Theatre Register

Thelma Ritter

Shows · Thelma Ritter

Actor 1902–1969 On stage 19261966

Thelma Ritter (February 14, 1902 – February 5, 1969) was an American character actress who, known for her strong New York City accent, diminutive size, and plain look, favored working-class roles. She earned a Tony Award and six Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress, more than any other actress in the category. These nominations were for her performances in 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). Her other film roles include those in Miracle on 34th Street (1947), Rear Window (1954), The Misfits (1961), and How the West Was Won (1962). Ritter shared the 1…

On stage 4 productions, 40 years

1926 The Shelf Morosco Theatre · Original 32 perf.
1931 In Times Square Longacre Theatre · Original 8 perf.
1957 New Girl In Town 46th Street Theatre · Original · directed by George Abbott 431 perf.
1966 UTBU Helen Hayes Theatre · Original · directed by Nancy Walker 7 perf.

Each row is a staging this name appears in the cast list of, read from the production record rather than from the person record. The person record names works instead, and a work cannot say which run somebody was in — that is how Elaine Stritch ends up filed under Show Boat 1927 when she was in the 1994 revival. No row here says what part was played, because no cast list records it.

In the literature6 passages

  • Act One: “Roll Yer Socks Up” (H. F. Green, Dancers, Singers); “Anna Lilla” (Cameron Prud’homme); “Sunshine Girl” (Del Anderson, Eddie Phillips, Mark Dawson); “On the Farm” (Gwen Verdon); “Flings” (Thelma Ritter, Gwen Verdon, Mara Landi); “It’s Good to Be Alive” (Gwen Verdon); “Look at ’Er” (George Wallace); “It’s Good to Be Alive” (repris…ebooks/Dietz, Dan/Complete Book of 1950s Broadway Musicals, The - Dan Dietz.txt
  • Tony Awards and Nominations : Best Musical (New Girl in Town ); Best Leading Actresses in a Musical (Gwen Verdon and Thelma Ritter , in a tie); Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Cameron Prud’homme); Best Choreographer (Bob Fosse)ebooks/Dietz, Dan/Complete Book of 1950s Broadway Musicals, The - Dan Dietz.txt
  • Cast: Gwen Verdon, Thelma Ritter, George Wallace, Cameron Prud‘homme, Mark Dawsonebooks/Green, Stanley/Broadway Musicals, Show By Show - Seventh Edition - Stanley Green & Cary Ginell.txt
  • Tony Walton, responsible for the genius sets and costumes, dressed me like I’ve never been dressed before. Pat White, my very own Thelma Ritter, worked those quick changes like an entire pit crew in a NASCAR race.ebooks/Lupone, Patti/Patti LuPone - Patti Lupone.txt
  • Walter was one of the greatest scene-stealers I’ve ever known—in the major leagues along with Thelma Ritter and Walter Matthau. You couldn’t turn your back on any one of them. It’s hard to rank them; they were all superb at their craft. I’d say it was a three-way tie for who could get the most out of their camera time.ebooks/Reynolds, Debbie/B0089LOHFG EBOK - Debbie Reynolds & Dorian Hannaway.txt
  • New Girl In Town ! Gwen Verdon and Thelma Ritter were the stars. The show was okay, but it was not a great show by any stretch. But the star power was extraordinary, so that made it a hit.ebooks/Tepper, Jennifer/Untold Stories of Broadway, Part 1, The - Jennifer Tepper.txt

Passages naming this person, found by keyword across 178 books. A keyword match is not a biography, and a common name will pull in the wrong one.

What this page does not know

  • What this person played. No cast list we hold records a character against a performer.
  • Which of the credits above the roles on this record — actor — apply to. The roles sit on the person and never on a credit, so a director who also acted looks the same here as one who did not.

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