Menu
Home Explore People Places Arts History Plants & Animals Science Life & Culture Technology
On this page
Marian Seldes
American actress

Marian Hall Seldes (August 23, 1928 – October 6, 2014) was an American actress. A five-time Tony Award nominee, she won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for A Delicate Balance in 1967, and received subsequent nominations for Father's Day (1971), Deathtrap (1978–82), Ring Round the Moon (1999), and Dinner at Eight (2002). She also won a Drama Desk Award for Father's Day.

Her other Broadway credits include Equus (1974–77), Ivanov (1997), and Deuce (2007). She was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1995 and received the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2010.

Related Image Collections Add Image
Profiles
4 Images
We don't have any YouTube videos related to Marian Seldes yet.
We don't have any PDF documents related to Marian Seldes yet.
We don't have any Books related to Marian Seldes yet.

Early life

Seldes was born in Manhattan, the daughter of Alice Wadhams Hall, a socialite, and Gilbert Seldes, a journalist, author, and editor.1 Her uncle was journalist George Seldes. She had one brother, Timothy. Seldes's paternal grandparents were Russian-Jewish immigrants, and her mother was from a "prominent WASP family," the "Episcopalian blue-blooded Halls."23 She grew up in a creative environment, studying acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse. Her maternal aunt, Marian Wells Hall, was a prominent interior decorator.4

Career

Trained for the stage, Seldes made her Broadway debut in 1948 in a production of Medea. She went on to an illustrious career in which she earned five Tony Award nominations, winning her first time out in 1967 for A Delicate Balance. In addition to performing in live theatre, Seldes began acting in television in 1952 in a Hallmark Hall of Fame production that marked the first of many guest star roles. She also performed in a number of movies and in radio plays. In the mid-1960s, Seldes recorded five albums for Folkways Records of famous works of literature, including two recordings of poetry by Robinson Jeffers.5 Between 1974 and 1982, she appeared in 179 episodes of the CBS Radio Mystery Theater. In 1992, she appeared in an episode of Murphy Brown as the title character’s eccentric Aunt Brooke.

Seldes studied with Sanford Meisner, Katharine Cornell, and Martha Graham. Actor Laura Linney said "Marian is our touchstone to those theatrical ancestors. She provides an inspiration that makes you want to reach outside of yourself to something more potent and powerful."6 Seldes was a member of the drama faculty of The Juilliard School from 1967 to 1991. Her students included Christopher Reeve, Robin Williams, Kelsey Grammer, Kevin Kline, William Hurt, Patti LuPone,7 Val Kilmer, and Kevin Spacey.8 In 2002, Seldes began teaching at Fordham University, Lincoln Center.

Seldes acted in Half Hour to Kill playing Played Joyce Field. Half Hour to Kill was a proposed but unrealized television series mystery show with episodes hosted by Vincent Price and planned to occasionally star him as well. Released to the home movie market as Freedom to Get Lost, with Price playing scientist Gene Wolcott and Seldes playing an undercover security agent tracking him. The episode is available on the DVD titled Vincent Price – The Sinister Image. (1958)

Seldes appeared in every one of the 1,809 Broadway performances of Ira Levin's play Deathtrap, a feat that earned her a mention in the Guinness Book of World Records as "most durable actress".910 Seldes was also well known for her readings of short stories in the "Selected Shorts" series hosted by Isaiah Sheffer at New York City's Symphony Space.

In December 2008, for their annual birthday celebration to "The Master", Noël Coward, the Noël Coward Society invited Seldes as the guest celebrity to lay flowers in front of Coward's statue at New York's Gershwin Theatre, thereby commemorating the playwright’s 109th birthday. Seldes was the recipient of a 2010 Tony Lifetime Achievement Award.11 "All I've done is live my life in the theater and loved it ... If you can get an award for being happy, that's what I've got."12

In 2012, Seldes played the knife-wielding socialite Mabel Billingsly in the film adaptation of Wendy Mass' popular children's book Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life, written and directed by Tamar Halpern.13

Personal life

Seldes had one child, Katharine, by her first marriage to Julian Claman. They were divorced in 1961. Seldes stated that the marriage to Claman was violent. "If I sound a little vague about that marriage, it's because I don't understand the person in it. Me. I literally didn't know that people could be abusive." Seldes left the marriage after her father noticed marks on her face.14 Seldes was married to screenwriter/playwright Garson Kanin from 1990 until his death in 1999.15

