Barbara Bel Geddes
To commemorate the passing of a timelessly classic actress, we thought it
only fitting to honor the memory of Barbara Bel Geddes with a biographical
tribute.
only fitting to honor the memory of Barbara Bel Geddes with a biographical
tribute.
It’s quite ironic that Bel Geddes is most remembered for her
work on the television drama, Dallas, since the series came along well
after the actress had chosen to retire.
Her real acting career began nearly 40 years before Dallas came
along. In 1945, Bel Geddes appeared in Broadway’s Deep are the Roots,
winning the New York Drama Critics Award as best actress at the tender age of
23. It wasn’t her first onstage appearance, but it was one of her
earliest.
along. In 1945, Bel Geddes appeared in Broadway’s Deep are the Roots,
winning the New York Drama Critics Award as best actress at the tender age of
23. It wasn’t her first onstage appearance, but it was one of her
earliest.
Three years later, she was nominated for an Academy Award for best
supporting actress for the 1948 drama I Remember Mama, in which she
played Katrin Hanson, the daughter of Norwegian immigrants who wanted
desperately to succeed as a writer.
supporting actress for the 1948 drama I Remember Mama, in which she
played Katrin Hanson, the daughter of Norwegian immigrants who wanted
desperately to succeed as a writer.
In 1948, Howard Hughes infamously dropped Bel Geddes’ one-picture-per-year
contract with RKO, deeming her “not sexy enough.” In one of many ironies during
her life and career, Bel Geddes proved Howard wrong with her star-making return
to Broadway as the original Maggie in 1955’s Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
contract with RKO, deeming her “not sexy enough.” In one of many ironies during
her life and career, Bel Geddes proved Howard wrong with her star-making return
to Broadway as the original Maggie in 1955’s Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
Jean Kerr’s Mary, Mary marked Bel Geddes longest running show on
Broadway with well over 1,500 performances.
Broadway with well over 1,500 performances.
Bel Geddes enjoyed a career in film that allowed her to work with directors
she greatly admired like Elia Kazan in Panic in the Streets and Alfred
Hitchcock in one of his most famous films, Vertigo.
she greatly admired like Elia Kazan in Panic in the Streets and Alfred
Hitchcock in one of his most famous films, Vertigo.
In 1966, Bel Geddes retired from film to devote her attention to the care
of her ailing husband. She spent six years nursing him before he succumbed to
cancer in 1972. During this time, the costs of his care depleted her income and
she decided to attempt a return to acting.
of her ailing husband. She spent six years nursing him before he succumbed to
cancer in 1972. During this time, the costs of his care depleted her income and
she decided to attempt a return to acting.
Enter 1978’s Dallas. Between ’72 and ’78, Bel Geddes had a difficult
time procuring meaningful, well-paying roles, as her age was considered an
impediment in Hollywood. But in the role of the firm, yet endearing matriarch
Ellie Ewing on Dallas, Bel Geddes found both a lucrative gig and a
rewarding role. She won an Emmy for her portrayal just two years after the
critically panned show premiered. To date, she is the only nighttime soap opera
actor to receive this honor.
time procuring meaningful, well-paying roles, as her age was considered an
impediment in Hollywood. But in the role of the firm, yet endearing matriarch
Ellie Ewing on Dallas, Bel Geddes found both a lucrative gig and a
rewarding role. She won an Emmy for her portrayal just two years after the
critically panned show premiered. To date, she is the only nighttime soap opera
actor to receive this honor.
Bel Geddes remained part of the cast of Dallas through the series
and its many made-for-TV films, the last of which was released in
1990.
and its many made-for-TV films, the last of which was released in
1990.
Bel Geddes succumbed to lung cancer this Monday, August 8. She was
82.
82.
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Barbara Bel Geddes
To commemorate the passing of a timelessly classic actress, we thought it
only fitting to honor the memory of Barbara Bel Geddes with a biographical
tribute.
only fitting to honor the memory of Barbara Bel Geddes with a biographical
tribute.
It’s quite ironic that Bel Geddes is most remembered for her
work on the television drama, Dallas, since the series came along well
after the actress had chosen to retire.
Her real acting career began nearly 40 years before Dallas came
along. In 1945, Bel Geddes appeared in Broadway’s Deep are the Roots,
winning the New York Drama Critics Award as best actress at the tender age of
23. It wasn’t her first onstage appearance, but it was one of her
earliest.
along. In 1945, Bel Geddes appeared in Broadway’s Deep are the Roots,
winning the New York Drama Critics Award as best actress at the tender age of
23. It wasn’t her first onstage appearance, but it was one of her
earliest.
Three years later, she was nominated for an Academy Award for best
supporting actress for the 1948 drama I Remember Mama, in which she
played Katrin Hanson, the daughter of Norwegian immigrants who wanted
desperately to succeed as a writer.
supporting actress for the 1948 drama I Remember Mama, in which she
played Katrin Hanson, the daughter of Norwegian immigrants who wanted
desperately to succeed as a writer.
In 1948, Howard Hughes infamously dropped Bel Geddes’ one-picture-per-year
contract with RKO, deeming her “not sexy enough.” In one of many ironies during
her life and career, Bel Geddes proved Howard wrong with her star-making return
to Broadway as the original Maggie in 1955’s Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
contract with RKO, deeming her “not sexy enough.” In one of many ironies during
her life and career, Bel Geddes proved Howard wrong with her star-making return
to Broadway as the original Maggie in 1955’s Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
Jean Kerr’s Mary, Mary marked Bel Geddes longest running show on
Broadway with well over 1,500 performances.
Broadway with well over 1,500 performances.
Bel Geddes enjoyed a career in film that allowed her to work with directors
she greatly admired like Elia Kazan in Panic in the Streets and Alfred
Hitchcock in one of his most famous films, Vertigo.
she greatly admired like Elia Kazan in Panic in the Streets and Alfred
Hitchcock in one of his most famous films, Vertigo.
In 1966, Bel Geddes retired from film to devote her attention to the care
of her ailing husband. She spent six years nursing him before he succumbed to
cancer in 1972. During this time, the costs of his care depleted her income and
she decided to attempt a return to acting.
of her ailing husband. She spent six years nursing him before he succumbed to
cancer in 1972. During this time, the costs of his care depleted her income and
she decided to attempt a return to acting.
Enter 1978’s Dallas. Between ’72 and ’78, Bel Geddes had a difficult
time procuring meaningful, well-paying roles, as her age was considered an
impediment in Hollywood. But in the role of the firm, yet endearing matriarch
Ellie Ewing on Dallas, Bel Geddes found both a lucrative gig and a
rewarding role. She won an Emmy for her portrayal just two years after the
critically panned show premiered. To date, she is the only nighttime soap opera
actor to receive this honor.
time procuring meaningful, well-paying roles, as her age was considered an
impediment in Hollywood. But in the role of the firm, yet endearing matriarch
Ellie Ewing on Dallas, Bel Geddes found both a lucrative gig and a
rewarding role. She won an Emmy for her portrayal just two years after the
critically panned show premiered. To date, she is the only nighttime soap opera
actor to receive this honor.
Bel Geddes remained part of the cast of Dallas through the series
and its many made-for-TV films, the last of which was released in
1990.
and its many made-for-TV films, the last of which was released in
1990.
Bel Geddes succumbed to lung cancer this Monday, August 8. She was
82.
82.
Popular Topics
Overstreet Access Quick Links
