Mary Nash
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Mary Nash, born Mary Ryan on August 15, 1885 in Troy, New York to parents James H. and Ellen Ryan, was an American actor. She died at home on December 3, 1976 in Brentwood, California.[1] She was educated at the Convent of St. Anne in Montreal and trained for acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She was sister to theater actor and comedian Florence Nash. In 1918 she was married to theater actor, writer and director José Ruben (b. December 8, 1888, Paris, France – d. April 28, 1969, New York, New York); they were divorced shortly after.[2]
She was a noted stage actress in New York [3] and successful in vaudeville before moving to Hollywood in 1934, where she was in films until 1946. According to All Movie Guide: "Nash was often cast as seemingly mild-mannered women who turned vicious when challenged, as witness her work in College Scandal (1936) and Charlie Chan in Panama (1940). ... Mary Nash's most sympathetic role was as the long-suffering wife of blustering capitalist J. B. Ball in Easy Living (1937)."[4] Nash probably is best known for two films where she acted alongside Shirley Temple, first as Fraulein Rottenmeier in Heidi (1937) and then as the selfish and authoritarian Miss Minchin in A Little Princess (1939). She also was well known as known as Katherine Hepburn's socialite mom in both stage and movie productions of The Philadelphia Story (1940). She played a supporting role in the 1943 Academy Award-winning film Come and Get It.
[edit] Complete filmography
[edit] Photos
- The Man Who Came Back, 1916
- Photo by James Abbe, Captain Applejack, 1921
- Portrait by Ben Solowey, Diana, 1929
- Portrait by Ben Solowey, A Strong Man's House, 1929
- Photo, Cobra Woman, 1944
- Photo, 1944
[edit] References
- ^ "Mary Nash Dead; Character Actress Of Stage and Film", New York Times, Dec 8, 1976
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0621770/bio
- ^ Internet Broadway Database: http://www.ibdb.com/person.asp?id=54277
- ^ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide, 2006