Death

Seldes died at age 86 on October 6, 2014, in Manhattan.16

The cause of her death was not released. However, in 2017, it was reported that a documentary about her life, Marian, by director R.E. "Rick" Rodgers, chronicling Seldes' last years, had created "consternation in the theater world" as a "horrific, intrusive depiction of her slide into dementia".1718

Acting credits

Films

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
1958The Light in the ForestKate Owens
1959Crime and Punishment U.S.A.Debbie Cole
1959The Big FishermanArnon
1965The Greatest Story Ever ToldHerodias
1978FingersRuth
1992The Gun in Betty Lou's HandbagMargaret Armstrong
1995TrumanEleanor Roosevelt
1995Tom and HuckWidow Douglas
1996Tell the Truth and Run: George Seldes and the American PressHerselfDocumentary
1997AfflictionAlma Pittman
1997Home Alone 3Mrs. Hess
1997Digging to ChinaLeah Schroth
1999The HauntingMrs. Dudley
2000If These Walls Could Talk 2Abby HedleyHBO film
2000DuetsHarriet Gahagan
2001Town & CountryEugenie's Mother
2003Mona Lisa SmilePresident Jocelyn Carr
2004ProteusNarrator
2005Ballets RussesNarrator
2007August RushDean Alice McNeille
2007The VisitorBarbara
2008LeatherheadsClerk
2010The Extra ManVivian Cudlip

Television

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
1950Our Sister EmilyEmily BrontëTelevision debut; TV movie
1951Sure As FateLady MacduffEpisode: Macbeth
1953Westinghouse Studio OneBell GilesEpisode: "The Laugh Maker"
1956GunsmokeMrs. CullenEpisode: "Indian White"
1957Have Gun – Will TravelChristie SmithEpisode: "The Bride"
1958Mollie StantonEpisode: "The Teacher"
1958Perry MasonMary K. DavisEpisode: "The Case of the Screaming Woman"
1958The Court of Last ResortRoberta FarrellEpisode: "The Frank Clark Case" (1958)
Mary MoralesEpisode: "The Mary Morales Case"
1958Half Hour to KillJoyce FieldUnrealized television series
1958Alfred Hitchcock PresentsLydia BrailingEpisode: "Design For Loving"
1960The RiflemanHazel / MargaretEpisode: "The Vision"
1965BrandedNeelaEpisode: "The Bar Sinister"
1991Law & OrderSuzanneEpisode: "God Bless the Child"
1991Who's the BossNana ReynoldsEpisode: "Grandmommie Dearest"
1992Murder, She WroteLydia WinthropEpisode: "The Witch's Curse"
1992Murphy BrownAunt BrookeEpisode: "I'm Dreaming of a Brown Christmas"
1995WingsEleanor KingsburyEpisode: "Death Becomes Him"
1998One Life to LiveSonya Carter1 episode
1996-1998CosbyElaine2 episodes
1998Sex and the CityMrs. BigEpisode: "Oh Come All Ye Faithful"
2001A Nero Wolfe MysteryMrs. RobilottiEpisode: "Champagne for One"
Mrs. PitcairnEpisode: "Door to Death"
2004FrasierBetty, Ronee's motherEpisode: "Miss Right Now"
2007Law & Order: Special Victims UnitPeggy KendallEpisode: "Haystack"
2011Nurse JackieTottieEpisode: "When the Saints Go"

