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Estelle Parsons

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Occupation
  
Actress

Years active
  
1956–present


Name
  
Estelle Parsons

Role
  
Film actress

Estelle Parsons Estelle Parsons Wikipedia the free encyclopedia

Full Name
  
Estelle Margaret Parsons

Born
  
November 20, 1927 (age 96) (
1927-11-20
)

Spouse
  
Peter Zimroth (m. 1983), Richard Gehman (m. 1953–1958)

Children
  
Martha Gehman, Abbie Gehman, Abraham Parsons Zimroth

Awards
  
Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Parents
  
Elinor Ingebore, Eben Parsons

Movies and TV shows
  
Similar People
  
Arthur Penn, Warren Beatty, Kaye Ballard, Natalie West, Richard Gehman

Estelle parsons winning best supporting actress


Estelle Margaret Parsons (born November 20, 1927) is an American actress, singer and stage director.

Contents

Estelle Parsons Jaguars39 Eben Britton gets his chops from grandma Estelle

After studying law, Parsons became a singer before deciding to pursue a career in acting. She worked for the television program Today and made her stage debut in 1961. During the 1960s, Parsons established her career on Broadway before progressing to film. She received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Blanche Barrow in Bonnie and Clyde (1967), and was also nominated for her work in Rachel, Rachel (1968).

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She worked extensively in film and theatre during the 1970s and later directed several Broadway productions. More recently her television work included playing Beverly Harris, mother of the eponymous title character, on the sitcom Roseanne. She has been nominated five times for the Tony Award (four times for Lead Actress of a Play and once for Featured Actress). In 2004, Parsons was inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame.

Estelle Parsons estelleparsonsjmajpg

Women in theatre estelle parsons actress director


Early life

Estelle Parsons Estelle Parsons Pictures SuperiorPicscom

Parsons was born in Lynn Hospital, Lynn, Massachusetts. Her mother, Elinor Ingeborg (née Mattsson), was a native of Sweden, and her father, Eben Parsons, was of English descent.

Estelle Parsons Face to Face With Estelle Parsons IN New York

She attended Oak Grove School for Girls in Maine. After graduating from Connecticut College in 1949, Parsons initially studied law at Boston University, and then worked as a singer with a band before settling on an acting career in the early 1950s.

Career

Moving to New York City, Parsons worked as a writer, producer and commentator for The Today Show. She made her Broadway debut in 1956 in the ensemble of the Ethel Merman musical Happy Hunting. She began performing Off-Broadway in 1961, and received a Theatre World Award in 1963 for her performance in Whisper into My Good Ear/Mrs. Dally Has a Lover (1962).

In 1964, Parsons won an Obie Award for Best Actress for her performance in two Off-Broadway plays, Next Time I'll Sing to You and In the Summer House. In 1967, she starred with Stacey Keach in the premiere of Joseph Heller's play We Bombed in New Haven at the Yale Repertory Theater.

Parsons has received Tony Award nominations for her work in The Seven Descents of Myrtle (1968), And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little (1971), Miss Margarida's Way (1978), and Morning's at Seven (2002). She played the Widow Begbick in the American premiere of the WeillBrecht opera, Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny (1970), and performed as Mrs. Peachum to Lotte Lenya's Jenny in Threepenny Opera on tour and in New York City. In 1978 she played Lady MacBeth in the Kauai Community Players production. She also played Ruth in Gilbert & Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance on Broadway in 1981. From June 17, 2008 through May 17, 2009, she played the role of Violet Weston in August: Osage County. She continued playing the role during the show's national tour beginning July 24, 2009, in Denver.

As a director, Parsons has a number of Broadway credits, including a production of Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth and As You Like It in 1986. Off-Broadway, she directed Dario Fo's Orgasmo Adulto Escapes from the Zoo (1983). She also served as the Artistic Director of the Actors Studio for five years, ending in 2003. In 2016, she starred in Israel Horovitz's new play Out Of The Mouths Of Babes along with Judith Ivey directed by Barnet Kellman at The Cherry Lane Theater in New York City.

In 2004, Parsons was inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame.

