Ruth White (actress)
Ruth Patricia White (born April 24, 1914 in Perth Amboy , New Jersey , † December 3, 1969 , ibid) was an American actress .
Life
Ruth White is the three years older sister of actor Charles White . She completed her literature studies in 1935 at the New Jersey College for Women, now Douglass Residential College , an institute of Rutgers University . She then tried to establish herself as an actress in New York , taking acting classes with Maria Ouspenskaya herself and teaching acting and drama at Seton Hall University .
White made her Broadway debut on April 5, 1949 with the play The Ivy Green, written by Mervyn Nelson . Just four days later it was canceled after seven performances. Nevertheless, she was able to establish herself at the New York theater and from then on she played regularly on various stages. Her greatest success was with her portrayal of Winnie in Samuel Beckett's Happy Days on Off-Broadway , for which she was honored with an Obie Award for best actress . For her play in Harold Pinters The Birthday Party , she received a 1968 nomination for the prestigious Tony Award .
From the late 1950s onwards, White was increasingly seen on television and on screen, with supporting roles in films such as Who disturbs the nightingale , Hang him higher and Asphalt-Cowboy until her death . For the television performance of the play Little Moon of Alban by James Costigan , she was honored at the Primetime Emmy Awards in 1964 as best supporting actress.
White died on December 3, 1969 at the age of 55 of complications from cancer . She is buried together with her two siblings Charles and Richard in the family vault at Saint Mary's Cemetery in their hometown of Perth Amboy.
Filmography (selection)
- 1957: A Man Conquers Fear (Edge of the City)
- 1959: The Nun's Story (The Nun's Story)
- 1961: Merciless City (Naked City, TV series, two episodes)
- 1962: Car 54, please report (Car 54, Where Are You ?, TV series, an episode)
- 1962: Who disturbs the nightingale (To Kill a Mockingbird)
- 1963–1965: On the Run (The Fugitive, TV series, two episodes)
- 1965: Die Lady und der Tramp (Baby the Rain Must Fall)
- 1965: Nymphomania (A Rage to Live)
- 1966: Cast A Giant Shadow (Cast a Giant Shadow)
- 1967: The Tiger Makes (The Tiger Makes Out)
- 1967: Up the Down Staircase
- 1968: Charly
- 1968: Bizarre Murders (No Way to Treat a Lady)
- 1968: The Fastest Way to the Afterlife (A Lovely Way to Die)
- 1968: Hang 'Em High
- 1969: Asphalt-Cowboy (Midnight Cowboy)
- 1969: The Rogue (The Reivers)
- 1971: Five fingers make a fist (The Pursuit of Happiness)
Web links
- Ruth White in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Ruth White in the German dubbing file
- Ruth White in the Internet Broadway Database (English)
- Ruth White in the Internet Off-Broadway Database
- Ruth White in the database of Find a Grave (English)
personal data | |
---|---|
SURNAME | White, Ruth |
ALTERNATIVE NAMES | White, Ruth Patricia (full name) |
BRIEF DESCRIPTION | US-american actress |
DATE OF BIRTH | April 24, 1914 |
PLACE OF BIRTH | Perth Amboy , New Jersey , United States |
DATE OF DEATH | 3rd December 1969 |
Place of death | Perth Amboy , New Jersey , United States |