Clarissa Kaye
| Clarissa Kaye | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Clarissa Knipe 2 August 1931 Sydney, Australia |
| Died | 21 July 1994 (aged 62) |
| Other names | Clarissa Kaye-Mason |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Spouse(s) | James Mason (1971–84) |
Clarissa Kaye (August 2, 1931 – 21 July 1994) was an Australian stage, film and television actress. She was the second wife (1971–84) of the British actor James Mason. After her marriage, she was often known as Clarissa Kaye-Mason.
Clarissa Kaye was born as Clarissa Knipe in Sydney around 1931. In 1958 she became one of a class of informal students of Hayes Gordon, who taught "The Method" (the group included Reg Livermore and Jon Ewing). Their first public performances were a series of one-act plays by Tennessee Williams. The group later became the Ensemble Theatre, Sydney's first theatre in the round and its longest established professional theatre company.
Her first film role was as Meg in Age of Consent (1969), in which she appeared in scenes with James Mason, including a sex scene that was censored from Columbia Pictures' UK and US releases.
Mason, who was over 20 years Kaye's senior, sent her a long letter telling her of his admiration; this was followed by a card the following Valentine's Day, and a long correspondence ensued.
Mason and Kaye were married on 8 August 1971 in Corseaux-sur-Vevey, Switzerland, and remained together until his death in 1984. (It has been reported that it was her second marriage.) Kaye reportedly was willing to put her career on hold, but Mason regularly insisted that she be given roles in his films. They shared scenes in Frankenstein: The True Story (1973); they also both appeared in Salem's Lot (1979), but did not share any scenes.
They appeared on Broadway in April 1979 in Brian Friel's play Faith Healer, but were never on stage together (the play is constructed as four monologues by three characters). Her involvement in Faith Healer was also largely at Mason's request but she struggled with both the role and José Quintero's direction. Ed Flanders eventually left the play, refusing to work with Kaye, and the production ended after only 17 days.
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