Thelma Ritter Picture
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Thelma Ritter (1902–1969)

Actress | Soundtrack

Thelma Ritter appeared in high school plays and was trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. In the 1940s she worked in radio. Her movie career was started with a bit part in the 1946 Miracle on 34th Street. In the movie she played a weary Xmas shopper. Her performance in the short scene was noticed by Darryl F. Zanuck who insisted her role be expanded... See full bio »

Born:

in Brooklyn, New York, USA

Died:

(age 66) in New York, USA
Still of Thelma Ritter and Anthony Sydes in Miracle on 34th Street Still of Edward G. Robinson, Frank Sinatra and Thelma Ritter in A Hole in the Head Still of Edward G. Robinson, Eleanor Parker and Thelma Ritter in A Hole in the Head Still of Burt Lancaster and Thelma Ritter in Birdman of Alcatraz
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Nominated for 6 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 4 nominations See more awards »

Known For


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Filmography

Hide HideActress (44 titles)
1968 What's So Bad About Feeling Good?
Mrs. Schwartz
 
1967 The Incident
Bertha Beckerman
 
1965 Boeing (707) Boeing (707)
Bertha
 
1963 Move Over, Darling
Grace Arden
 
1963 A New Kind of Love
Leena
 
1963 For Love or Money
Chloe Brasher
 
1962 How the West Was Won
Agatha Clegg
 
1962 Wagon Train (TV series)
Madame Delphine Sagittarius
– The Madame Sagittarius Story (1962) … Madame Delphine Sagittarius
 
1962 Birdman of Alcatraz
Elizabeth Stroud
 
1961 The Second Time Around
Aggie Gates
 
1961 Frontier Circus (TV series)
Bertha Marie Beecher
– Journey from Hannibal (1961) … Bertha Marie Beecher
 
1961 The Misfits
Isabelle Steers
 
1960 Startime (TV series)
Mrs. Gillis
– The Man (1960) … Mrs. Gillis
 
1960 G.E. True Theater (TV series)
Doris Green
– Sarah's Laughter (1960) … Doris Green
 
1959 Pillow Talk
Alma
 
1959 A Hole in the Head
Sophie Manetta
 
1957 Telephone Time (TV series)
Mary Devlin
– Plot to Save a Boy (1957) … Mary Devlin
 
1957 The United States Steel Hour (TV series)
Ma Garfield
– The Human Pattern (1957) … Ma Garfield
 
1956 The Christophers (TV series)
– Washington Speaks for Himself (1956)
 
1956 The Proud and Profane
Kate Connors
 
1956 Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV series)
Lottie Slocum
– The Baby Sitter (1956) … Lottie Slocum
 
1955 The 20th Century-Fox Hour (TV series)
Abby
– Christopher Bean (1955) … Abby
 
1955 Lucy Gallant
Molly Basserman
 
1955 Goodyear Playhouse (TV series)
– The Catered Affair (1955)
– The Ghost Writer (1955)
 
1955 The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse (TV series)
– A Catered Affair (1955)
 
1955 Daddy Long Legs
Alicia Pritchard
 
1955 The Best of Broadway (TV series)
Mrs. Fisher
– The Show-Off (1955) … Mrs. Fisher
 
1954 Lux Video Theatre (TV series)
Lux Vieo Theatre Guest
– Christmas in July (1954) … Lux Vieo Theatre Guest
 
1954 Rear Window
Stella
 
1953 The Farmer Takes a Wife
Lucy Cashdollar
 
1953 Pickup on South Street
Moe Williams
 
1953 Titanic
Maude Young
 
1952 With a Song in My Heart
Clancy
 
1951 The Model and the Marriage Broker
Mae Swasey
 
1951 As Young as You Feel
Della Hodges
 
1951 The Mating Season
Ellen McNulty
 
1950 All About Eve
Birdie
 
1950 I'll Get By
Miss Murphy
 
1950 Perfect Strangers
Lena Fassler
 
1949 Father Was a Fullback
Geraldine
 
1949 City Across the River
Mrs. Katie Cusack
 
1949 A Letter to Three Wives
Sadie Dugan (uncredited)
 
1948 Call Northside 777
Receptionist (uncredited)
 
1947 Miracle on 34th Street
Peter's Mother (uncredited)
 
Show ShowSoundtrack (2 titles)
1953 The Farmer Takes a Wife (performer: "We're Doing It for the Natives of Jamaica" 1953 - uncredited, "I Could Cook" 1953 - uncredited)
 
1951 As Young as You Feel (performer: "Born to Be Kissed" - uncredited)
 
Show ShowSelf (8 titles)
1966 Girl Talk (TV series)
Herself
– Episode dated 25 November 1966 (1966) … Herself
 
1964 The Jack Paar Program (TV series)
Herself - Guest
– Episode #2.16 (1964) … Herself - Guest
 
1960 Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall (TV series)
Herself - Guest
– Episode dated 26 October 1960 (1960) … Herself - Guest
 
1958 The Jack Paar Tonight Show (TV series)
Herself
– Episode #2.23 (1958) … Herself
– Episode #2.8 (1958) … Herself
 
1958 The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (TV series)
Herself
– Episode #2.11 (1958) … Herself
 
1955 The Colgate Comedy Hour (TV series)
Herself - Comic Actress
– Episode #6.2 (1955) … Herself - Comic Actress
 
1955 The 27th Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Herself - Host: New York
 
1954 The 26th Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Herself - Nominee: Best Actress in a Supporting Role (in New York)
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (8 titles)
2006 American Masters (TV series documentary)
 
2002 Great Performances (TV series)
 
2002 The Men Who Made the Movies: Samuel Fuller (TV documentary)
Moe Williams
 
2000 'Rear Window' Ethics: Remembering and Restoring a Hitchcock Classic (video documentary)
Stella
 
1999 All About My Mother
Birdie (uncredited)
 
1998 Biography (TV series documentary)
 
1989 Hollywood Remembers Marilyn Monroe (video documentary short)
 
1989 John Huston: The Man, the Movies, the Maverick (documentary)
Herself (uncredited)
 

Related Videos

A Hole in the Head -- The story of the problems of a footloose widower and his 12-year-old son, a near-bankrupt Miami Beach hotel, a bongo-playing show girl and a matchmaking sister-in-law. Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Season 1: Episode 32 -- A chatty babysitter becomes the center of a domestic squabble that ends in murder. Pillow Talk -- Trailer for the hit comedy Pillow Talk starring Doris Day and Rock Hudson
See all 10 »
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Personal Details

Other Works:

(1957). Stage Play: New Girl In Town. Musical. Book written by George Abbott. Based on the 1921 Eugene O'Neill play "Anna Christie." Choreographed by Bob Fosse. Production Design by Rouben Ter-Arutunian. Directed by George Abbott. 46th Street Theatre: 14 May 1957- 24 May 1958 (431 performances)... See more »
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Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

[on being nominated for Best Supporting Actress four times in a row] Now I know what it feels like to be the bridesmaid and never the bride. See more »

Trivia:

Won Broadway's 1958 Tony Award as Best Actress (Musical) for "New Girl in Town" in a tie with her co-star, Gwen Verdon . See more »

Star Sign:

Aquarius