Elizabeth Wilson

Wilson was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the daughter of insurance agent Henry Dunning Wilson and Marie Ethel (née Welter) Wilson. Her maternal grandfather was a wealthy German immigrant, and Wilson was raised in a large mansion.{{cite web|last1=Goldberg|first1=Bonnie|title=Well-Played|url=http://dailynutmeg.com/2014/07/17/elizabeth-wilson-well-played/|website=Daily Nutmeg|access-date=May 11, 2015|location=New Haven, Connecticut|date=July 17, 2014}}Jean, Pat Grand. [http://www.connecticutmag.com/Connecticut-Magazine/April-2012/First-Q-A-Elizabeth-Wilson/?cparticle=2&siarticle=1 "First Q&A: Elizabeth Wilson"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304043126/http://www.connecticutmag.com/Connecticut-Magazine/April-2012/First-Q-A-Elizabeth-Wilson/?cparticle=2&siarticle=1 |date=March 4, 2016 }} Connecticut Magazine, April 2012 She attended the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia, and then studied with Sanford Meisner at The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City.

Wilson was a versatile character actress, appearing in over 30 movies and many Broadway plays. The Los Angeles Times noted: "Tall and elegant, Wilson often played women who had or sought authority."Chawkins, Steve. [http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-elizabeth-wilson-20150512-story.html "Elizabeth Wilson dies at 94; actress often played women of authority"], Los Angeles Times, May 11, 2015.

Wilson made her Broadway debut in Picnic in 1953. Her stage credits include Desk Set (1955), The Good Woman of Szechuan (1970), Sticks and Bones (1972), Uncle Vanya (1973), Threepenny Opera (1976), The Importance of Being Earnest (1977), Morning's at Seven (1980), You Can't Take It with You (1983), Ah, Wilderness! (1988), and A Delicate Balance (1996).[http://www.playbillvault.com/Person/Detail/79474/Elizabeth-Wilson "Elizabeth Wilson Broadway Credits"], playbillvault.com, accessed May 11, 2015

Wilson made her screen debut reprising her stage role in the 1955 film adaptation of Picnic as Christine Schoenwalder.[https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/86664/picnic Picnic Overview, Cast and Crew], tcm.com; accessed May 11, 2015. Additional films include Patterns (1956), The Goddess (1958),[http://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-goddess-v20075/cast-crew " The Goddess Cast and Crew"], allmovie.com, accessed May 13, 2015. The Tunnel of Love (1958),[https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/474/the-tunnel-of-love " The Tunnel of Love Cast and Crew"], tcm.com, accessed May 13, 2015. A Child Is Waiting (1963,[http://www.allmovie.com/movie/a-child-is-waiting-v9217/cast-crew " A Child Is Waiting Cast and Crew"], allmovie.com, accessed May 13, 2015. The Birds (1963),[https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/30594/the-birds " The Birds Cast and Crew"], tcm.com, accessed May 14, 2015. The Graduate (1967),[https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/18530/the-graduate " The Graduate Cast and Crew"], tcm.com, accessed May 12, 2015. Jenny (1970), Catch-22 (1970)[https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/16665/catch-22 " Catch-22 Cast and Crew"], tcm.com, accessed May 14, 2015. Little Murders (1971), The Day of the Dolphin (1973),[https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/72425/the-day-of-the-dolphin " The Day of the Dolphin Cast and Crew"], tcm.com, accessed May 12, 2015 Man on a Swing (1974), The Prisoner of Second Avenue (1975),Passafiume, Andrea. [https://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/202417|0/The-Prisoner-of-Second-Avenue.html The Prisoner of Second Avenue], tcm.com, accessed May 12, 2015. 9 to 5 (1980),[https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/85046/nine-to-five " Nine to Five Overview"], tcm.com, accessed May 12, 2015. Grace Quigley (1984),Thomas, Kevin. [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-12-13-ca-17014-story.html "Movie Reviews. 'Quigley': Hepburn, Nolte Light Up A Black Comedy"], articles.latimes.com, December 13, 1985; accessed May 12, 2015. Regarding Henry (1991),[http://www.allmovie.com/movie/regarding-henry-v40811/cast-crew " Regarding Henry Cast and Crew"], allmovie.com, accessed May 12, 2015 The Addams Family (1991),Staff.[https://variety.com/1990/film/reviews/the-addams-family-3-1200428731/ "Review: 'The Addams Family'"] Variety, December 31, 1990. and Quiz Show (1994).[https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/18825/quiz-show Quiz Show Overview, Cast and Crew], tcm.com, accessed May 11, 2015. Her last film role was as Sara Delano Roosevelt in Hyde Park on Hudson (2012).[http://www.allmovie.com/movie/hyde-park-on-hudson-v538889/cast-crew Hyde Park on Hudson Cast and Crew"], allmovie.com, accessed May 11, 2015.

Wilson's television credits include early anthology series such as Kraft Television Theatre, The United States Steel Hour, and Armstrong Circle Theatre. She was a regular on the primetime drama East Side/West Side and the sitcom Doc, and appeared in Dark Shadows, The Secret Storm, Another World, All in the Family, Murder, She Wrote, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent. She also appeared in television movies, including The Boys Next Door (1996).Horowitz, Lisa A. [https://variety.com/1996/film/reviews/the-boys-next-door-2-1200445120 "Review: The Boys Next Door"], Variety.com, February 4, 1996. She appeared in the miniseries Nutcracker: Money, Madness and Murder in March 1987 as the mother of Frances Schreuder (played by Lee Remick),O'Connor, John J. "Murder, Reheated By a Star". The New York Times. March 22, 1987. p.H29 as well as the miniseries Alex Haley's Queen.

On May 9, 2015, at age 94, Wilson died at her home in New Haven, Connecticut. She is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with her parents. She never married or had children.{{cite news |last1=Chawkins |first1=Steve |title=Elizabeth Wilson dies at 94; actress often played women of authority |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-elizabeth-wilson-20150512-story.html#:~:text=Wilson%2C%20who%20never%20married%20or,an%20actress%20and%20close%20friend. |access-date=5 August 2024 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=May 11, 2015}}

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• [http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/elizabeth-wilson-dead-character-actress-794706 Obituary], HollywoodReporter.com

{{TonyAward PlayFeaturedActress 1947–1975}}

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Category:1921 births

Category:2015 deaths

Category:American people of German descent

Category:American film actresses

Category:American stage actresses

Category:American television actresses

Category:Actresses from Grand Rapids, Michigan

Category:Tony Award winners

Category:American Academy of Dramatic Arts alumni

Category:Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre alumni

Category:20th-century American actresses

Category:21st-century American actresses

Category:Grand Rapids Community College alumni