Phyllis Thaxter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Phyllis Thaxter
|
|
|---|---|
From the movie Bewitched (1945)
|
|
| Born |
Phyllis St. Felix Thaxter
November 20, 1921 Portland, Maine, U.S.
|
| Died | August 14, 2012 (aged 90) Longwood, Florida, U.S.
|
| Cause of death | Alzheimer's disease |
| Resting place | Cremated |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1940–1992 |
| Known for | Martha Kent in Superman, Ellen Lawson in Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo |
| Spouse(s) |
(divorced), Gilbert Lea
(m. 1962–2008)(his death) |
| Children | Skye Aubrey, James Aubrey |
Phyllis St. Felix Thaxter (November 20, 1921 – August 14, 2012) was an American stage and movie actress. She is best known for playing Superman's mother, Martha Kent, in the 1978 movie Superman. She also played Ellen Lawson in the film Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo.
Early Life
Phyllis Thaxter was born on November 20, 1921. Her birthplace was Portland, Maine, in the United States. Her parents were Sidney Thaxter and his wife.
Acting Career
Phyllis started her acting career on Broadway in 1940. Broadway is a famous theater district in New York City. She took over a role in the play Claudia when another actress left.
In 1944, she signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). MGM was a very big movie studio at the time. Her first movie was Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo, a wartime film. She starred alongside actor Van Johnson.
In 1945, Phyllis played Joan Alris Ellis in the movie Bewitched. In 1948, she appeared in Blood on the Moon. At MGM, she often played calm and patient wives in her movies. Later, in the 1950s, she moved to Warner Bros.. She continued to play similar types of roles there.
Phyllis's career was put on hold in 1952. This was because she became ill with polio. Polio is a serious disease that can affect a person's muscles. After recovering, she made a comeback on television. She appeared in TV shows like Rawhide, Wagon Train, and The Twilight Zone.
In 1978, Phyllis Thaxter was chosen for a special role. She played Martha Kent, Superman's adoptive mother, in the movie Superman. Glenn Ford played her husband, Pa Kent, in the film.
Personal Life
Phyllis Thaxter was married two times. Her first husband was James Thomas Aubrey, Jr. They were married from 1944 until they divorced in 1962. They had a son and a daughter together.
Her second husband was Gilbert Lea. They were married in 1962. Their marriage lasted until Gilbert Lea passed away in 2008.
Later Years and Death
Phyllis Thaxter died on August 14, 2012. She passed away at her home in Longwood, Florida. She was 90 years old. The cause of her death was Alzheimer's disease. She had been living with the disease for eight years. After her death, she was cremated, and her ashes were scattered at sea.
Movies and TV Shows
- Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944)
- Bewitched (1945)
- Week-End at the Waldorf (1945)
- Tenth Avenue Angel (1946)
- The Sea of Grass (1947)
- Living in a Big Way (1947)
- Blood on the Moon (1948)
- Act of Violence (1948)
- No Man of Her Own (1950)
- The Breaking Point (1950)
- Jim Thorpe -- All-American (1951)
- Fort Worth (1951)
- Springfield Rifle (1952)
- Women's Prison (1955)
- Wagon Train (1959)
- The World of Henry Orien (1964)
- The Invaders (TV series), Season 2/21, Episode: "The Peacemaker" (1968)
- Superman (1978)
See also
In Spanish: Phyllis Thaxter para niños