Her film career includes an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Blanche Barrow in Bonnie and Clyde (1967), and a nomination for Rachel, Rachel (1968). She received a BAFTA Award nomination for her role in Watermelon Man (1970), and appeared in I Never Sang for My Father (1970), Two People (1973), A Memory of Two Mondays (1974), For Pete's Sake (1974), Dick Tracy (1990) and Boys on the Side (1995).

On television, Parsons played the recurring role of Beverly, on Roseanne. Other television credits include appearances in The Patty Duke Show, Love, American Style, All In The Family, Archie Bunker's Place, Open Admissions, Frasier, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and The Good Wife, as well as The UFO Incident: The Story of Betty and Barney Hill and the PBS production of June Moon. She played the part of Babe in two episodes of the second series of Grace and Frankie.

She was honored with a Woman of Achievement Award from the Women's Project Theater in 2009. In 2010, she appeared in London, playing psychic Helga ten Dorp in Deathtrap at the Noël Coward Theatre in the West End.

She was recently seen on Broadway in Good People and Nice Work If You Can Get It.

Personal life

Her grandson is former Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars guard/tackle, Eben Britton. Her second husband, Peter Zimroth, was appointed police monitor for the NYPD in August 2013.

Filmography

Actress
2023
Around the Sun (Podcast Series) as
Bibi
- Prologue (2023) - Bibi
2018
The Conners (TV Series) as
Beverly Harris / Bev / Bev Harris
- New Pipes and Old Secrets (2023) - Beverly Harris
- Of Missing Minds and Missing Fries (2022) - Beverly Harris
- Jeopardé, Sobrieté, and Infidelité (2021) - Bev
- The Icewoman Cometh (2020) - Beverly Harris
- Lanford, Toilet of Sin (2019) - Bev Harris
- Nightmare on Lunch Box Street (2019) - Beverly Harris
- Preemies, Weed and Infidelity (2019) - Beverly Harris
- Keep on Truckin' (2018) - Beverly Harris
2016
Grace and Frankie (TV Series) as
Babe
- The Retreat (2019) - Babe
- The Party (2016) - Babe
- The Bender (2016) - Babe
1989
Roseanne (TV Series) as
Beverly Harris / Lovey Howell / Future Roseanne
- No Country for Old Women (2018) - Beverly Harris
- Darlene v. David (2018) - Beverly Harris
- Into That Good Night, Part II (1997) - Beverly Harris
- Into That Good Night, Part I (1997) - Beverly Harris
- The Truth Be Told (1997) - Beverly Harris
- Roseanne-Feld (1997) - Beverly Harris
- The Miracle (1997) - Beverly Harris
- Home for the Holidays (1996) - Beverly Harris
- Mothers and Other Strangers (1996) - Beverly Harris
- Home Is Where the Afghan Is (1996) - Beverly Harris
- Roseambo (1996) - Beverly Harris
- Hoi Polloi Meets Hoiti Toiti (1996) - Beverly Harris
- Someday My Prince Will Come (1996) - Beverly Harris
- What a Day for a Daydream (1996) - Beverly Harris
- Millions from Heaven (1996) - Beverly Harris
- Call Waiting (1996) - Beverly Harris
- Heart & Soul (1996) - Beverly Harris
- The Wedding (1996) - Beverly Harris
- Ballroom Blitz (1996) - Beverly Harris
- Morning Becomes Obnoxious (1996) - Beverly Harris
- Disney World War II (1996) - Beverly Harris
- We're Going to Disney World (1996) - Beverly Harris
- Becky Howser, M.D. (1996) - Beverly Harris
- Direct to Video (1995) - Beverly Harris
- The Last Thursday in November (1995) - Beverly Harris
- Halloween - The Final Chapter (1995) - Beverly Harris
- Let Them Eat Junk (1995) - Beverly Harris
- Shower the People You Love with Stuff (1995) - Beverly Harris
- Sherwood Schwartz--A Loving Tribute (1995) - Beverly Harris / Lovey Howell
