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Constance Cummings

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Constance Cummings, CBE (May 15, 1910 – November 23, 2005) was an American-born British actress, known for her work on both screen and stage. Born Constance Halverstadt in Seattle, Washington to Dallas Halverstadt and Kate Cummings, she began as a stage actress, landing her first role on Broadway by the age of 18. While appearing on Broadway, she was discovered by Sam Goldwyn, who brought her to Hollywood in 1931. Between 1931 and 1934, Cummings appeared in 21 films, most notably the Harold Lloyd picture Movie Crazy and American Madness, directed by Frank Capra. She was married to the playwright and screenwriter Benn Levy MBE from 1933 until his death in 1973. Levy went on to write and direct films for Cummings, such as The Jealous God (1939); he also served in the United Kingdom Parliament from 1945-50 as the Labour MP for Eton and Slough. They had a son and a daughter. Cummings was uncomfortable in Hollywood and moved to England, where she continued acting, both in movies and on the stage. Few of these films became popular in America, although included amongst those that did is Blithe Spirit, adapted from a play by Sir Noël Coward. In 1974, Cummings, who resided in the UK for many decades, was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her contributions to the British entertainment industry. She played Mary Tyrone in the Royal National Theatre's production of Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey into Night opposite Sir Laurence Olivier, to great acclaim. She later recreated the role for a television version. In 1979, she won a Tony Award for Best Actress for her performance in the role in the play Wings (written by Arthur Kopit) of Emily Stilson, a former aviator who has suffered a stroke, from which she struggles to recover. She was a committee member of the Royal Court Theatre and the Arts Council. Despite her truncated career in the U.S., she has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6211 Hollywood Blvd. Constance Cummings Levy died on November 23, 2005 at the age of 95. Description above from the Wikipedia article Constance Cummings, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.


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Born:
May 15, 1910 In Seattle, Washington, USA
Movie/TV Credits:
37
First Appeared:
In the movie The Criminal Code 1931-01-03
Latest Project:
Movie Dead Man's Folly 1986-01-08
Known For
Poster of Into the Blue
Poster of Blithe Spirit
Poster of Seven Sinners
Poster of The Billion Dollar Scandal
Filmography
Movie Dead Man's Folly Amy Folliatt 1986-01-08
Movie Love Song Dame Phillipa Hatchard 1985-04-06
Movie Wings Emily Stilson 1983-04-26
Movie Long Day's Journey Into Night Mary Tyrone 1973-03-10
Series Menace Unknown 1970-09-29
Movie Sammy Going South Gloria van Imhoff 1963-03-18
Movie In the Cool of the Day Mrs. Nina Gellert 1963-05-29
Movie The Battle of the Sexes Angela Barrows 1960-02-25
Movie Finger of Guilt Kay Wallace 1956-06-01
Movie John and Julie Mrs. Davidson 1955-07-26
Series Schlitz Playhouse of Stars Unknown 1951-10-05
Series Lux Video Theatre Unknown 1950-10-02
Movie Into the Blue Kate Fergusson 1950-12-27
Movie Blithe Spirit Ruth Condomine 1945-04-05
Movie The Foreman Went to France Anne Stafford 1942-06-22
Movie This England Ann 1941-07-22
Movie Busman's Honeymoon Harriet Vane 1940-07-22
Movie Seven Sinners Caryl Fenton 1936-06-01
Movie Remember Last Night? Carlotta Milburn 1935-10-28
Movie This Man Is Mine Francesca Harper 1934-04-13
Movie Looking for Trouble Ethel Greenwood 1934-03-28
Movie Glamour Linda Fayne 1934-04-09
Movie The Billion Dollar Scandal Doris Masterson 1933-01-06
Movie The Mind Reader Sylvia 1933-04-01
Movie Heads We Go Betty Smith / Dorothy Kay 1933-07-28
Movie Channel Crossing Marion Slade 1933-10-14
Movie Broadway Thru a Keyhole Joan Whelan 1933-11-02
Movie The Big Timer Honey Baldwin 1932-03-10
Movie Behind the Mask Julie Arnold 1932-02-25
Movie Attorney for the Defense Ruth Barry 1932-05-21
Movie Night After Night Miss Jerry Healy 1932-10-29
Movie American Madness Helen 1932-08-15
Movie Washington Merry-Go-Round Alice Wylie 1932-10-15
Movie Movie Crazy Mary Sears 1932-09-23
Movie The Criminal Code Mary Brady 1931-01-03
Movie The Guilty Generation Maria Palmero 1931-11-19
Movie Traveling Husbands Ellen Wilson 1931-08-15