neal in Operation Pacific (1951)

Neal soon began acting in movies. Her first film was John Loves Mary with Ronald Reagan in 1949. She also appeared with Reagan in The Hasty Heart that same year. She then starred in The Fountainhead (1949).

She continued to star in many films in the early 1950s. These included The Breaking Point (1950) and The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951). She also acted alongside John Wayne in Operation Pacific (1951). After a difficult time, she left Hollywood and returned to Broadway. She starred in a play called The Children's Hour in 1952.

A Face in the Crowd publicity photo (Patricia Neal & Andy Griffith)
Neal and Andy Griffith in A Face in the Crowd

While in New York, Patricia Neal joined the Actors Studio. This is a famous place where actors train and work together. Her connections there led to more important roles. She co-starred in the film A Face in the Crowd (1957). She also appeared in the play The Miracle Worker (1959). More film roles followed, including Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961).

Andy Griffith-Neal-Remick
Neal (right) with Andy Griffith and Lee Remick on the set of A Face in the Crowd (1957)

In 1963, she starred in the film Hud with Paul Newman. Her performance in Hud earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress. She also won a BAFTA award for this role.

Patricia Neal worked with John Wayne again in the movie In Harm's Way (1965). For this film, she won her second BAFTA Award. She was nominated for another Academy Award for her role in The Subject Was Roses (1968).

In 1971, she played the main mother character in the TV film The Homecoming: A Christmas Story. This movie was so popular that it inspired the TV series The Waltons. Patricia Neal won a Golden Globe award for her performance. However, her health made it difficult for her to commit to a weekly series. So, another actress took over the role of Olivia Walton.

Later in her career, Neal appeared in the movie Cookie's Fortune (1999). She also received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the SunDeis Film Festival in 2007. In 2003, she was honored by being inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame. Her final film role was in Flying By (2009).

Personal life and family

Patricia Neal by David Shankbone cropped
Patricia Neal at the Tribeca Film Festival (2007)

Patricia Neal met the famous British writer Roald Dahl in 1952. They got married on July 2, 1953, in New York. They had five children together. Their children were Olivia, Tessa, Theo, Ophelia, and Lucy.

Patricia Neal und Roald Dahl
Patricia Neal and Roald Dahl, photo by Carl Van Vechten (1954)

In 1960, their son Theo had a serious accident as a baby. This caused brain damage. The family worked hard on his recovery. In 1962, their daughter Olivia tragically passed away at age 7 from an illness. A movie called To Olivia (2020) was made about how Patricia and Roald dealt with this sad time.

In 1965, while pregnant, Patricia Neal suffered a very serious health crisis (a stroke). She was in a coma for three weeks. With the help of Roald Dahl and many volunteers, she recovered. They developed new ways to help stroke patients. This period of their lives was shown in the TV film The Patricia Neal Story (1981). After her recovery, she gave birth to a healthy daughter. She even received an Oscar nomination for her acting in The Subject Was Roses (1968).

Patricia Neal and Roald Dahl divorced in 1983. She then moved back to live in the United States.

Legacy and helping others

In 1978, a special place was named after Patricia Neal. It is the Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center in Knoxville, Tennessee. This center helps people recover from strokes, spinal cord injuries, and brain injuries.

Patricia Neal was a strong supporter of people with paralysis. She often visited the center in Knoxville. She would encourage the patients and staff there. She also appeared in advertisements for the center until her death.

Later life and passing

Patricia Neal passed away at her home in Edgartown, Massachusetts, on August 8, 2010. She was 84 years old. She died from lung cancer.

Before she passed away, she became a Catholic. She was buried in the Abbey of Regina Laudis in Bethlehem, Connecticut. This is where her friend, actress Dolores Hart, became a nun. Patricia Neal had supported the abbey's arts program for many years.