Theatre

YearTitleRoleVenueRef.
1947MedeaAttendant to MedeaNational Theatre, Broadway19
1947Crime and PunishmentDouniaNational Theatre, Broadway20
1949MedeaSecond Woman of CorinthCity Center, Broadway21
1949That LadyAnichu at 18Martin Beck Theatre, Broadway22
1950The Tower Beyond TragedyElectraANTA Playhouse, Broadway23
1951The High GroundNurse Phillips48th Street Theatre, Broadway24
1954OndineBertha46th Street Theatre, Broadway25
1955The Chalk GardenOliviaEthel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway26
1960The WallSympka BersonBilly Rose Theatre, Broadway27
1962A Gift of TimeSusan LoringEthel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway28
1964The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here AnymoreBlackieBrooks Atkinson Theatre, Broadway29
1964Tiny AliceMiss AliceBilly Rose Theatre, Broadway30
1966A Delicate BalanceJuliaMartin Beck Theatre, Broadway31
1968Before You GoWomanHenry Miller's Theatre, Broadway32
1969Mercy StreetDaisyTheater at St. Clement's Church, Off-Broadway
1971Father's DayMarianJohn Golden Theatre, Broadway33
1974Next Time I'll Sing YouDirectorBilly Rose Theatre, Broadway34
1974EquusHester SalomanPlymouth Theatre, Broadway35
1977The MerchantRivka FolnerPlymouth Theatre, Broadway36
1978DeathtrapMyra BruhlMusic Box Theatre, Broadway37
1983Painting ChurchesFanny ChurchSouth Street Theatre, Off-Broadway
1983Richard IIMargaretDelacorte Theatre, Off-Broadway
1986Gertrude Stein and a CompanionAlice B. ToklasLucille Lortel Theatre, Off-Broadway
1993Three Tall WomenAVineyard Theatre, Off-Broadway
1997IvanovZinaida SavishnaVivian Beaumont Theatre, Broadway38
1999Ring Round the MoonMadame DesmermortesBelasco Theatre, Broadway39
2000The Torch-BearersJ. Duro PampinelliGreenwich House, Off-Broadway
2001The Play About the BabyWomanCentury Center For The Performing Arts
200145 Seconds from BroadwayRayleenRichard Rodgers Theatre, Broadway40
2002HelenServantThe Public Theatre, Off-Broadway41
2003Dinner at EightCarlotta VanceVivian Beaumont Theatre, Broadway42
2004The Royal FamilyFannie CavandishAhmanson Theatre, Los Angeles43
2005It's a Wonderful LifeMrs. HatchSam S. Shubert Theatre, Broadway44
2005Dedication or The Stuff of DreamsAnnabelle Willard59E59 Theatre, Off-Broadway
2007DeuceMidge BarkerMusic Box Theatre, Broadway45
2008La fille du régimentThe DuchessMetropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center46

Radio

Awards and nominations

YearAssociationCategoryProjectResultRef.
1967Tony AwardBest Featured Actress in a PlayA Delicate BalanceWon48
1971Best Actress in a PlayFather's DayNominated49
1978Best Featured Actress in a PlayDeathtrapNominated50
1999Best Actress in a PlayRing Round the MoonNominated51
2003Best Featured Actress in a PlayDinner at EightNominated52
2010Tony Lifetime Achievement AwardReceived53
1971Drama Desk AwardOutstanding PerformanceFather's DayWon
1998Outstanding Featured Actress in a PlayIvanovNominated
1999Outstanding Featured Actress in a PlayRing Round the MoonNominated
2001Outstanding Featured Actress in a PlayThe Butterfly CollectionNominated
2001Outstanding Actress in a PlayThe Play About the BabyNominated
2006Outstanding Featured Actress in a PlayDedication or The Stuff of DreamsNominated
1964Obie AwardDistinguished PerformanceThe Ginger ManWon
2001Sustained Achievementreceived
1983Outer Circle Critics AwardBest Actress in a PlayPainting ChurchesWon

Discography

  • The Roan Stallion by Robinson Jeffers (1963)
  • The Making of Americans by Gertrude Stein (1963
  • Theodore Bikel: "Songs of Songs" and other Bible Prophecies featuring Marian Seldes as Shulamite (1964))
  • Tower Beyond Tragedy by Robinson Jeffers (1964)
  • Phèdre by Jean Racine (1964)
  • Prayers from the Ark: French and English Poems (1964)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Marian Seldes.

References

  1. "Fifteenth Census of the United States: 1930 Population", enumeration page including household of Gilbert Seldes and documentation relating to his 19-month-old daughter Marian H. Seldes, Manhattan Borough, New York City, April 11, 1930; digital image of original 1930 enumeration page, U.S. Bureau of the Census. Retrieved image of cited document via FamilySearch online archive, January 7, 2023. /wiki/FamilySearch ↩

  2. "Marian Seldes to headline her latest stage return". The Villager. New York. Archived from the original on September 2, 2013. Retrieved March 27, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130902001533/http://thevillager.com/villager_119/marianseldestoheadline.html ↩

  3. "Marian Seldes". Yahoo! Movies. April 20, 2011. Archived from the original on May 22, 2011. Retrieved March 27, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20110522104140/http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800021286/bio ↩

  4. "Marian Wells Hall, Decorator, Was 76". The New York Times. March 2, 1972. /wiki/The_New_York_Times ↩

  5. "Seldes discography". Smithsonian Folkways. Retrieved April 11, 2023. https://folkways.si.edu/search?query=seldes ↩

