Sada Thompson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sada Thompson
James Broderick and Sada Thompson on Family (1976)
Born	Sada Carolyn Thompson (1927-09-27)September 27, 1927 Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.
Died	May 4, 2011(2011-05-04) (aged 83) Danbury, Connecticut, U.S.
Education	Carnegie Mellon University (BFA)
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1955–2000
Spouse(s)	Donald Stewart (1949–2011; her death)
Children	1

Sada Carolyn Thompson (born September 27, 1927 – died May 4, 2011) was an American actress. She performed in plays, movies, and on television. Many people knew her as Kate Lawrence in the TV show Family, which aired from 1976 to 1980.

Sada Thompson's Early Life and Acting Career

Sada Carolyn Thompson was born in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1927. Her parents were Hugh Woodruff Thompson and Corlyss Gibson. A few years later, her family moved to Fanwood, New Jersey.

She went to Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School and finished in 1945. Sada then studied theatre at the Carnegie Institute of Technology. This school is now called Carnegie Mellon University. She earned a special degree called a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre.

After college, Sada worked a lot in local theaters across the United States. She acted in many famous plays. Some of these plays included The Seagull, Pygmalion, and Our Town. She also trained at the Pittsburgh Playhouse. There, she performed in many different shows.

Sada Thompson's Rise to Fame on Stage

Sada Thompson first performed in New York City in 1955. This was in a play called Under Milkwood. The next year, she appeared on television in a show called Goodyear Television Playhouse.

In 1959, she made her first appearance on Broadway. This was in a musical called Juno. She also acted in other New York City plays. These included The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds and Twigs.

Her amazing stage performances won her many awards. She received an Obie Award and a Tony Award. The Tony Award was for her leading role in "Twigs." She also won three Drama Desk Awards and two Sarah Siddons Awards. These last awards were for her great acting in Chicago. In 2005, she was chosen to be part of the American Theater Hall of Fame. This is a special honor for actors.

Sada Thompson's Television Roles

Because of her success in the play Twigs, Sada Thompson was chosen for a role on All in the Family. She was supposed to play a neighbor named Irene Lorenzo. However, after filming her first episode, she was replaced by another actress, Betty Garrett. This happened because Sada and the show's producer had different ideas about the character.

Later, Sada Thompson got the role of Kate Lawrence on the TV show Family. She played the mother of the family. People really liked her portrayal of Kate because it felt very real. In 1978, she won an Emmy Award for this role. She was also nominated three times for the Golden Globe Award.

Sada Thompson was nominated for an Emmy Award nine times in total. One of these nominations was for playing Carla's mother on the show Cheers. She also appeared in other TV shows. These included The Love Boat, ER, and Law & Order. Her movies included The Pursuit of Happiness and Pollock.

Sada Thompson's Family Life

Sada Thompson was married to Donald E. Stewart. They got married on December 18, 1949. They stayed married until her death in 2011. Sada and her husband lived in Southbury, Connecticut. Their daughter, Liza Stewart, works as a costume designer.

Sada Thompson's Death

Sada Thompson passed away on May 4, 2011. She was 83 years old. She died in Danbury, Connecticut, from a lung disease.

Sada Thompson's Film Appearances

Here are some of the movies Sada Thompson acted in:

Sada Thompson's Television Show Appearances

Here are some of the television shows Sada Thompson appeared in:

Awards and Nominations for Sada Thompson

Sada Thompson won and was nominated for many awards during her career. Here are some of them:

See also

In Spanish: Sada Thompson para niños