Thelma Ritter's Main TV Roles Show Character(s) The Best Of Broadway Mrs. Fisher

Main Movie Roles 1963 - A New Kind of Love 1963 - Move Over, Darling 1962 - How the West Was Won 1962 - Birdman of Alcatraz 1961 - The Misfits 1959 - Pillow Talk 1959 - A Hole in the Head 1955 - Daddy Long Legs 1954 - Rear Window 1953 - Pickup on South Street 1953 - Titanic 1951 - As Young as You Feel 1950 - All About Eve 1949 - A Letter to Three Wives 1948 - Call Northside 777 1947 - Miracle on 34th Street

BIOGRAPHY:

Thelma Ritter appeared in high school plays and was trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. In the 1940s she worked in radio. Her movie career was started with a bit part in the 1946 Miracle on 34th Street (1947). In the movie she played a weary Xmas shopper. Her performance in the short scene was noticed by Darryl F. Zanuck who insisted her role be expanded. During the period 1951 to 1963 Ms. Ritter was nominated for 6 Academy Awards. She is one of the most nominated actors who never won the statue. Shortly after a 1968 performance on "The Jerry Lewis Show" (1967), Ms. Ritter suffered a heart attack which proved fatal.


TRIVIA:

• Won Broadway's 1958 Tony Award as Best Actress (Musical) for "New Girl in Town" in a tie with her co-star, 'Gwen Verdon' (qv) .
• Mother of actress 'Monica Moran (I)' (qv), they appeared together in a 1966 road show production of "Bye Bye Birdie" that also starred 'Tab Hunter (I)' (qv).
• Her first Oscar nomination for _All About Eve (1950)_ (qv) marks her first of 4 consecutive nominations, a feat she shares with 'Jennifer Jones (I)' (qv) (1943-46), 'Marlon Brando' (qv) (1951-54), 'Elizabeth Taylor (I)' (qv) (1957-60) and 'Al Pacino' (qv) (1972-75). 'Greer Garson' (qv) has five consecutive nominations (1942-46).
• In Italy, throughout her career, she was dubbed by different actresses: 'Rina Morelli' (qv) (e.g. _Pickup on South Street (1953)_ (qv)) , 'Tina Lattanzi' (qv) (e.g. _Daddy Long Legs (1955)_ (qv)) , 'Wanda Tettoni' (qv) (e.g. _Pillow Talk (1959)_ (qv)) , 'Lia Orlandini' (qv) (e.g. _How the West Was Won (1962)_ (qv)) and 'Franca Dominici' (qv) (e.g. _Rear Window (1954)_ (qv)) . The talented 'Maria Saccenti' (qv) lent her voice to Ritter only once: in _All About Eve (1950)_ (qv).
• She and 'Deborah Kerr' (qv) have the curious distinction of being Oscar-nominated 6 times each in competitive categories - without ever winning the coveted statuette. Her 6 nominations were for supporting roles, whereas Kerr's 6 nominations were for leading roles.