Ruth Nelson (actress) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ruth Nelson
Promotional photograph for the film Wilson (1944)
Born	Ruth Gloria Nelson (1905-08-02)August 2, 1905 Saginaw, Michigan, U.S.
Died	September 12, 1992(1992-09-12) (aged 87) New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1928–1991
Spouse(s)	William Challee ​ ​ (m. 1931; div. 1937)​ John Cromwell ​ ​ (m. 1947; died 1979)​

Ruth Gloria Nelson (born August 2, 1905, died September 12, 1992) was an American actress. She performed in plays and movies.

She is famous for her roles in films like Wilson, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and Awakenings. Ruth Nelson was married to director John Cromwell. They acted together in several films.

Early Life of Ruth Nelson

Ruth Nelson (back row, third from left) with members of the Group Theatre in 1938

Ruth Nelson was born in Saginaw, Michigan. Her mother, Eva Mudge, was a vaudeville actress. Vaudeville was a type of entertainment with many different acts.

Ruth went to Immaculate Heart Convent School in Los Angeles. She later studied acting in New York City. She learned from famous teachers like Daniel Frohman and Richard Boleslawski.

Ruth Nelson's Acting Career

Ruth Nelson as First Lady Ellen Axson Wilson in Wilson (1944)

Ruth Nelson first acted on stage in New York on April 4, 1928. She played the main character in a play called Martine. She also appeared in plays like The Seagull.

In 1931, she became a founding member of The Group Theatre. This was a new acting group in New York. She stayed with them until 1941. She was especially praised for her role in the play Waiting for Lefty.

Moving to Hollywood

After The Group Theatre closed, Ruth moved to Hollywood. She made many movies in the 1940s. One of her famous films was A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945). This movie was directed by Elia Kazan, who was also part of The Group Theatre.

Ruth also appeared in Kazan's film The Sea of Grass in 1947.

A Break from Acting

Ruth Nelson paused her acting career for a while. Her husband, John Cromwell, faced difficulties in his career. He was a director and was wrongly accused of certain political beliefs. This made it hard for him to find work in Hollywood.

Ruth chose to stay in Los Angeles to support him. She turned down many acting roles during this time.

Return to the Screen

Ruth Nelson did not make a Hollywood film for almost 30 years. She returned to acting in 1977. She appeared with her husband in the film 3 Women. She also acted in The Late Show.

The next year, she and John Cromwell were in the comedy A Wedding.

In 1980, Ruth acted with her stepson, James Cromwell, in a TV movie. It was called A Christmas Without Snow. They also performed on stage together later. Ruth had also acted under her stepson's direction before.

Later Career and Final Role

Ruth Nelson's last movie was Awakenings in 1990. She played the mother of a hospital patient. Critics praised her performance in this film.

The film's director, Penny Marshall, spoke highly of Ruth. She said Ruth was a "great lady" who had faced challenges in her career. Ruth was 84 when she made Awakenings.

Ruth Nelson's Personal Life

Ruth Nelson was married two times. Her first husband was actor William Challee. They married in 1931 and divorced in 1937.

In 1947, Ruth married actor and director John Cromwell. They had met two years earlier. Their marriage lasted 32 years. John Cromwell passed away in 1979.

Ruth was the stepmother of actor James Cromwell.

Death

Ruth Nelson passed away on September 12, 1992. She died at her home in New York City. She was 87 years old.

Filmography

Film

Television