Betsy Blair
Born: 1923-12-11 in Cliffside Park, New Jersey, USA
Died: 2009-03-13
Known For: Acting
Biography
Betsy Blair -December 11, 1923 – March 13, 2009) was an American actress of film and stage, long based in London. Blair pursued a career in entertainment from the age of eight, and as a child worked as an amateur dancer, performed on radio, and worked as a model, before joining the chorus of Billy Rose's Diamond Horseshoe in 1940. There she met Gene Kelly. They were married the following year, when she was seventeen years old. The couple divorced sixteen years later, in 1957. After work in the theatre, Blair began her film career playing supporting roles in films such as A Double Life (1947) and Another Part of the Forest (1948). Her interest in Marxism led to an investigation by the House Un-American Activities Committee and Blair was blacklisted for some time, but resumed her career with a critically acclaimed performance in Marty (1955), winning a BAFTA Award and a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She continued her career with regular theatre, film and television work until the mid 1990s.
Filmography
2002
- Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer as Self
1994
- Scarlett as Sister of Mercy
1988
- Betrayed as Gladys Simmons
- Marcus Welby, M.D.: A Holiday Affair as Grace Simpson
1987
- thirtysomething
- Suspicion as Lady McLaidlaw
1986
- Descent Into Hell as Mrs. Burns
- Flight of the Spruce Goose as Helen
1979
- Tales of the Unexpected as Mrs Wilbur
1973
- A Delicate Balance as Edna
1971
- Great Performances as Self
1969
- De Bom (of het wanhoopskomitee) as Vrouw van garagist
1968
- Marry Me! Marry Me! as Second English Teacher
1966
- Death of a Salesman as Linda
1965
- BBC Play of the Month as Linda
1962
- All Night Long as Emily
- Careless as Amalia Brentani
1960
- The Dolphins as Contessa Rita Cherè
- Lies My Father Told Me as Mother
1957
- Il Grido as Elvia
- The Halliday Brand as Martha Halliday
1956
- Main Street as Isabel
- Meeting in Paris as Nancy Blanding
1955
- Marty as Clara Snyder
1951
- Kind Lady as Ada Elcott
1950
- Mystery Street as Jackie Elcott
- No Way Out as Telephone Operator (uncredited)
1948
- The Philco Television Playhouse
- The Snake Pit as Hester (uncredited)
- Another Part of the Forest as Birdie Bagtry
1947
- A Double Life as Girl in Wig Shop
- The Guilt of Janet Ames as Katie