  6. Witchel, Alex (June 14, 2010). "The 60-Year Stage Life of Marian Seldes". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/13/magazine/13seldes-t.html?pagewanted=3&hpw ↩

  7. Witchel, Alex (June 14, 2010). "The 60-Year Stage Life of Marian Seldes". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/13/magazine/13seldes-t.html?pagewanted=3&hpw ↩

  8. Spacey, Kevin (October 10, 2014). "Kevin Spacey pays tribute to the Juilliard teacher who gave him 'wings'". New York Post. Archived from the original on April 28, 2016. /wiki/Kevin_Spacey ↩

  9. Simonson, Robert (November 13, 2007). "Ira Levin, Author of Hit Mystery Play Deathtrap, Dies at 78". Playbill. Retrieved August 22, 2017. /wiki/Robert_Simonson ↩

  10. "No. 4 in Long Play Runs, 'Deathtrap' Will Close". The New York Times. June 8, 1982. https://www.nytimes.com/1982/06/08/theater/no-4-in-long-play-runs-deathtrap-will-close.html ↩

  11. "Spotlight On: The 2012–2013 Broadway Season". TonyAwards.com. Retrieved March 27, 2013. http://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/nominees/index.html ↩

  12. Berkvist, Robert (October 7, 2014). "Theater: Marian Seldes, Regal Presence of Broadway, Dies". The New York Times. No. 56647. Retrieved October 6, 2017. https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/08/theater/marian-seldes-regal-presence-of-broadway-dies-at-86.html?gwh=ACE35C31D09110F795434894AE9D929B&gwt=pay&assetType=nyt_now ↩

  13. Buckwald, Bethany (October 6, 2014). "Tony Award and American Theatre Hall of Fame Inductee Marian Seldes Has Died". Theatermania. Retrieved April 28, 2020. https://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/news/marian-seldes-obituary_69658.html ↩

  14. Witchel, Alex (June 14, 2010). "The 60-Year Stage Life of Marian Seldes". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/13/magazine/13seldes-t.html?pagewanted=3&hpw ↩

  15. Witchel, Alex (June 14, 2010). "The 60-Year Stage Life of Marian Seldes". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/13/magazine/13seldes-t.html?pagewanted=3&hpw ↩

  16. Berkvist, Robert (October 7, 2014). "Theater: Marian Seldes, Regal Presence of Broadway, Dies". The New York Times. No. 56647. Retrieved October 6, 2017. https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/08/theater/marian-seldes-regal-presence-of-broadway-dies-at-86.html?gwh=ACE35C31D09110F795434894AE9D929B&gwt=pay&assetType=nyt_now ↩

  17. Riedel, Michael (September 26, 2017). "Broadway insiders horrified by documentary on theater icon's sad final days". New York Post. Retrieved October 7, 2017. https://nypost.com/2017/09/26/broadway-insiders-horrified-by-documentary-on-theater-icons-sad-final-days ↩

  18. Rosky, Nicole. "Rick McKay Pens Open Letter to Marian Seldes Documentary Filmmaker". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved October 7, 2017. https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Rick-McKay-Pens-Open-Letter-to-Marian-Seldes-Documentary-Filmmaker-20170925 ↩

  19. "Medea (Broadway, 1947)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024. https://www.playbill.com/production/medea-national-theatre-vault-0000002819 ↩

  20. "Crime and Punishment (Broadway, 1947)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024. https://www.playbill.com/production/crime-and-punishment-national-theatre-vault-0000002818 ↩

  21. "Medea (Broadway, 1949)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024. https://www.playbill.com/production/medea-city-center-vault-0000013162 ↩

  22. "That Lady (Broadway, 1949)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024. https://www.playbill.com/production/that-lady-martin-beck-theatre-vault-0000008286 ↩

  23. "The Tower Beyond Tragedy (Broadway, 1950)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024. https://www.playbill.com/production/the-tower-beyond-tragedy-anta-playhouse-vault-0000005341 ↩

  24. "The High Ground (Broadway, 1951)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024. https://www.playbill.com/productions/the-high-ground-broadway-48th-street-theatre-1951 ↩

  25. "Ondine (Broadway, 1954)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024. https://www.playbill.com/production/ondine-46th-street-theatre-vault-0000003121 ↩

  26. "The Chalk Garden (Broadway, 1955)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024. https://www.playbill.com/production/the-chalk-garden-ethel-barrymore-theatre-vault-0000004386 ↩

  27. "The Wall (Broadway, 1960)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024. https://www.playbill.com/production/the-wall-billy-rose-theatre-vault-0000002777 ↩

