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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
1954
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ruth Carol Hussey (October 30, 1911 – April 19, 2005) was an American actress best known for her Academy Award-nominated role as photographer Elizabeth Imbrie in The Philadelphia Story.
After working as an actress in summer stock, she returned to Providence and worked as a radio fashion commentator on a local station. She wrote the ad copy for a Providence clothing store and read it on the radio each afternoon. She was encouraged by a friend to try out for acting roles at the Providence Playhouse. The theater director there turned her down, saying the roles were cast only out of New York City. Later that week, she journeyed to New York City and on her first day there, she signed with a talent agent who booked her for a role in a play starting the next day back at the Providence Playhouse.
In New York City, she also worked for a time as a model. She then landed a number of stage roles with touring companies. Dead End toured the country in 1937 and the last theater on the road trip was at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, where she was spotted on opening night by MGM talent scout Billy Grady. MGM signed her to a players contract and she made her film debut in 1937. She quickly became a leading lady in MGM's "B" unit, usually playing sophisticated, worldly roles. For a 1940 "A" picture role, she was nominated for an Academy Award for her turn as Elizabeth Imbrie, the cynical magazine photographer and almost-girlfriend of James Stewart's character Macaulay Connor in The Philadelphia Story. In 1941, exhibitors voted her the third-most popular new star in Hollywood.
Hussey also worked with Robert Taylor in Flight Command (1940), Robert Young in Northwest Passage (1940) and H.M. Pulham, Esq. (1941), Van Heflin in Tennessee Johnson (1942), Ray Milland in The Uninvited (1944), and Alan Ladd in The Great Gatsby (1949).
In 1946, she starred on Broadway in the Pulitzer Prize-winning play State of the Union. Her 1949 role in Goodbye, My Fancy on Broadway caused a Billboard reviewer to write: "Miss Hussey brings a splendid aliveness and warmth to the lovely congresswoman...."
She filled in for Jean Arthur in the 1955 Lux Radio Theater presentation of Shane, playing Miriam Start, alongside original film stars Alan Ladd and Van Heflin.
In 1960, she co-starred in The Facts of Life with Bob Hope. Hussey was also active in early television drama.
Gender
Female
Birthday
October 30, 1911
Died
April 19, 2005
Birthplace
Providence, Rhode Island, USA
Also Known As
Rich Man, Poor Girl
1938
H.M. Pulham, Esq.
1941
The Resurrection of Broncho Billy
1970
Fast and Furious
1939
Hold That Kiss
1938
Honolulu
1939
Spring Madness
1938
The Women
1939
Tennessee Johnson
1942
The Uninvited
1944
Within the Law
1939
Man-Proof
1938
Free and Easy
1941
My Darling Daughters' Anniversary
1973
Susan and God
1940
Maisie
1939
Madame X
1937
Pierre of the Plains
1942
Married Bachelor
1941
The Philadelphia Story
1940
+ 24 more movies
Studio One
1948
Climax!
1954
Climax!
1954
Climax!
1954
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1955
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
1959
Producers' Showcase
1954
Lux Video Theatre
1950
Lux Video Theatre
1950
Lux Video Theatre
1950
Lux Video Theatre
1950
Lux Video Theatre
1950
Lux Video Theatre
1950
Vacation Playhouse
1963
MGM Parade
1955
The Case of the Dangerous Robin
1960
Playwrights '56
1955
General Electric Theater
1953
General Electric Theater
1953
The Christophers
1953