Wesley Addy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wesley Addy
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Addy in Time Table (1956)
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| Born |
Robert Wesley Addy
August 4, 1913 |
| Died | December 31, 1996 (aged 83) Danbury, Connecticut, U.S.
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| Other names | Wes Addy |
| Education | University of California, Los Angeles |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1934–1996 |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
 U.S. Army |
| Years of service | 1941–1946 |
| Rank |  Major |
| Service number | 32160982 |
| Unit | 63rd Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Wesley Addy (born August 4, 1913 – died December 31, 1996) was an American actor. He was famous for his work in plays, on TV, and in movies.
Contents
Who was Wesley Addy?
Wesley Addy was born in Omaha, Nebraska. He was the second child and only son of John Roy Addy, a minister, and Maren S. Nelson, a nurse. His family moved to Inglewood, California.
Addy went to Inglewood Union High School. He played the oboe there. He finished high school in January 1930.
What did Wesley Addy study?
Addy started at UCLA in 1930. He first studied economics. After his first year, he changed to drama. He joined the university's Dramatic Society.
During college, he played the character Orestes in a play called Choephoroe. Critics from the Los Angeles Times praised his acting. Later, he played Sebastian in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. He also played the Earl of Essex in Elizabeth the Queen. His classmates Lloyd Bridges and Russell Zink were also in this play.
Wesley Addy's Early Acting Career
After graduating from UCLA, Addy moved to the East Coast. A family friend, Phidelah Rice, invited him. She owned a theater on Martha's Vineyard. Addy joined the Vineyard Player's summer acting group. This was a professional company. It helped Addy get his first Equity card. This card is important for professional actors.
First Broadway Shows
Addy's first show on Broadway was in March 1935. It was called Panic. John Houseman directed it. A very young Orson Welles also starred in it. Addy had two small parts in this play.
His second Broadway show was How Beautiful with Shoes. It was a short play. Addy had a small role in it too.
Working with Famous Directors
Addy then worked in smaller theaters near New York City. He performed with Ruth Gordon in Saturday's Children. He also appeared in Fresh Fields. His first big chance came with There's Always Juliet. This was a Federal Theatre show. Addy got a lot of attention from critics. He joined the cast at the last minute.
When John Houseman directed Hamlet, he remembered Addy. He offered Addy the role of Marcellus. The play opened on Broadway in November 1936. Addy also played Fortinbras. The show toured for nine weeks after 39 performances.
Playing Hotspur in Henry IV
Addy's next performance was in Richard II in September 1937. He replaced another actor in two small roles. This play starred Maurice Evans.
While still in Richard II, Addy started practicing for King Henry IV, Part 1. He was to play Hotspur. Critics praised Addy's performance as Hotspur. Linton Martin from The Philadelphia Inquirer said Addy "came perilously close to stealing the show".
For unknown reasons, Henry IV, Part 1 did not go to Broadway in 1938. Some newspapers rumored that Evans was not happy with Addy's praise.
Another Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet
Addy then performed in summer plays in Surry, Maine. He was in four plays there in 1938. He returned to Broadway for Hamlet from October 1938 to January 1939. He played Bernardo and Fortinbras.
He again played Hotspur in Henry IV, Part 1 on Broadway. Reviewers praised him highly. One critic said Addy played Hotspur "with such a fine and youthful enthusiasm".
In 1940, Addy played Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet. Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh starred in it. The play opened in San Francisco. Critics liked Addy's performance. The show moved to Broadway. It closed in early June 1940 after 36 performances.
Twelfth Night and Battle of Angels
Addy was cast as Orsino in Twelfth Night. This play also starred Maurice Evans and Helen Hayes. Addy took the role quickly.
He then took a lead role in Battle of Angels. This was a new play by Tennessee Williams. Miriam Hopkins was the leading lady. The play opened in Boston in December 1940. Critics praised Addy's and Hopkins' acting. However, they found the writing difficult. Boston officials demanded changes. The play closed on January 11, 1941.
Recordings and Radio Work
In 1939, Addy started recording plays. He made them for the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). These were for their talking book program. He continued this until he joined the army in 1941.
Addy also used his voice for radio shows. He starred in Cyrano de Bergerac on WJZ radio in March 1939. He also played the Earl of Essex in Elizabeth the Queen. In November 1939, he played Romeo in Romeo and Juliet on WJZ.
