Thelma Ritter facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Thelma Ritter
Ritter in All About Eve (1950)
Born	(1902-02-14)February 14, 1902 New York City, U.S.
Died	February 5, 1969(1969-02-05) (aged 66) New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1913–1968
Spouse(s)	Joseph Moran ​ ​ (m. 1927)​
Children	2

Thelma Ritter (born February 14, 1902 – died February 5, 1969) was a talented American actress. She was famous for playing everyday, working-class characters, often with a strong New York accent. Thelma Ritter was a very successful character actor, meaning she was great at playing unique and memorable supporting roles.

She earned a special Tony Award and was nominated for six Oscars, which is a huge achievement! No other actress has received as many Oscar nominations in the supporting actress category. Her Oscar nominations were for movies like All About Eve (1950), The Mating Season (1951), With a Song in My Heart (1952), Pickup on South Street (1953), Pillow Talk (1959), and Birdman of Alcatraz (1962).

Some of her other well-known movies include Miracle on 34th Street (1947), Rear Window (1954), The Misfits (1961), and How the West Was Won (1962). In 1958, she won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role in New Girl in Town, sharing the award with her co-star Gwen Verdon. She was also nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 1956.

Thelma Ritter's Early Life and Family

Thelma Ritter was born in Brooklyn, New York, on February 14, 1902. She was the first child of Charles and Lucy Ritter. Her father worked as a bookkeeper and later became an office manager for a shipping company.

When she was just 11 years old, Thelma showed her acting talent by playing Puck in a play called A Midsummer Night's Dream. This was with a local acting group. As a teenager, she continued acting in high school plays and local theater groups. She later studied acting formally at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (ADA), a famous acting school.

After her early acting experiences, Thelma decided to take a break from her career to raise her two children, Monica and Joe. She was married to Joseph Moran, who was also an actor. Joseph later changed his career to become an agent and then an advertising executive.

Thelma Ritter's Acting Career

Thelma Ritter started her professional acting journey in theater groups in New York and New England. She performed in several plays on Broadway, which is the highest level of theater in the United States. Some of her Broadway shows included UTBU (1965) and New Girl in Town (1956).

Her first movie role was in the classic film Miracle on 34th Street (1947). Even though it was a small part, she made a big impression as a mom trying to find a toy for her son. Her third movie, A Letter to Three Wives (1949), also helped her get noticed, even though she wasn't officially credited.

The director of A Letter to Three Wives, Joseph L. Mankiewicz, remembered Thelma's talent. He cast her in his next film, All About Eve (1950), where she played the character Birdie Coonan. This role earned her an Oscar nomination! She received another Oscar nomination for her role in the comedy The Mating Season (1951). After these successes, she had steady work in films for the next twelve years.

Thelma Ritter also appeared in many TV shows during the 1950s and 1960s, such as Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Wagon Train. She played James Stewart's nurse in the famous movie Rear Window (1954) and Doris Day's maid in Pillow Talk (1959). While she was best known for her funny roles, she also took on serious parts. These included movies like With a Song in My Heart (1952) and Birdman of Alcatraz (1962), which earned her final Oscar nomination. Her last acting appearance was on The Jerry Lewis Show in January 1968.

Thelma Ritter's Death

Thelma Ritter passed away from a heart attack in New York City in 1969. She died just nine days before her 67th birthday.

Thelma Ritter's Work

Thelma Ritter had a long and successful career in movies, television, and theater. Here are some of her most notable works:

Film Roles

Television Appearances

Theatre Performances

Radio Shows

Awards and Nominations

Thelma Ritter was nominated for an Oscar six times during her career. This makes her one of only a few actresses with so many nominations without a win. In 1955, she even co-hosted the Oscar ceremony with the famous comedian Bob Hope!

Academy Awards

Primetime Emmy Awards

Tony Award In 1958, Thelma Ritter won a Tony Award for her role in New Girl in Town. She actually shared this award with her co-star, Gwen Verdon, which is quite rare!

Golden Globe Awards

See also

In Spanish: Thelma Ritter para niños