Patsy Kelly facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Patsy Kelly
Kelly in Topper Returns (1941)
Born	Sarah Veronica Rose Kelly (1910-01-12)January 12, 1910 Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Died	September 24, 1981(1981-09-24) (aged 71) Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting place	Calvary Cemetery, Queens, New York
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1927–1979

Patsy Kelly (born Sarah Veronica Rose Kelly; January 12, 1910 – September 24, 1981) was a famous American actress. She was well-known for playing funny, quick-witted characters. In the 1930s, she often played the sidekick to Thelma Todd in short comedy films made by Hal Roach. Even after Todd's death in 1935, Kelly continued to play similar roles.

After her movie career slowed down in the mid-1940s, Kelly moved back to New York. There, she worked in radio and performed in summer plays. She also became a close friend and helper to actress Tallulah Bankhead. After 17 years, Kelly returned to acting with roles on television and in movies.

In 1971, Kelly returned to the stage in the play No, No, Nanette. She even won a Tony Award for her amazing performance. She kept acting in films and TV shows until she had a stroke in January 1980. This stroke made it hard for her to speak.

Patsy Kelly's Early Life and Career Beginnings

Growing Up in New York

Patsy Kelly was born Sarah Veronica Rose Kelly in Brooklyn, New York. Her parents, John and Delia Kelly, were immigrants from Ireland. Her father, John, was a police officer. Patsy was the youngest of five children. She got the nickname "Patsy" because she was often the one who got into funny situations. She once said, "I was always spinning and tripping about the house."

Patsy first wanted to be a firefighter. However, her mother enrolled her in a dancing school. This helped keep her busy and off the streets of Manhattan.

Starting in Entertainment

In 1922, at just 12 years old, Patsy began her career in vaudeville. Vaudeville was a popular type of entertainment with many different acts. She learned to tap dance at Jack Blue's School of Rhythm and Tap. There, she became friends with another future star, Ruby Keeler. Patsy attended St. Paul's Cathedral School and then the Professional Children's School with Ruby.

By 1923, when she was 13, Patsy was teaching dance herself. She earned $18 a week, which was good money back then. She recalled that a priest, Father Quinn, suggested dancing school to her mother. He thought it would get her interested in something other than baseball. And it worked!

Patsy later performed in Frank Fay's act. She started with singing and dancing, then became Fay's comic foil. This meant she would set up his jokes. She stayed with Fay for several seasons.

Patsy Kelly on Broadway

Patsy Kelly made her first appearance on Broadway in 1927. She was in Harry Delmar's Revels with Bert Lahr. She also performed in other Broadway shows like Three Cheers (1928) with Will Rogers. She was in Earl Carroll's Sketch Book (1929) and Earl Carroll's Vanities (1930) with Jack Benny. Later, she appeared in The Wonder Bar (1931) with Al Jolson.

Many years later, she returned to Broadway. She starred in No, No, Nanette (1971) with her old friend Ruby Keeler. She also performed in Irene (1973) with Debbie Reynolds.

Patsy Kelly's Movie Career

Lobby card for short comedy The Tin Man (1935) with Patsy Kelly and Thelma Todd

Early 1930s Films

Patsy Kelly's first movie was a short film called The Grand Dame (1931). In 1933, producer Hal Roach hired her to work with Thelma Todd in a series of short comedies. She replaced another actress, ZaSu Pitts. Patsy was not sure about moving to Hollywood at first. She thought, "I'll be a flop in movies."

She found movie making very different from stage acting. There was no audience or applause. She had to get up very early and wear a lot of makeup. She often had to do dangerous stunts, like hanging out of a car. She even packed her bags to go back East.

But Thelma Todd encouraged her to stay in Hollywood. Todd even drove to Pasadena to stop Patsy from getting on a train back to New York. Patsy later said, "Those were the happiest days I had in pictures. Thelma was better than any tonic."

In August 1933, Patsy was hurt in a car accident. She was a passenger in a car that drove off a pier into the water. The driver was killed, and Patsy suffered serious injuries.

The short films with Todd made Patsy famous. She played a bold, funny woman who often made fun of other characters. Many of these films were directed by Gus Meins, such as Air Fright (1933) and Maid in Hollywood (1934). Patsy even got to show off her dancing skills in films like Slightly Static (1935). She made 21 shorts with Thelma Todd.

After Todd's death in 1935, other actresses took her place. Pert Kelton starred in one short, Pan Handlers (1936). Then Lyda Roberti teamed up with Patsy in films like Nobody's Baby (1937).

Patsy's first full-length movie was Going Hollywood (1933) with Marion Davies and Bing Crosby. In the 1930s, Patsy played many different roles. She was in comedies like Pick a Star (1937) with Laurel and Hardy. She also showed her serious side in dramas like The Girl From Missouri (1934) with Jean Harlow.

Patsy also appeared in musicals. She sang and danced in films like Every Night at Eight (1935). In this movie, she was one of "The Swanee Sisters." She also used her tap-dancing skills in Thanks a Million and Go Into Your Dance (1935) with Ruby Keeler.

Later 1930s and Early 1940s

In 1936, Patsy said that stage acting and screen acting were very different. She felt lucky to have had a long stage career before Hollywood.