- Couch Potatoes (1995) - Beverly Harris
- Husbands and Wives (1995) - Beverly Harris
- Single Married Female (1995) - Beverly Harris
- Bed and Bored (1995) - Beverly Harris
- My Name Is Bev (1995) - Beverly Harris
- Thanksgiving 1994 (1994) - Beverly Harris
- White Men Can't Kiss (1994) - Beverly Harris
- Skeleton in the Closet (1994) - Beverly Harris
- Sleeper (1994) - Beverly Harris
- Altar Egos (1994) - Beverly Harris
- Isn't It Romantic? (1994) - Beverly Harris
- Body by Jake (1994) - Beverly Harris
- Lies My Father Told Me (1994) - Beverly Harris
- Labor Day (1994) - Beverly Harris
- White Trash Christmas (1993) - Beverly Harris
- Thanksgiving 1993 (1993) - Beverly Harris
- Be My Baby (1993) - Beverly Harris
- Party Politics (1993) - Beverly Harris
- The Mommy's Curse (1993) - Beverly Harris
- Glengarry, Glen Rosey (1993) - Beverly Harris
- Playing with Matches (1993) - Beverly Harris
- Wait till Your Father Gets Home (1993) - Beverly Harris
- It's No Place Like Home for the Holidays (1992) - Beverly Harris
- Ladies' Choice (1992) - Beverly Harris
- Halloween IV (1992) - Future Roseanne
- Looking for Loans in All the Wrong Places (1992) - Beverly Harris
- Mommy Nearest (1992) - Beverly Harris
- The Back Story (1992) - Beverly Harris
- Thanksgiving 1991 (1991) - Beverly Harris
- Confessions (1990) - Beverly Harris
- We Gather Together (1989) - Beverly Harris
- Dear Mom and Dad (1989) - Beverly Harris
2018
Diane as
Mary
2013
The Good Wife (TV Series) as
Nana Joe
- What's in the Box? (2013) - Nana Joe
2005
Empire Falls (TV Mini Series) as
Bea
- Episode #1.2 (2005) - Bea
- Episode #1.1 (2005) - Bea
2004
Frasier (TV Series) as
Opal / Celeste's Mother
- Coots and Ladders (2004) - Opal
- Frasier-Lite (2004) - Celeste's Mother (voice)
2002
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series) as
Rose
- Denial (2002) - Rose
2001
100 Centre Street (TV Series) as
Esther O'Neill
- The Fix (2001) - Esther O'Neill
1999
Freak City (TV Movie) as
Mrs. Stanapolous
1998
The Love Letter (TV Movie) as
Beatrice Corrigan
1997
Touched by an Angel (TV Series) as
Jennette Fisher
- Sandcastles (1997) - Jennette Fisher
1997
That Darn Cat as
Old Lady McCracken
1996
Looking for Richard (Documentary) as
Margaret
1995
Boys on the Side as
Louise
1993
The American Clock (TV Movie) as
Older Doris
1992
A Private Matter (TV Movie) as
Mary Chessen
1990
Everyday Heroes (TV Movie) as
Matty Jennings (Principal)
1990
The Blue Men (Short) as
May
1990
Dick Tracy as
Mrs. Trueheart
1989
The Lemon Sisters as
Mrs. Kupchak
1988
Open Admissions (TV Movie) as
Clare Block
1982
American Playhouse (TV Series) as
Mabel Lederer / Angela Motorman
- Come Along with Me (1982) - Mabel Lederer / Angela Motorman
1981
The Gentleman Bandit (TV Movie) as
Marjorie Seebode
1981
Guests of the Nation (TV Movie) as
Kate O'Connell
1979
Archie Bunker's Place (TV Series) as
Blanche Hefner
- Blanche and Murray (1979) - Blanche Hefner
1979
Backstairs at the White House (TV Mini Series) as
Mrs. Bess Truman
- Episode #1.4 (1979) - Mrs. Bess Truman
- Episode #1.3 (1979) - Mrs. Bess Truman (credit only)
- Episode #1.2 (1979) - Mrs. Bess Truman (credit only)
- Episode #1.1 (1979) - Mrs. Bess Truman (credit only)
1976
All in the Family (TV Series) as
Blanche Hefner / Dolores Mancheney Fencel
- Weekend in the Country (1978) - Blanche Hefner
- Reunion on Hauser Street (1978) - Blanche Hefner
- Archie's Secret Passion (1976) - Dolores Mancheney Fencel
1977
Captain Kangaroo (TV Series)
- Episode dated 11 April 1977 (1977)
1976
NBC Special Treat (TV Series) as
Edwina Kemp
