Biography for
Celeste Holm More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

29 April 1917, New York City, New York, USA

Height

5' 6" (1.68 m)

Mini Biography

Celeste Holm was an only child, born into a home where her mother was a painter and her father worked in insurance. She would study acting at the University of Chicago and make her stage debut in 1936. Her Broadway debut came when she was 19. She appeared in many successful plays including "The Women", "Oklahoma!" and "Bloomer Girl". It was in the production of "Oklahoma!" that Celeste would sing the show stopper "I Cain't Say No". She was signed by 20th Century Fox in 1946 and appeared in her first film 'Three Little Girls in Blue'. With her third film 'Gentlemen's Agreement (1947)', she would win the Supporting Actress Oscar and a Golden Globe. Celeste would be nominated twice more for Academy Awards in the 'Come to the Stable (1949)' and 'All About Eve (1950)'. But Celeste was a star who loved the stage so she left Hollywood, only to return for two MGM musicals in the fifties. They were 'The Tender Trap (1955)' and 'High Society (1956). In addition to her stage career, Celeste appeared on Television in her own series "Honestly Celeste (1954)" and as a panelist on "Who Pays? (1959)". In 1970, Celeste returned to series Television as the chaperone to the president's daughter on "Nancy". For the next two decades, she would appear on Television in regular series, mini series and movies.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Tony Fontana <tony.fontana@spacebbs.com>

Spouse

Frank Basile	(29 April 2004 - present)
Wesley Addy	(22 May 1966 - 31 December 1996) (his death)
A. Schuyler Dunning	(21 March 1946 - 6 May 1953) (divorced) 1 child
Francis Emerson Harding Davies	(7 January 1940 - 8 May 1945) (divorced)
Ralph Nelson	(1936 - 1939) (divorced) 1 child

Trivia

Performed in five stage shows with George M. Cohan.

Turned down the 1977 Broadway revival of "Oklahoma!" when she realized she was wanted for Aunt Eller not Ado Annie.

Originated the role of boy-crazy Ado Annie, the girl who "cain't say no", in "Oklahoma!" on Broadway in the 40s.

Recently won undisclosed settlement from 'Pedro Almodolvar' for his use of film footage of her from "All About Eve" without her permission in his film "All About My Mother"; her contract from the film stipulated her image could not be used.

Is a spokesperson for UNICEF.

Appointed to the National Arts Council by President Ronald Reagan

Her professional theatrical debut was in a production of "Hamlet" with Leslie Howard (Ashley - Gone With the Wind)

Inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame in 1992

Tours occasionally with her one person show, "An Intimate Evening with Celeste" where she relates stories from her long film career, followed by readings from writer Ruth Draper.

Was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor

She is the daughter of Theodor Holm, a Norwegian insurance adjuster for Loyd's of London, and Jean Parke Holm, an American portrait artist and author.

Received an honorary degree from Seton Hall University in May 1991.

In 1957, King Olav V of Norway made her Knight 1st Class of the Order of St. Olav for her help in saving one of Norway's national treasures, the schooner "Christian Radich."

Has a son Theodor Holm "Ted" Nelson (b. May 1937) from her first husband Ralph Nelson. Ted is an innovator in the information technology industry. It was Nelson who coined the term "hypertext", in the early 1960s.

In April 2006, Holm was presented with one of the first two Lifetime Achievement Awards ever awarded by the SunDeis Film Festival at Brandeis University. (Margaret O'Brien received the other.).

Following her divorce from Ralph Nelson Holm put her son Ted Nelson in the care of her parents in order to pursue her acting career. She saw him only in between breaks from shooting or rehearsals, but maintained a closer relationship with him when Ted became an adult.

Has a son Daniel Dunning (b. November 1946) from her third husband A. Schuyler Dunning.

Returned to work six months after giving birth to her son Daniel in order to begin filming Gentleman's Agreement (1947).

Met her fifth husband Frank Basile, 46 years her junior, at a fund-raiser in October 1999.

Has one grandson David Dunning (b. 1981); they have been estranged since 2007.

Lives on Central Park West in Manhattan, New York City, in a co-op apartment she bought in 1953 for $10,000 cash.

Confirmed that she no longer speaks to her sons following 5 years of litigation, which has resulted in Holm losing $2 million in lawyer's fees (2 July 2011).

Was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2002.

Her youngest son Daniel lived with her until he was age 15 and then began attending boarding school.

Personal Quotes

[on her wisecracking smart girl image] "I hated that. It's stereotyped. I only played that kind of role in two pictures and that was enough, thank you. It's not me."

We live by encouragement and die without it - slowly, sadly and angrily.

My Norwegian family says, 'You're the most grounded American we've ever met.

[on Bette Davis] I walked onto the set [All About Eve (1950)] and there's Bette and I say 'Good Morning,' and she said, 'Oh, shit, good manners,' and I felt as if I'd been hit in the face with a wet flounder and I never spoke to her again. She called me a 'Bitch,' okay.