Filmography

Film

Year Film Role Notes
1949 John Loves Mary Mary McKinley
The Fountainhead Dominique Francon
It's a Great Feeling Herself cameo
The Hasty Heart Sister Parker
1950 Bright Leaf Margaret Jane Singleton
The Breaking Point Leona Charles
Three Secrets Phyllis Horn
1951 Operation Pacific Lt. (j. g.) Mary Stuart
Raton Pass Ann Challon
The Day the Earth Stood Still Helen Benson
Week-End with Father Jean Bowen
1952 Diplomatic Courier Joan Ross
Washington Story Alice Kingsley
Something for the Birds Anne Richards
1954 Stranger from Venus Susan North
La tua donna Countess Germana De Torri
1957 A Face in the Crowd Marcia Jeffries
1961 Breakfast at Tiffany's Mrs. Emily Eustace "2E" Failenson
1963 Hud Alma Brown Academy Award for Best Actress
BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role
Laurel Award for Top Female Dramatic Performance
National Board of Review Award for Best Actress
New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
1964 Psyche 59 Alison Crawford
1965 In Harm's Way Lt. Maggie Haynes BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role
1968 The Subject Was Roses Nettie Cleary Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actress
Nominated—Laurel Award for Top Female Dramatic Performance
1971 The Night Digger Maura Prince
1973 Baxter! Dr. Roberta Clemm
Happy Mother's Day, Love George Cara also starring Tessa Dahl
1975 Hay que matar a B. Julia
1977 Nido de Viudas Lupe US title: Widow's Nest
1979 The Passage Mrs. Bergson
1981 Ghost Story Stella Hawthorne
1989 An Unremarkable Life Frances McEllany
1999 Cookie's Fortune Jewel Mae "Cookie" Orcutt Nominated—Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress
2009 Flying By Margie Final film role

Television

Year Project Role Notes
1954 Goodyear Playhouse episode: Spring Reunion
1958 Suspicion Paula Elgin episode: Someone Is After Me
1957–1958 Playhouse 90 Rena Menken
Margaret
episode: The Gentleman from Seventh Avenue
episode: The Playroom
1954–1958 Studio One in Hollywood Caroline Mann
Miriam Leslie
episode: Tide of Corruption
episode: A Handful of Diamonds
1958 Pursuit Mrs. Conrad episode: The Silent Night
1959 Rendezvous Kate Merlin episode: London-New York
Clash by Night Mia Wilenski
1960 The Play of the Week Mistress
Grace Wilson
episode: Strindberg on Love
episode: The Magic and the Loss
1961 Special for Women: Mother and Daughter Ruth Evans
1962 Drama 61-67 Beebee Fenstermaker episode: Drama '62: The Days and Nights of Beebee
Checkmate Fran Davis episode: The Yacht-Club Gang
The Untouchables Maggie Storm episode: The Maggie Storm Story
Westinghouse Presents: That's Where the Town Is Going Ruby Sills
Winter Journey Georgie Elgin
Zero One Margo episode: Return Trip
1963 Ben Casey Dr. Louise Chapelle episode: My Enemy Is a Bright Green Sparrow
Espionage Jeanne episode: The Weakling
1971 The Homecoming: A Christmas Story Olivia Walton Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Television Series Drama
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Single Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
1972 Circle of Fear Ellen Alexander episode: Time of Terror
1974 Kung Fu Sara Kingsley episode: Blood of Dragon
Things in Their Season Peg Gerlach
1975 Eric Lois Swensen TV movie
Little House on the Prairie Julia Sanderson episode: Remember Me
Movin' On Maddie episode: Prosperity #1
1976 The American Woman: Portraits of Courage Narrator
1977 Tail Gunner Joe Sen. Margaret Chase Smith Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Comedy or Drama Special
1978 A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story Mrs. Gehrig
The Bastard Marie Charboneau
1979 All Quiet on the Western Front Paul's Mother Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Special
1984 Glitter Madame Lil episode: Pilot
Love Leads the Way: A True Story Mrs. Frank TV movie
Shattered Vows Sister Carmelita TV movie
1990 Caroline? Miss Trollope TV movie
Murder, She Wrote Milena Maryska 1 episode
1992 A Mother's Right: The Elizabeth Morgan Story Antonia Morgan
1993 Heidi Grandmother

Stage

Run Play Role Notes
November 20, 1946 – April 26, 1947 Another Part of the Forest Regina Hubbard Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play
Theatre World Award
December 18, 1952 – May 30, 1953 The Children's Hour Martha Dobie
October 17, 1955 – December 31, 1955 A Roomful of Roses Nancy Fallon
October 19, 1959 – July 1, 1961 The Miracle Worker Kate Keller

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Patricia Neal para niños

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