- Big Henry and the Polka Dot Kid (1976) - Edwina Kemp
1976
The Tenth Level (TV Movie) as
Crossland
1976
Good Morning America (TV Series)
- Episode dated 29 March 1976 (1976)
1975
The UFO Incident (TV Movie) as
Betty Hill
1975
Foreplay as
First Lady / Barmaid
1974
For Pete's Sake as
Helen
1974
The Gun and the Pulpit (TV Movie) as
Sadie Underwood
1971
Great Performances (TV Series) as
Lucille / Agnes
- June Moon (1974) - Lucille
- A Memory of Two Mondays (1971) - Agnes
1973
Terror on the Beach (TV Movie) as
Arlene Glynn
1973
Two People as
Barbara Newman
1972
Love, American Style (TV Series) as
Bernice (segment "Love and the Return of Raymond")
- Love and the Clinic/Love and the Perfect Wedding/Love and the President/Love and the Return of Raymond (1972) - Bernice (segment "Love and the Return of Raymond")
1972
Medical Center (TV Series) as
Bev
- Wall of Silence (1972) - Bev
1970
I Never Sang for My Father as
Alice
1970
I Walk the Line as
Ellen Haney
1970
Watermelon Man as
Althea Gerber
1970
The Front Page (TV Movie) as
Mollie Malloy
1969
Don't Drink the Water as
Marion Hollander
1968
Rachel, Rachel as
Calla Mackie
1967
Bonnie and Clyde as
Blanche
1967
New York Television Theatre (TV Series)
- Rosemary (1967)
1966
The Trials of O'Brien (TV Series) as
Miss Baines
- Alarums and Excursions (1966) - Miss Baines
1963
The Doctors and the Nurses (TV Series) as
Mrs. Meyers / Mrs. Teller / Mrs. O'Connor
- Where There's Smoke (1965) - Mrs. Meyers
- Nurse Is a Feminine Noun (1964) - Mrs. Teller
- Bitter Pill (1963) - Mrs. O'Connor
1964
The Patty Duke Show (TV Series) as
Mrs. Appleton
- The Con Artist (1964) - Mrs. Appleton
1964
The DuPont Show of the Week (TV Series) as
Carrie Bernice
- The Gambling Heart (1964) - Carrie Bernice
1963
Ladybug Ladybug as
JoAnn's Mother
1963
The Defenders (TV Series) as
Mrs. Martin
- Metamorphosis (1963) - Mrs. Martin
Director
2022
A Man of His Time (Short)
Soundtrack
1970
Watermelon Man (performer: "Where Are The Children")
Thanks
2014
Manglehorn (special thanks)
2004
Frasier (TV Series) (thanks - 1 episode)
- Goodnight, Seattle: Part 2 (2004) - (thanks)
1987
Waiting for the Moon (the producers wish to thank)
Self
-
Broadway: The Next Generation (Documentary) (filming) as
Self
-
The Needs of Kim Stanley (Documentary) (filming) as
Self
2022
Romantic Mysticism: The Music of Billy Goldenberg (Documentary) as
Self
2021
Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age (Documentary) as
Self
2018
Entertainment Tonight (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #37.200 (2018) - Self
2016
Theater Talk (TV Series) as
Self - Guest
- Estelle Parsons and Patricia Bosworth (2018) - Self - Guest
- Estelle Parsons, and Angelina Fiordellisi on "Out of the Mouths of Babes" (2016) - Self - Guest
2017
Miracle on 42nd Street (Documentary) as
Self
2016
How Shakespeare Changed My Life (Video short) as
Self
2015
She's the Best Thing in It (Documentary) as
Self
2014
SAG Foundation Conversations (TV Series) as
Self
- Estelle Parsons (2014) - Self
2014
The 68th Annual Tony Awards (TV Special) as
Self - Nominee
1952
Today (TV Series) as
Self - Women's Editor / Self - Today newsroom staff / Self / ...
- Kirk Douglas (1954) - Self - Women's Editor
- Al Capp (1954) - Self - Women's Editor
- James Michener (1954) - Self - Women's Editor
- Eleanor Roosevelt (1954) - Self - Women's Editor
- Matt Henson (1954) - Self - Women's Editor
- Audrey Hepburn (1953) - Self - Women's Editor
- Harry S. Truman (1953) - Self - Women's Editor
- Debut of J. Fred Muggs (1953) - Self - Today Show On-Set Staff
- The Debut of The Today Show (1952) - Self - Today newsroom staff
