Nancy Coleman | |
|---|---|
 Coleman in 1956 | |
| Born | (1912-12-30)December 30, 1912 Everett, Washington, U.S. |
| Died | January 18, 2000(2000-01-18) (aged 87) Brockport, New York, U.S. |
| Resting place | Lake View Cemetery |
| Alma mater | University of Washington |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1938–1985 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
Nancy Coleman (December 30, 1912 – January 18, 2000) was an American film, stage, television and radio actress. After working on radio and appearing on the Broadway stage, Nancy Coleman moved to Hollywood to work forWarner Bros. studios.
Coleman was born December 30, 1912, in Everett, Washington,[1] where her father, Charles Sumner Coleman, was editor ofThe Daily Herald.[2] Her mother, Grace Sharplass Coleman,[3] was "an accomplished violinist."[4] The family lived in Everett, Washington, where she graduated with honors fromEverett High School.[2]
She attended the University of Washington in Seattle where she majored in English[5][4] and was a member of the Alpha Lambda chapter ofKappa Alpha Theta.[6] After graduating, she was accepted at Columbia University's Teacher's College in New York. She attended the university, but dropped out, moving to San Francisco, California,[7] where she worked as an elevator operator at a department store.[8]
Early in her career as an actress, Coleman portrayed Alice Hughes on the radio version of the soap operaYoung Doctor Malone.[9] Coleman also appeared as the lead in the 04/13/1943 episode of "Suspense", entitled "Fear Paints a Picture". On television, she played Helen Emerson onValiant Lady.[10]
Coleman's Broadway credits includeLiberty Jones (1941),The Sacred Flame (1952), andThe Desperate Hours (1955).[11]
Memorable roles include playing the mistress to a Nazi (played byHelmut Dantine) inEdge of Darkness and co-starring withPaul Henreid inIn Our Time. In the 1950s, Coleman began making guest appearances on television. She also playedAnne Brontë in the filmDevotion (1946) oppositeOlivia de Havilland andIda Lupino.
Coleman married Whitney Bolton, a drama critic and publicity director,[12] on September 16, 1943.[13] They remained wed until his death in 1969.[14] She gave birth to twin girls, Charla Elizabeth and Grania Theresa, on July 13, 1944.[15]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1941 | Dangerously They Live | Jane | |
| 1942 | Kings Row | Louise Gordon | |
| The Gay Sisters | Susie Gaylord | ||
| Desperate Journey | Kaethe Brahms | ||
| 1943 | Edge of Darkness | Katja | |
| 1944 | In Our Time | Janina Orwid | |
| 1946 | Devotion | Anne Brontë | |
| Her Sister's Secret | Antoinette 'Toni' DuBois | ||
| 1947 | Violence | Ann Dwire, alias Ann Mason | |
| Mourning Becomes Electra | Hazel Niles | ||
| 1953 | That Man from Tangier | Mary Ellen | |
| 1969 | Slaves | Mrs. Stillwell |
