Joan Lorring
| Joan Lorring | |
|---|---|
Lorring in 1946
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| Born |
Mary Magdalene Ellis April 17, 1926 Hong Kong |
| Died | May 30, 2014 (aged 88) Sleepy Hollow, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1944-1980 |
| Spouse(s) | Dr. Martin Sonenberg (-2011; his death) |
Joan Lorring (April 17, 1926 – May 30, 2014) was an actress and singer known for her work in film and theatre. For her role as Bessy Watty in The Corn is Green (1945), Lorring was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Lorring also originated the role of Marie Buckholder in Come Back, Little Sheba on Broadway in 1950, for which she won a Donaldson Award (an early version of the Tony Award).
Lorring was born Madeline Ellis (though her name has been given variously as Mary Magdalene Ellis,Magdalen Ellis and Ann Ellis) in Hong Kong, the daughter of Ania Ellis (1904-1995), a Russian Jewish immigrant. They fled Hong Kong in 1938 following the Japanese invasion in 1937 at the start of World War II, traveling by boat to Honolulu, and then landing in San Francisco. Soon after, they moved to Los Angeles, and Mary (known by her nickname "Dellie") began working as a child actress in radio and film - she was credited as "Dellie Ellis" in her eponymous role in A Date With Judy (1941-1942). Eventually she adopted Joan Lorring as her stage name.
She was married to doctor Martin Sonenberg (1920-2011). The couple had two daughters, Santha and Andrea.
Lorring began her career as a child actress on the radio. Her performances include Alma Horrell in the Suspense episode The Great Horrell with an airdate of August 22, 1946; and The Farmer Takes a Wife.
Lorring made her Broadway debut in 1950, originating the role of Marie Buckholder opposite Shirley Booth in Come Back Little Sheba. Terry Moore would later play Marie in the 1952 film version. For this role Lorring won a Donaldson Award for Most Outstanding Female Debut in the 1949-1950 Broadway season. This success led to her performing in the 1951 Broadway production of the Lillian Hellman play The Autumn Garden. In 1954, she performed in the play Dead Pidgeons and her last Broadway appearance was in 1957, originating the role of The Young Woman, opposite Kim Stanley as The Woman, in A Clearing in the Woods by Arthur Laurents.
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