Elizabeth Welter Wilson (April 4, 1921 – May 9, 2015) was an American actress whose career spanned nearly 60 years in film and television. In 1972 she won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for her role in Sticks and Bones. Wilson was also a Primetime Emmy Award and BAFTA Award nominee, and was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2006.Gans, Andrew. "LuPone, Hearn, Wilson and the Late Wasserstein and Wilson Among Theater Hall of Fame Inductees", playbill.com, October 10, 2006.
Early life Wilson was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the daughter of insurance agent Henry Dunning Wilson and Marie Ethel (née Welter) Wilson. Her maternal grandfather was a wealthy German immigrant, and Wilson was raised in a large mansion.Jean, Pat Grand. "First Q&A: Elizabeth Wilson" Connecticut Magazine, April 2012 She attended the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia, and then studied with Sanford Meisner at The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City.
Career Wilson was a versatile 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."Chawkins, Steve. "Elizabeth Wilson dies at 94; actress often played women of authority", Los Angeles Times, May 11, 2015.
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)."Elizabeth Wilson Broadway Credits", playbillvault.com, accessed May 11, 2015
Following an uncredited appearance in Notorious (1946), Wilson played Marge Fleming in Rod Serling's "Patterns" for the Kraft Television Theatre and its subsequent film adaptation. She also reprised her stage role in the 1955 film adaptation of Picnic as Christine Schoenwalder.Picnic Overview, Cast and Crew, tcm.com; accessed May 11, 2015. Additional films include The Goddess (1958)," The Goddess Cast and Crew", allmovie.com, accessed May 13, 2015. The Tunnel of Love (1958)," The Tunnel of Love Cast and Crew", tcm.com, accessed May 13, 2015. A Child Is Waiting (1963," A Child Is Waiting Cast and Crew", allmovie.com, accessed May 13, 2015. The Birds (1963)," The Birds Cast and Crew", tcm.com, accessed May 14, 2015. The Graduate (1967)," The Graduate Cast and Crew", tcm.com, accessed May 12, 2015. Jenny (1970), Catch-22 (1970)" Catch-22 Cast and Crew", tcm.com, accessed May 14, 2015. Little Murders (1971), The Day of the Dolphin (1973)," The Day of the Dolphin Cast and Crew", tcm.com, accessed May 12, 2015 Man on a Swing (1974), The Prisoner of Second Avenue (1975),Passafiume, Andrea. The Prisoner of Second Avenue, tcm.com, accessed May 12, 2015. 9 to 5 (1980)," Nine to Five Overview", tcm.com, accessed May 12, 2015. Grace Quigley (1984),Thomas, Kevin. "Movie Reviews. 'Quigley': Hepburn, Nolte Light Up A Black Comedy", articles.latimes.com, December 13, 1985; accessed May 12, 2015. Regarding Henry (1991)," Regarding Henry Cast and Crew", allmovie.com, accessed May 12, 2015 The Addams Family (1991),Staff."Review: 'The Addams Family'" Variety, December 31, 1990. and Quiz Show (1994).Quiz Show Overview, Cast and Crew, tcm.com, accessed May 11, 2015. Her last film role was as Sara Delano Roosevelt in Hyde Park on Hudson (2012).Hyde Park on Hudson Cast and Crew", allmovie.com, accessed May 11, 2015.
Wilson's television credits include early anthology series such 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 the sitcom Doc, and appeared in Dark Shadows, The Secret Storm, Another World, All in the Family, Murder, She Wrote, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent. She also appeared in television movies, including The Boys Next Door (1996).Horowitz, Lisa A. "Review: The Boys Next Door", Variety.com, February 4, 1996. She appeared in the miniseries Nutcracker: Money, Madness and Murder in March 1987 as the mother of Frances Schreuder (played by Lee Remick),O'Connor, John J. "Murder, Reheated By a Star". The New York Times. March 22, 1987. p.H29 as well as the miniseries Alex Haley's Queen.
