Phyllis Somerville facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Phyllis Somerville
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Somerville at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival
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| Born | December 12, 1943 Iowa City, Iowa, U.S.
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| Died | (aged 76) New York City, New York, U.S.
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| Education | University of Northern Iowa |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1968–2020 |
Phyllis Jeanne Somerville was an American actress. She starred in plays, movies, and TV shows. She was born on December 12, 1943, and passed away on July 16, 2020. You might know her from films like Little Children and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. She also appeared in TV shows such as The Big C and Outsiders.
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Early Life and Education
Phyllis was born in Iowa City, Iowa. Her parents were Lefa Mary and Paul Somerville. Her father was a minister, so her family moved often. They eventually settled in Traer and Cresco, Iowa.
In Cresco, her mother worked as a librarian. Phyllis went to high school there. She loved cheerleading, drama, and music. She even played the clarinet in the All-State band! Phyllis had three brothers: Paul, Stephen, and Bruce.
Phyllis went to Morningside College. Later, she transferred to the University of Northern Iowa. She studied theater and earned a degree in English in 1966. In college, she acted in plays like The Visit and Macbeth. After college, she continued acting in classical plays. Her first paid acting job was at an amusement park called Buckskin Joe.
Phyllis lived in New York City. She passed away there in 2020 at the age of 76.
Acting Career
Phyllis Somerville had a long and successful acting career. She performed in many plays, movies, and TV shows.
Theatre Work
Phyllis made her first appearance on Broadway in 1974. She was in a musical called Over Here!. This musical was nominated for a Tony Award. The next year, she acted in an off-Broadway musical called The Journey of Snow White.
In 1983, she was an understudy for Kathy Bates in the Broadway play 'night, Mother. She later toured with the play. In 1990, she played the role of Joyce in The Sum of Us. In 2001, she was Hannah in the musical The Spitfire Grill. She also performed in many other plays off-Broadway and in regional theaters.
Film Roles
Phyllis Somerville appeared in many films. Her first movie was Arthur in 1981. She played a saleslady. Later, she had roles in movies like Leap of Faith and Bringing Out the Dead.
Some of her well-known film roles include:
- May MacGorvey in Little Children (2006)
- Grandma Fuller in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
- Mary Giaconne in Surviving Family (2012)
- Mrs. McGarrick in Stoker (2013)
- Helen in Poms (2019)
Television Roles
Phyllis also had many roles on television. She appeared in popular shows like Law & Order and NYPD Blue.
Some of her notable TV roles include:
- Brenda in The Sopranos (2000)
- Marlene in The Big C (2010–2013), appearing in 19 episodes.
- Alice Merchant in Fringe (2011)
- Russo's Mother in House of Cards (2013)
- Lady Ray in Outsiders (2016–2017), appearing in 13 episodes.
- Betty Carroll in Mare of Easttown (2021), released after her passing.
Awards and Recognition
Phyllis Somerville was recognized for her acting talents. She was nominated for several awards as part of an acting team.
- In 2006, she was nominated for Best Cast Ensemble for Little Children.
- In 2009, she was nominated for Best Ensemble Cast for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
She also won awards for her individual performances:
- In 2012, she won Best Supporting Actress at the Golden Door Film Festival for her role in Surviving Family.
- In 2016, she won Best Supporting Actress at the Long Island International Film Expo for the film Stuff.
Images for kids
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Phyllis Somerville at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival
See also
In Spanish: Phyllis Somerville para niños
