Thelma Ritter


Thelma Ritter was an American actress, best known for her comedic roles as working-class characters and her strong New York accent. She was the recipient of a Tony Award and six nominations for Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, more than any other actress in the category.

Early life

Ritter was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1902, the first child of Charles and Lucy Ritter, both natives of the United States. According to the New York State Census of 1905, her father at that time was a bookkeeper. Ritter's acting career began as a teenager, when she appeared in high-school plays and stock companies. She later received formal training at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Although she subsequently struggled to establish a stage career, Ritter decided to take a hiatus from acting to raise her two children—Monica and Joe—by her husband Joseph Moran , who was also an actor, but changed professions in the mid-1930s, opting to become an agent and then an advertising executive.

Career

Ritter did stock theater and radio shows early in her career. Her Broadway credits include UTBU, New Girl in Town, In Times Square, and The Shelf.
Ritter's first movie role was in Miracle on 34th Street. She made a memorable impression in a brief uncredited part, as a frustrated mother unable to find the toy that Kris Kringle has promised her son. Her third role, in writer-director Joseph L. Mankiewicz's A Letter to Three Wives, left a mark, although Ritter was again uncredited. Mankiewicz kept Ritter in mind, and cast her as Birdie in All About Eve, which earned her an Oscar nomination. A second nomination followed for her work in Mitchell Leisen's' ensemble screwball comedy The Mating Season starring Gene Tierney and John Lund. She enjoyed steady film work for the next dozen years.
She appeared in many of the episodic drama TV series of the 1950s, such as Alfred Hitchcock Presents, General Electric Theater, and The United States Steel Hour. Other film roles were as James Stewart's nurse in Rear Window and as Doris Day's maid in Pillow Talk. Although best known for comedy roles, she played the occasional dramatic role, most notably in With a Song in My Heart, Pickup on South Street, Titanic, The Misfits, and Birdman of Alcatraz , for which she received her final Oscar nomination. Her last work was an appearance on The Jerry Lewis Show on January 23, 1968.

Death

Ritter died of a heart attack in New York City in 1969, nine days before her 67th birthday.

Work

Film

Television

Theatre

Radio

Awards and nominations

During her career, Ritter was nominated for an Oscar six times, giving her the distinction of being one of the three actresses with the second most nominations for the award in an acting category without a win, surpassed only by Glenn Close with seven. The current record for all actors is Peter O'Toole with eight nominations without a win, followed by Richard Burton and Close with seven nominations respectively. Both Kerr and O'Toole received honorary awards from the Academy, however. In 1955, Thelma Ritter co-hosted the Oscar ceremony, notably trading wisecracks with Bob Hope.
Academy Awards
YearCategoryNominated workResultRef.
1950Best Supporting ActressAll About Eve
1951Best Supporting ActressThe Mating Season
1952Best Supporting ActressWith a Song in My Heart
1954Best Supporting ActressPickup on South Street
1959Best Supporting ActressPillow Talk
1962Best Supporting ActressBirdman of Alcatraz

Primetime Emmy Awards
YearCategoryNominated workResultRef.
1956Best Actress in a Supporting RoleGoodyear Television Playhouse

Tony Award
In 1958, Ritter won a Tony Award in rare tie (with her co-star, Gwen Verdon, for their work in New Girl.
YearCategoryNominated workResultRef.
1958Best Actress in a MusicalNew Girl in Town

Golden Globe Awards
YearCategoryNominated workResultRef.
1950Best Supporting Actress - Motion PictureAll About Eve
1951Best Supporting Actress - Motion PictureThe Mating Season
1965Best Supporting Actress - Motion PictureBoeing Boeing