Death On May 9, 2015, at age 94, Wilson died at her home in New Haven, Connecticut. She is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with her parents. She never married or had children.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes1955PicnicChristine Schoenwalder1956PatternsMarge Fleming1958HardingMiss MacCracken1959Happy AnniversaryMillie1963Miss FogartyHelen Carter1967Mrs. Braddock1970JennyMrs. Marsh1971Little MurdersMarjorie Newquist1973Mrs. Rome1974Man on a SwingDr. Anna Willson1975PaulineMrs. Gordon19809 to 5Roz1981Dr. Ruth Ruth1984Grace QuigleyEmily Watkins1986Where Are the Children?Dorothy Prentiss1987Kate Maslow1989Nora's Christmas GiftMadeline MumfordVideo1991Regarding HenryJessicaAbigail Craven / Dr. Greta Pinder-Schloss1994Quiz ShowDorothy Van DorenNobody's FoolNora2001Rocky RoadGrandma Louise2012Hyde Park on HudsonSara Roosevelt
Television Year Title Role Notes1954, 1959–60Mrs. Watson, Grace Ferguson, Cora WylieEpisodes: "Welcome Home", "The Pink Burro", "Queen of the Orange Bowl"1955Kraft Television TheatreMarge FlemingEpisode: "Patterns"1956Star TonightMa KirbyEpisode: "Happy Journey"1960Interpol CallingMicheleEpisode: "The Girl with Grey Hair"Beatrice FaustinaEpisode: "Song of Songs"1961Armstrong Circle TheatreEsther HardingEpisode: "Black Market Babies"1963–1964East Side/West SideFrieda HechlingerMain role1965Dr. LanzEpisode: "Sixteen Hours to Chicago"1966Dark ShadowsMrs. HopewellEpisodes: "1.1", "1.8"1969NET PlayhouseMiss MorayEpisode: "Let Me Hear You Whisper"1970Felicia StringerTV series1974Another AprilRuth WestonTV film1975Miles to Go Before I SleepKate StantonAll in the FamilyAmelia DeKuyperEpisode: "Amelia's Divorce"Mrs. CoyleTV film1975–1976DocAnnie BogertMain role (season 1)1979Another WorldEthel BantaEpisode: "1.3746"Sanctuary of FearMrs. GliddenTV film1980Once Upon a FamilyNorma Solomon1982Million Dollar InfieldSally EphronTucker's WitchJewel PorterEpisode: "Big Mouth"Morning's at SevenAaronetta GibbsTV film1984Great PerformancesPenny SycamoreEpisode: "You Can't Take It with You"1986Morningstar/EveningstarKathy KellyTV series, 7 episodes1987Nutcracker: Money, Madness and MurderBerenice BradshawTV miniseriesLilly WoldarskiTV film1990Burning BridgesFreda1993SkylarkHarriet Wheaton1993DeltaRosiland DupreeEpisodes: "Mom Comes to Town", "Amateur Night", "Red Hot Mama", "Delta's Little Dilemma"1994In the Best of Families: Marriage, Pride & MadnessAnnie KlennerTV filmSpring AwakeningMrs. PiersonScarlettEulalie RobillardTV miniseries1995Murder, She WroteSerena HaynesEpisode: "Home Care"1996Mary FremusTV filmSpecial Report: Journey to MarsPresident Elizabeth Richardson1997DellaventuraEloise BergEpisode: "Clean Slate"1998Promised LandEvelyn HooperEpisode: "Recycled"2000Gideon's CrossingCamellia KelloggEpisode: "Father Knows Best"2002Law & Order: Criminal IntentLucille MobrayEpisode: "Chinoiserie"
Stage + Year Title Role Notes 1953 Picnic Christine Schoenwalder Music Box Theatre, Broadway 1955 The Desk Set Miss Warriner Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway 1957 The Tunnel of Love Miss McCracken Royale Theatre, Broadway 1961 Big Fish, Little Fish Hilda Rose Anta Theatre, Broadway 1967 The Little Foxes Birdie Hubbard (Standby)/Regina Giddens (Standby) Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway 1968 Plaza Suite Karen Nash (Standby)/Muriel Tate (Standby)/Norma Hubley (Standby) Plymouth Theatre, Broadway 1970 The Good Woman of Setzuan Mrs. Shin Vivian Beaumont Theater, Broadway 1970 Sheep on the Runway Martha Wilkins Second Stage Theater, Off-Broadway 1972 Sticks and Bones Harriet John Golden Theatre, Broadway 1972 The Secret Affairs of Mildred Wild Helen Wild Ambassador Theatre, Broadway 1973 Uncle Vanya Sofya Alexandrovna Circle in the Square Theatre, Broadway 1976 The Threepenny Opera Mrs Peachum Vivian Beaumont Theater, Broadway 1977 The Importance of Being Earnest Lady Bracknell Circle in the Square Theatre, Broadway 1978 All's Well That Ends Well Countess of Rousillon Shakespeare in the Park, Off-Broadway 1979 Taken in Marriage Aunt Helen The Public Theater, Off-Broadway 1980 Morning's at Seven Aaronetta Gibbs Lyceum Theatre, Broadway 1983 You Can't Take It with You Penelope Sycamore (Replacement) Plymouth Theatre, Broadway 1985 Salonika Enid The Public Theater, Off-Broadway 1988 Ah, Wilderness! Lily Miller Neil Simon Theatre, Broadway 1996 A Delicate Balance Edna Plymouth Theatre, Broadway 1999 Tongue of a Bird Zofia The Public Theater, Off-Broadway 1999 Waiting in the Wings Bonita Belgrave Walter Kerr Theatre, Broadway
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Results Ref. 1956 British Academy Film Awards Most Promising Newcomer to Film Patterns 1976 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Actress in a Musical The Threepenny Opera 1980 Outstanding Ensemble Performance Morning's at Seven 1985 Outstanding Actress in a Play Salonika 1987 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Special Nutcracker: Money, Madness and Murder 1972 Tony Awards Best Supporting or Featured Actress in a Play Sticks and Bones
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