  28. "A Gift of Time (Broadway, 1962)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024. https://www.playbill.com/production/a-gift-of-time-ethel-barrymore-theatre-vault-0000004370 ↩

  29. "The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore (Broadway, 1964)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024. https://www.playbill.com/production/the-milk-train-doesnt-stop-here-anymore-brooks-atkinson-theatre-vault-0000008063 ↩

  30. "Tiny Alice (Broadway, 1964)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024. https://www.playbill.com/production/tiny-alice-billy-rose-theatre-vault-0000002771 ↩

  31. "A Delicate Balance (Broadway, 1966)". April 18, 2024. https://www.playbill.com/production/a-delicate-balance-martin-beck-theatre-vault-0000008242 ↩

  32. "Before You Go (Broadway, 1968)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024. https://www.playbill.com/production/before-you-go-henry-millers-theatre-vault-0000013430 ↩

  33. "Father's Day (Broadway, 1971)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024. https://www.playbill.com/production/fathers-day-john-golden-theatre-vault-0000008427 ↩

  34. "Next Time I'll Sing You (Broadway, 1974)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024. https://www.playbill.com/production/next-time-ill-sing-to-you-billy-rose-theatre-vault-0000002733 ↩

  35. "Equus (Broadway, 1974)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024. https://www.playbill.com/production/equus-plymouth-theatre-vault-0000009581 ↩

  36. "The Merchant (Broadway, 1977)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024. https://www.playbill.com/productions/the-merchant-plymouth-theatre-vault-0000009578 ↩

  37. "Deathtrap (Broadway, 1978)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024. https://www.playbill.com/production/deathtrap-music-box-theatre-vault-0000002598 ↩

  38. "Ivanov (Broadway, 1997)". April 18, 2024. https://www.playbill.com/production/ivanov-vivian-beaumont-theatre-vault-0000011236 ↩

  39. "Ring Round the Moon (Broadway, 1999)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024. https://www.playbill.com/production/ring-round-the-moon-belasco-theatre-vault-0000010761 ↩

  40. "45 Seconds from Broadway (Broadway, 2001)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024. https://www.playbill.com/production/45-seconds-from-broadway-richard-rodgers-theatre-vault-0000003069 ↩

  41. "Helen". Abouttheartist. Retrieved April 18, 2024. https://www.abouttheartists.com/productions/16635-helen-at-joseph-papp-public-theater-slash-martinson-hall-march-19-april-21-2002 ↩

  42. "Dinner at Eight (Broadway, 2003)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024. https://www.playbill.com/production/dinner-at-eight-vivian-beaumont-theatre-vault-0000011224 ↩

  43. "The Royal Family". Abouttheartist. Retrieved April 18, 2024. https://www.abouttheartists.com/productions/37914-the-royal-family-at-ahmanson-theatre-march-27-may-16-2004 ↩

  44. "It's a Wonderful Life (Broadway, 2005)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024. https://www.playbill.com/production/a-wonderful-lifebroadway-sam-s-shubert-theatre-2005 ↩

  45. "Deuce (Broadway, 2007)". Playbill. Retrieved April 18, 2024. https://www.playbill.com/production/deuce-music-box-theatre-vault-0000002564 ↩

  46. "7 Scene-Stealing Performances in the Comic Opera "La Fille du Régiment"". PBS. Retrieved April 18, 2024. https://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/blog/gp-at-the-met-la-la-fille-du-regiment-7-scene-stealing-performances-in-the-comic-opera-la-fille-du-regiment/ ↩

  47. "Those Were the Days". Nostalgia Digest. 41 (2): 32–41. Spring 2015. ↩

  48. "1967 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved April 18, 2024. https://www.tonyawards.com/nominees/year/1967/category/any/show/any/ ↩

  49. "1971 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved April 18, 2024. https://www.tonyawards.com/nominees/year/1971/category/any/show/any/ ↩

  50. "1978 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved April 18, 2024. https://www.tonyawards.com/nominees/year/1978/category/any/show/any/ ↩

  51. "1999 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved April 18, 2024. https://www.tonyawards.com/nominees/year/1999/category/any/show/any/ ↩

  52. "2003 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved April 18, 2024. https://www.tonyawards.com/nominees/year/2003/category/any/show/any/ ↩

  53. "2010 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved April 18, 2024. https://www.tonyawards.com/nominees/year/2010/category/any/show/any/ ↩