Martha Scott
(1912 - 2003)She has enjoyed a long and successful acting career dating from her early days in theatre on thru movies and television totaling over 60 years. Pictured above in her early years as a strawberry-blonde beauty. With her kindly, smiling face, doe-like brown eyes and soft soothing voice she has played everything from devoted young wives and girlfriends to matriarchs and nuns throughout her career. She was born on September 22, 1912 in Jamesport, Missouri and raised in the Midwest. She attended college at the University of Michigan where she earned a bachelor's degree in drama in 1934 and later joined stock theatres where she trained further in dramatic acting. She spent a time working in radio also and eventually made her Broadway debut in 1938 in "Our Town" to rave reviews and acclaim. She was cast in the film version of "Our Town" (1940) as Emily Webb and earned an Oscar nomination as Best Actress in her film debut. Among her other impressive film credits are: "The Howards of Virginia" (1940) as Jane Peyton; "They Dare Not Love" (1941) as Marta Keller; "One Foot in Heaven" (1941) with Frederic March, as Hope Morris Spence; "Cheers for Miss Bishop" (1941) as Ella Bishop; "Stage Door Canteen" (1943) as Stage Door Canteen Star; "Hi Diddle Diddle" (1943) as Janie Prescott; "In Old Oklahoma" (1943) as Catherine Allen; "So Well Remembered" (1947) as Olivia Channing/Olivia Boswell/Olivia Winslow; "Strange Bargain" (1949) as Georgia Wilson; "When I Grow Up" (1951) as Mother Reed in 1890's; "The Desperate Hours" (1955) with Humphrey Bogart & Frederick March, as Eleanor Hilliard, one of my favorite of her roles; "The Ten Commandments" (1956) as Yochabel (Mother of Moses) another standout role; "Eighteen and Anxious" (1957) as Lottie Graham; "Sayonara" (1957) as Mrs. Webster; "Ben Hur" (1959) as Miriam, mother of Ben Hur, another of my favorite of her roles; "Charlotte's Web" (1973) as voice of Mrs. Arable; "Airport 1975" (1974) as Sister Beatrice; "The Turning Point" (1977) as Adelaide and "Doin' Time on Planet Earth" (1988) as Virginia Camalier. On TV she was quite prolific also as a regular on the series: "Modern Romances" (1954-58) as Host and Narrator; perhaps her best known role on "The Bob Newhart Show" (1972-77) as Martha Hartley, Bob's wacky mother (illustrating her amazing versatility); "The Bionic Woman" (1976-78) as Helen Elgin; "Dallas" (1979-85) as Patricia Shepard; "The Word" (1978) a mini-series as Sarah Randall; "Beulah Land" (1980) a mini-series as Penelope Pennington; "Secrets of Midland Heights" (1980-81) as Margaret Millington and "General Hospital" (1985-86) a soap opera, as Jennifer Talbot. She appeared in numerous TV movies including: "The Abduction of St. Anne" (1975); "Father Figure" (1980) and "Adam" (1983). She guest starred on many series including: "Route 66"; "The F.B.I."; "Longstreet"; "Marcus Welby, M.D."; "Highway to Heaven"; "Love Boat"; "Magnum, P.I."; "Police Story" and "Murder, She Wrote." Her mother Letha McKinley Scott was a second cousin to President William McKinley. Her first marriage was to Carleton Alsop, a producer of film and radio, in 1940. They had a son Scott. Her second marriage was to Mel Powell a musician-composer and college professor in 1946. It lasted 52 years until his death in 1998. She had two daughters by Powell, Mary and Kathleen. She remained active in theatre until 1991. She had a wonderful career creating many memorable roles. She died of natural causes on May 28, 2003 in Van Nuys, California at age 90.
From Great Character Actors, Page 5.
|
