Thelma Ritter (1902–1969)

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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 (1947). In the movie she played a weary Xmas shopper. Her performance in the short scene was noticed by Darryl F. Zanuck who insisted... See full bio »

Died:

(age 66) in New York, USA

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Nominated for 6 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 9 nominations. See more awards »

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77 photos | 3 videos »

Known For

All About Eve
All About Eve Birdie Coonan
(1950)
Rear Window
Rear Window Stella
(1954)
Pickup on South Street
Pickup on South Street Moe Williams
(1953)
The Mating Season
The Mating Season Ellen McNulty
(1951)
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Filmography

Hide Hide Show Show Actress (44 credits)
 1968 What's So Bad About Feeling Good?
Mrs. Schwartz
 1967 The Incident
Bertha Beckerman
 1965 Boeing, Boeing
Bertha
 1963 Move Over, Darling
Grace Arden
 1963 A New Kind of Love
Lena O'Connor
 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 General Electric 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 Repertory Theatre (TV Series)
Muriel
- The Ghost Writer (1955) ... Muriel
 1955 Goodyear Playhouse (TV Series)
Mother
- The Catered Affair (1955) ... Mother
 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 Video Theatre Guest
- Christmas in July (1954) ... Lux Video 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 As Young as You Feel
Della Hodges
 1951 The Mating Season
Ellen McNulty
 1950 All About Eve
Birdie Coonan
 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
Captain's Secretary (uncredited)
 1947 Miracle on 34th Street
Peter's Mother (uncredited)
Show Show Soundtrack (3 credits)
Show Show Self (16 credits)
Show Show Archive footage (14 credits)

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Personal Details

Other Works:

Stage: Appeared (as "Shirley Amber"; final Broadway role) in "UTBU" on Broadway. Comedy. Written by James Kirkwood. Directed by Nancy Walker. Helen Hayes Theatre: 4 Jan 1966-8 Jan 1966 (7 performances + 15 previews that began on 27 Dec 1965). Cast: Tom Aldredge (as "Eugene Boyer"), Cathryn Damon (as "Anastasia Amber"), Constance Ford ... See more »

Publicity Listings:

3 Articles | See more »

Height:

5' 1" (1.55 m)
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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.

Trivia:

Was in four Oscar Best Picture nominees: Miracle on 34th Street (1947), A Letter to Three Wives (1949), All About Eve (1950) and How the West Was Won (1962), with All About Eve winning. See more »

Star Sign:

Aquarius
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