In 1941, Addy temporarily played the lead in a CBS Radio show called Honest Abe. He also played young Abe Lincoln in another radio program.
Military Service
Addy registered for the draft in October 1940. He joined the U.S. Army on July 16, 1941. He served as an officer in the 63rd Infantry Division. This was during World War II. He was a Major when he left the army in February 1946.
Post-War Stage Career
Returning to Broadway
After the war, Addy returned to acting in February 1946. He took over a role in Antigone and the Tyrant. Katharine Cornell starred in and produced this play. Addy played Haemon. The play opened on Broadway on February 18, 1946.
This play then alternated with a revival of Candida. Cornell starred in Candida. Addy played her husband, Rev. Morell. Marlon Brando also starred in this play. Both shows closed in May 1946 and went on a short tour.
Addy also did a radio broadcast of Mary of Scotland in April 1946. Helen Hayes and Helen Menken reprised their famous roles.
More Broadway Roles
Addy replaced Leo Genn in Another Part of the Forest in March 1947. He finished the last 10 weeks of its run. He then toured with the play. Critics praised his performance.
In December 1947, Addy appeared in Galileo. It starred Charles Laughton. Addy also played Iago in Othello in Boston in 1948. Canada Lee played Othello.
In 1948, Addy was in The Leading Lady. Ruth Gordon wrote and starred in it. The play opened on Broadway in October 1948. It closed after only eight performances.
Addy then appeared in The Traitor in 1949. Critics enjoyed it. It ran for 67 performances. He was also in The Enchanted in 1950. Critics liked the acting but not the play's structure.
Early Screen Career
Television Debuts
New York was a hub for early TV. Addy's post-war screen career began with a live TV show. He played Duke Orsino again in Twelfth Night in February 1949. This was on Philco Television Playhouse. He did another episode of the same show in September 1949.
In 1950, Addy appeared in several TV shows. These included The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre and Suspense. He also made his first film, The First Legion. It was released in 1951.
Addy opened as Edgar in King Lear on Christmas Day 1950. This Broadway play starred Louis Calhern. Addy's character was the last one standing at the end.
In 1951, Addy was in six TV episodes. These were for shows like Philco Television Playhouse and The Web. He also appeared on a CBS talk show.
Busy TV Schedule
Addy's TV work continued in 1952. He was in two anthology series. He also did two CBS Radio shows.
In 1953, Addy was very busy. He had fifteen TV performances. He was in six TV shows in the first three months. In April, he was in two major Hallmark Hall of Fame dramas. One was The Other Wise Man. The other was a live, two-hour performance of Hamlet.
In Hamlet, Addy played Horatio. Maurice Evans starred as Prince Hamlet. Critics thought Addy was "highly effective".
Addy then joined the play The Strong Are Lonely. It went to Broadway but closed quickly. He also appeared in a short version of King Lear on TV. Orson Welles starred in it.
Later Screen Career
TV Roles in the 1950s-1980s
Addy played roles on The Edge of Night in the 1950s. He was a guest star on Perry Mason twice. He played Alton Brent in 1962. He was Joachim DeVry in 1966.
Later, in the 1970s and 1980s, he played Bill Woodard on Ryan's Hope. He also played Cabot Alden on the show Loving. His TV career also included guest appearances on shows like The Defenders and The Rockford Files.
Movie Appearances
Addy's movie career lasted four decades. Director Robert Aldrich often cast him. Addy appeared in Aldrich's films like Kiss Me Deadly (1955) and The Big Knife (1955). He was also in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) and Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964).
In 1976, Addy was in Network. Sidney Lumet directed it. They worked together again in The Verdict. Addy played one of the doctors in a lawsuit.
Another well-known role was Lt. Commander Alvin Kramer. He tried to warn officials about the attack on Pearl Harbor. This was in the movie Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970).
Personal Life
Wesley Addy was married to actress Celeste Holm. They were married from 1966 until his death. They lived in Manhattan and later in Washington Township, Morris County, New Jersey.
Death
Wesley Addy passed away at Danbury Hospital in Danbury, Connecticut. He was cremated.
Images for kids
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Addy in Time Table (1956)