2011
Wilde Salomé (Documentary) as
Self
2011
Strange Septembers: The Hill Abduction & the Exeter Encounter (Documentary) as
Self
1981
Working in the Theatre (TV Series documentary) as
Self
- Don't Be Afraid: Stage Veterans 2011 (2011) - Self
- Performance (2002) - Self
- Performance (1981) - Self
2010
Voices from the Basement (Documentary) as
Self
2008
Revolution! The Making of 'Bonnie and Clyde' (Video documentary) as
Self
2004
Happy Birthday Oscar Wilde (TV Movie documentary) as
Self
2002
The 56th Annual Tony Awards (TV Special) as
Self - Nominee
2000
Backstory (TV Series documentary) as
Self
- Bonnie and Clyde (2000) - Self
1998
The 70th Annual Academy Awards (TV Special) as
Self - Past Winner (uncredited)
1994
Inside the Actors Studio (TV Series) as
Self
- Estelle Parsons (1994) - Self
1993
Family Feud (TV Series) as
Self - Contestant
- Roseanne vs. Jackie Thomas Sitcoms (1993) - Self - Contestant
1983
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (TV Series) as
Self - Guest / Self
- Episode #23.65 (1984) - Self - Guest
- Episode #23.4 (1984) - Self - Guest
- David Brenner/Estelle Parsons (1983) - Self
1982
The Don Lane Show (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 18 February 1982 (1982) - Self
1978
The 32nd Annual Tony Awards (TV Special) as
Self - Nominee
1968
The Mike Douglas Show (TV Series) as
Self - Actress
- Episode #17.84 (1978) - Self - Actress
- Episode #11.7 (1971) - Self - Actress
- Episode #10.140 (1971) - Self - Actress
- Episode #10.61 (1970) - Self - Actress
- Episode #7.172 (1968) - Self - Actress
1976
That Was the Year That Was - 1976 (TV Movie) as
Self
1976
The Annual Theatre World Awards (TV Special) as
Self - Presenter
1975
Bicentennial Minutes (TV Series short) as
Self - Narrator
- Episode #1.353 (1975) - Self - Narrator
1974
Jeanne Wolf with... (TV Series) as
Self
1971
The 25th Annual Tony Awards (TV Special) as
Self - Nominee
1970
The David Frost Show (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #2.240 (1970) - Self
1969
The 23rd Annual Tony Awards (TV Special) as
Self
1968
The Merv Griffin Show (TV Series) as
Self
- Tony Randall, Stan Freberg, Estelle Parsons, Lorin Hollander, Dr. George Bach (1969) - Self
- George Jessel, Rick Jason, Estelle Parsons, Phyllis Newman, James Brown, Allan Sherman, Rip Taylor (1968) - Self
- Walter Slezak, Estelle Parsons, Henry Morgan, Reni Santoni, Kitty Kover, Dorothy Loudon, Allen Dulles (1968) - Self
1968
Snap Judgment (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 18 November 1968 (1968) - Self
1968
Hemingway's Spain: A Love Affair (TV Movie documentary) as
Self (voice)
1968
The Kraft Music Hall (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #1.30 (1968) - Self
1968
Guess My Sign (TV Series) as
Self
- Estelle Parsons, George Shearing (1968) - Self
1968
The 40th Annual Academy Awards (TV Special) as
Self - Winner
1954
Home (TV Series) as
Self - special projects segment
- Bob Hope (1955) - Self - special projects segment
- Episode #1.12 (1954) - Self - special projects segment
- Episode #1.5 (1954) - Self - special projects segment
1954
Good Morning! with Will Rogers, Jr. (TV Series) as
Self
- Debut (1954) - Self
Archive Footage
2022
Sweet Black Film: The Birth of a Black Hero (TV Movie documentary) as
Self
2021
History of the Sitcom (TV Series documentary) as
Beverly Harris
- Movin' on Up (2021) - Beverly Harris
2018
Entertainment Tonight (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #37.204 (2018) - Self

References

Estelle Parsons Wikipedia


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