By the end of the 1930s, she was in films like There Goes My Heart (1938). She also appeared in The Gorilla (1939) with Bela Lugosi. She said this was her favorite performance. In the early 1940s, she worked with big stars like John Barrymore and John Wayne. She also co-starred with ZaSu Pitts in Broadway Limited (1941).

Patsy often played a sassy maid or assistant in her films. She joked that she was cast as a maid because she had a costume that fit! After making a few films for RKO, she started starring in lower-budget movies. These included My Son, The Hero (1943) and Danger! Women at Work (1943).

Later Career and Achievements

After leaving Hollywood, Patsy Kelly returned to New York City. She worked in radio and toured the U.S. and Canada to entertain soldiers during WWII. She also performed in summer stock theatre plays. She became a personal assistant to actress Tallulah Bankhead and appeared with her on stage.

Photo of guest stars Jan Murray, Patsy Kelly and Pat Harrington from the television program The Man From U.N.C.L.E.. The three play roles of THRUSH executives jockeying for power in the organization in the episode "The Hula Doll Affair".

In the 1950s, Kelly started acting on screen again. She had guest roles on TV shows like The Dick Van Dyke Show and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. In the 1960s, she had memorable roles in movies like The Naked Kiss (1964) and Rosemary's Baby (1968).

Her return to Broadway in 1971 was a huge success. She starred in the revival of No, No, Nanette with Ruby Keeler. Patsy won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her role. The next year, she starred in Irene with Debbie Reynolds and was nominated for another Tony.

In 1976, she played Mrs. Schmauss in the Walt Disney film Freaky Friday with Jodie Foster. Her last movie role was in another Disney comedy, The North Avenue Irregulars (1979). Patsy's final appearance on screen was a guest spot on The Love Boat in 1979.

Personal Life and Interests

Patsy Kelly loved food and became a good cook. She enjoyed shrimp cocktail, apple and lemon pie, and ice cream. She especially liked hot biscuits and homemade coffee cake. She was also very fond of mashed potatoes. On Sundays, she would entertain guests and serve chicken, turkey, or roast beef. She also loved sweet potatoes with marshmallows.

Patsy was a huge film fan herself. She often went to the movies, sometimes seeing seven or eight films a week. When she wasn't watching movies, she played cards with friends. She also enjoyed playing penny roulette at Redondo Beach.

She once tried to play golf but lost five balls on the first two holes! She said, "I said to hell with that." Patsy was often trying to lose weight because she loved eating so much. She joked that her stomach would appear on screen before she did.

In January 1980, Patsy Kelly had a stroke in San Francisco. This caused her to lose the ability to speak. She went to a nursing home in Englewood, New Jersey, where she had therapy. Her old friend Ruby Keeler suggested the place.

Death and Legacy

Patsy Kelly died of cancer on September 24, 1981. She passed away at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. Her funeral was held in Manhattan. She is buried with her parents in Calvary Cemetery in Queens, New York.

For her contributions to the movie industry, Patsy Kelly has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It is located at 6669 Hollywood Boulevard.

Patsy Kelly's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Patsy Kelly's Performances

Stage Appearances

Short Films

• The Grand Dame (1931)
• Beauty and the Bus (1933) teamed with Thelma Todd
• Backs to Nature (1933) teamed with Thelma Todd
• Air Fright (1933) teamed with Thelma Todd
• Babes in the Goods (1934) teamed with Thelma Todd
• Soup and Fish (1934) teamed with Thelma Todd
• Roamin' Vandals (1934)
• Maid in Hollywood (1934) teamed with Thelma Todd
• I'll Be Suing You (1934) teamed with Thelma Todd
• Three Chumps Ahead (1934) teamed with Thelma Todd
• One-Horse Farmers (1934) teamed with Thelma Todd
• Opened By Mistake (1934) teamed with Thelma Todd
• Done In Oil (1934) teamed with Thelma Todd
• Bum Voyage (1934) teamed with Thelma Todd
• Treasure Blues (1935) teamed with Thelma Todd
• Sing Sister Sing (1935) teamed with Thelma Todd
• The Tin Man (1935) teamed with Thelma Todd
• The Misses Stooge (1935) teamed with Thelma Todd
• Slightly Static (1935) teamed with Thelma Todd
• Twin Triplets (1935) teamed with Thelma Todd
• Hot Money (1935) teamed with Thelma Todd
• Top Flat (1935) teamed with Thelma Todd
• An All-American Toothache (1936) teamed with Thelma Todd
• Pan Handlers (1936) teamed with Pert Kelton
• At Sea Ashore (1936) teamed with Lyda Roberti
• Hill-Tillies (1936) teamed with Lyda Roberti
• Babies, They're Wonderful! (1947)

Full-Length Films

Television Appearances

Recordings

• "I'm Gonna Hang My Hat On The Tree That Grows in Brooklyn" (Shapiro/Pescal/Cherig) played by Al Goodman and His Orchestra.
• Sung by Patsy Kelly and Barry Wood; V-Disc, Nov. 1944

See also

In Spanish: Patsy Kelly para niños