Norma Connolly | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1927-08-27)August 27, 1927 Boston,Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | November 18, 1998(1998-11-18) (aged 71) Los Angeles,California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Brandeis University |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1951–98 |
| Known for |
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| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
Norma Connolly (August 27, 1927 – November 18, 1998) was an American actress having a career spanning five decades and known for her roles onThe Young Marrieds as Lena Karr Gilroy andGeneral Hospital asRuby Anderson.
Connolly was born on August 27, 1927, inBoston,Massachusetts[1][2] to Beulah and Archie Connolly, where her father owned a lumber business.[3] She graduated fromBrandeis University in 1958.[3] Connolly studied acting withMorris Carnovsky at theLeland Powers School of Drama, with bothHarold Clurman andStella Adler atActors Studio, and at theCushing Academy.[3]
Connolly started her career as aguest star onPulitzer Prize Playhouse in 1951. She next was inCelanese Theatre as Marcia in 1952. Connollly would guest star in a number of television programs such asDanger,Naked City,The Twilight Zone,Dr. Kildare,Mr. Novak,The F.B.I.,I Dream of Jeannie,The Bold Ones: The New Doctors,Columbo,Little House on the Prairie, andCharlie's Angels. She starred in themade-for-TV-moviesMr. and Mrs. Cop[4] andF. Scott Fitzgerald in Hollywood. Connolly starred in theminiseriesQB VII as Corinne. She is best known for her roles as Lena Karr Gilroy inThe Young Marrieds from 1964 to 1966 andRuby Anderson onGeneral Hospital from 1979 to 1998.[1][5] She was inAlfred Hitchcock'sThe Wrong Man (1956),Robert Lewin'sThird of a Man (1962),Robert Mulligan'sThe Other (1972), andJames Goldstone'sThey Only Kill Their Masters (1972). She was nominated for aDaytime Emmy Award for her performance as Ruby Anderson in1985 at the12th Daytime Emmy Awards.[6]
On stage, Connolly was inA Streetcar Named Desire onBroadway. She was inNight of the Iguana andThe Crucible at Los Angeles'Ahmanson Theatre.[7][8] Connolly also appeared on Broadway in such plays asThe Love of Four Colonels andMake a Million.[7]
Connolly married Howard Rodman in 1954; the marriage ended when he died on December 5, 1985.[9] Together, they had three children: two sons and one daughter.[1] She was active in the battle againstAIDS, serving on the board of Hollywood Helps.[1][2][7] Connolly addressed the concerns of actresses in their limited roles in television and film productions.[7] She died on Wednesday, November 18, 1998, from complications of astroke.[2][10][11]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | The Wrong Man | Betty Todd | Docudrama filmdirected byAlfred Hitchcock.[12][13][14][15] |
| 1962 | Third of a Man | Extra |
|
| 1972 | The Other | Aunt Vee | Psychological thriller film directed byRobert Mulligan[17] and adapted for film byTom Tryon from hisnovel of the same name. |
| They Only Kill Their Masters | Mrs. DeCamp | Mystery film directed byJames Goldstone.[18] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | Pulitzer Prize Playhouse | Guest | Episode: "Ned McCobb's Daughter" (S 1:Ep 15) |
| 1952 | Celanese Theatre | Marcia | Episode: "On Borrowed Time" (S 1:Ep 20) |
