Elizabeth Welter Wilson (April 4, 1921 - May 9, 2015) was a Tony Award-winning American actress whose career spanned nearly 70 years, including memorable roles in film and television. Wilson was inducted into to the American Theatre Hall of Fame in 2006.

Early life

Wilson was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the daughter of Marie Ethel (née Welter) and insurance agent Henry Dunning Wilson. Her maternal grandfather was a wealthy German immigrant, and Wilson was raised in a large mansion. She attended the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia, then studied with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse.

Career

Wilson was a character actress, appearing in over 30 movies and many Broadway plays. The Los Angeles Times noted: "Tall and elegant, Wilson often played women who had or sought authority."

Wilson made her Broadway debut in Picnic in 1953. Her stage credits include Desk Set (1955), The Good Woman of Szechuan (1970), Sticks and Bones (1972), Uncle Vanya (1973), Threepenny Opera (1976), The Importance of Being Earnest (1977), Morning's at Seven (1980), You Can't Take It with You (1983), Ah, Wilderness! (1988), and A Delicate Balance (1996).

Wilson made her screen debut reprising her stage role in the 1955 film adaptation of Picnic as "Christine Schoenwalder". Additional film credits include The Goddess (1958), The Tunnel of Love (1958), A Child Is Waiting (1963 The Birds (1963), The Graduate (1967), Jenny (1970), Catch-22 (1970) Little Murders (1971), The Day of the Dolphin (1973), The Prisoner of Second Avenue (1975), 9 to 5 (1980), Grace Quigley (1984), Regarding Henry (1991), The Addams Family (1991), and Quiz Show (1994). Her last film role was as Sara Delano Roosevelt in Hyde Park on Hudson (2012).

Wilson's television credits include such early anthology series as Kraft Television Theatre, The United States Steel Hour, and Armstrong Circle Theatre. She was a regular on the primetime drama East Side/West Side and sitcom Doc and she appeared in Dark Shadows, Another World, All in the Family, Murder, She Wrote, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent. She also appeared in made for television movies, including The Boys Next Door (1996). She appeared in the NBC minseries, Nutcracker:Money, Madness and Murder in March 1987 as the mother of Frances Schrueder (played by Lee Remick).

Death

On May 9, 2015, aged 94, Wilson died at her home in New Haven, Connecticut.

Awards and nominations

Awards

• 1972 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play - Sticks and Bones
• 1980 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance - Morning's at Seven

Nominations

• 1957 BAFTA Film Award for Most Promising Newcomer - Patterns
• 1976 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical - Threepenny Opera
• 1985 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play - Salonika
• 1987 Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Special - Nutcracker: Money, Madness & Murder

[ Source: Wikipedia ]