| 1953 | Danger | Guest | Episode: "Missing Night" (S 3:Ep 41) |
| 1956 | Star Stage | Guest | Episode: "Scandal on Deepside" (S 1:Ep 30) |
| 1959 | Alcoa Theatre | Guest | Episode: "How's Business?" (S 2:Ep 15) |
| 1960 | Naked City | Ruth Peters | Episode: "Killer with a Kiss" (S 2:Ep 6) |
| 1961 | The Twilight Zone | Night Nurse | Episode: "Twenty Two" (S 2:Ep 17) |
| 1962 | The Real McCoys | Carol Dorset | Episode: "The Washing Machine" (S 5:Ep 13) |
| Dr. Kildare | Therapist | Episode: "Breakdown" (S 2:Ep 7) | |
| Eleventh Hour | Ruth | Episode: "Ruth" (S 1:Ep 7) | |
| The Real McCoys | Ethel | Episode: "Luke the Reporter" (S 6:Ep 13) | |
| 1963 | The Lloyd Bridges Show | Winnie | Episode: "The Ramp" (S 1:Ep 31) |
| Naked City | Pearl Wystemski | Episode: "Golden Lads and Girls" (S 4:Ep 33) | |
| 1964 | Many Happy Returns | Laughing Woman | Episode: "Walter Meets the Machine" (S 1:Ep 2) |
| The Young Marrieds | Lena Karr Gilroy | Contract role from October 5, 1964 – March 25, 1966 | |
| Mr. Novak | Mrs. Parker | Episode: "'A' Is for Anxiety" (S 2:Ep 10) | |
| 1965 | Ben Casey | Mrs. Mangiopani | Episode: "Eulogy in Four Flats" (S 4:Ep 24) |
| The F.B.I. | Woman | Episode: "The Giant Killer" (S 1:Ep 10) | |
| 1966 | Gidget | Miss Beckley | Episode: "Ask Helpful Hannah" (S 1:Ep 29) |
| The F.B.I. | Aline Spencer | Episode: "The Animal" (S 1:Ep 29) | |
| 1967 | The Invaders | Waitress | Episode: "The Spores" (S 2:Ep 7) |
| Dundee and the Culhane | Guest | Episode: "The Widow's Weeds Brief" (S 1:Ep 11) | |
| 1970 | I Dream of Jeannie | Mrs. Ross | Episode: "Jeannie, the Recording Secretary" (S 5:Ep 20) |
| Adam-12 | Eva Foster | Episode: "Log 75: Have a Nice Weekend" (S 3:Ep 7) | |
| The Bold Ones: The New Doctors | Mrs. Dorsey | Episode: "First: No Harm to the Patient" (S 2:Ep 4) | |
| 1971 | The F.B.I. | Ruth Oliver | Episode: "Unknown Victim" (S 6:Ep 15) |
| Columbo | Celia | Episode: "Ransom for a Dead Man" (Secondpilot) | |
| 1972 | The Man and the City | Guest | Episode: "Diagnosis: Corruption" (S 1:Ep 15) |
| 1973 | The Streets of San Francisco | Mrs. Carter | Episode: "A Wrongful Death" (S 2:Ep 1) |
| 1974 | QB VII | Corinne | Miniseries directed byTom Gries[19] |
| Mr. and Mrs. Cop | Mother | Made-for-TV-Movie directed byHarvey Hart.[20] | |
| Ironside | Lydia Todd | Episodes:
| |
| Police Woman | Stage Mother | Episode: "The Beautiful Die Young" (S 1:Ep 2) | |
| Little House on the Prairie | Mrs. Kirkwood | Episode: "Ma's Holiday" (S 1:Ep 8) | |
| 1975 | Harry O | Mrs. Hodges | Episode:"Lester" (S 1:Ep 20) |
| F. Scott Fitzgerald in Hollywood | Zelda's Nurse | Made-for-TV-Movie directed byAnthony Page.[21] | |
| 1976 | Police Woman | Landlady | Episode: "Mother Love" (S 2:Ep 22) |
| The Bionic Woman | Mrs. Noah | Episode: "Jaime's Mother" (S 1:Ep 8) | |
| Charlie's Angels | Mrs. Lemson | Episode: "Hellride" (S 1:Ep 1) | |
| 1977 | Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman | Prisoner | Episode: "Episode #2.90" (S 2:Ep 153) |
| The Edge of Night | Mrs. Yost | Unknown number of episodes | |
| 1979-1997 | General Hospital | Ruby Anderson | Contract role (final appearance) |
| 1999 | Intimate Portrait | Herself |
|
| Year | Award | Category | Title | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | General Hospital | Nominated | [6] |
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