Grayson Hall

Career Hall enjoyed an active stage career in New York City. Her theater credits include roles in off-Broadway productions of influential avant-garde plays including Six Characters in Search of an Author by Luigi Pirandello (Phoenix Theatre, 1955). She also appeared as the madam Irma in the first New York production of The Balcony by Jean Genet for more than a year at the Circle in the Square Theatre Downtown in Greenwich Village.

Having guest-starred on various television programs during the mid-1950s, Hall made her film debut in 1961 in Run Across the River. She also appeared in Satan in High Heels as Pepe, a cabaret club owner, but she later disavowed the film.

In September 1963, Hall traveled to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to play the role of Judith Fellowes in John Huston's film version of The Night of the Iguana, based on the original play by Tennessee Williams. She was nominated for an Academy Award in the category of Best Supporting Actress at the 37th Academy Awards for her performance.

Hall portrayed Margaret Miller, a kidnapped bank teller in Walt Disney Productions' That Darn Cat! in 1965. She appeared on "The Pieces of Fate Affair", an episode of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. in 1967.

Dark Shadows Hall's best-known television role was as Dr. Julia Hoffman on Dark Shadows. She portrayed the loyal confidant and friend of the vampire Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid). Other key roles that she played on the show were those of Countess Natalie du Pres; Magda Rakosi, a Gypsy; Hoffman, a Mrs. Danvers–type housekeeper; Julia Collins; and Constance Collins, sister of Brutus Collins (Louis Edmonds). She also appeared in both Dark Shadows feature films: in House of Dark Shadows (1970) again as Dr. Julia Hoffman, and in Night of Dark Shadows (1971) as a new character, housekeeper Carlotta Drake.

Later career After Dark Shadows ended, Hall portrayed reporter Marge Grey on All My Children for a short period in 1973. She continued acting on stage in Jean Genet's The Screens (1971–72) and in Happy End (1977) with Meryl Streep and Christopher Lloyd.

In the 1970s, Hall appeared on several television films, including Gargoyles (ABC), filmed in New Mexico with Cornel Wilde, and the Dan Curtis television film The Great Ice Rip-Off (ABC) with Lee J. Cobb and Gig Young. She starred in the mystery film The Two Deaths of Sean Doolittle (ABC), which was written by her husband Sam Hall.

Hall appeared in the Broadway premiere of The Suicide (1980) with Derek Jacobi and appeared opposite Geraldine Page, Carrie Nye and Madeleine Sherwood in an off-Broadway revival of The Madwoman of Chaillot.

Personal life and death In 1946, she married fellow actor Ted Brooks in Philadelphia. They separated in 1949 and she returned to New York. In 1952, she married writer Sam Hall. Their son Matthew was born in 1958. She had always used the stage name Shirley Grayson, but Sam Hall called her Grayson "like an old Army buddy," as she said in an interview. She eventually adopted Grayson Hall as her professional name.

In 2006, a biography titled Grayson Hall: A Hard Act to Follow was released.

Filmography

Film Title Role Notes 1961 Run Across the River Credited as Shirley Grayson 1962 Satan in High Heels Pepe 1964 The Parisienne and the Prudes Decorator The Night of the Iguana Judith Fellowes 1965 That Darn Cat! Margaret Miller 1966 Who Are You, Polly Maggoo? Miss Maxwell 1970 End of the Road Peggy Rankin House of Dark Shadows Dr. Julia Hoffman Adam at Six A.M. Inez Treadly 1971 Night of Dark Shadows Carlotta Drake 1975 Pick-up Voice, uncredited

Television Title Role Notes 1951 Lights Out Laura Holloway Episode: "For Release Today"Credited as Shirley Grayson 1954 The Philco Television Playhouse Episode: "Friday the Thirteenth"Credited as Shirley Grayson 1954 Kraft Television Theater Episode: "Charm Bracelet"Credited as Shirley Grayson 1955 Robert Montgomery Presents Episode: "A Dream of Summer"Credited as Shirley Grayson 1955 Goodyear Television Playhouse Sylvia Baker Episode: "The Way Things Happen"Credited as Shirley Grayson 1955 Justice Episode: "Shadow of Terror"Credited as Shirley Grayson 1955 Danger Episode: "The Operator"Credited as Shirley Grayson 1955 Star Tonight Episode: "The Critic"Credited as Shirley Grayson 1956 Omnibus Narrator Episode: "Something About the Sky"Credited as Shirley Grayson 1957 Modern Romances Episodes: "The Real Thing", "The Misguided Man", Parts 1-6Credited as Shirley Grayson 1958 True Story Episode: "The Scent of Roses"Credited as Shirley Grayson 1959-1961 The United States Steel Hour Secretary Episodes: "Wish on the Moon"Credited as Shirley Grayson"The Mating Machine" 1964 Route 66 Mrs. Reston Episode: "Follow the White Dove with the Broken Wing" 1965 Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre Miss Fitzhugh Episode: "Back to Back" 1966 The Trials of O'Brien Louise Malcolm Episode: "A Horse Called Destiny" 1967 The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Judy Merril Episode: "The Pieces of Fate Affair" The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. Mrs. Fowler Episode: "The High and the Deadly Affair" 1967–71 Dark Shadows Dr. Julia HoffmanNatalie du PresMagda RakosiJulia Hoffman (PT)Julia CollinsConstance Collins 474 episodes 1970 Night Gallery Ann Brigham Episode: "The House/Certain Shadows on the Wall" 1972 Gargoyles Mrs. Parks Television film 1973 All My Children Marge Grey 1974 Kojak Mrs. Campbell Episode: "Hush Now, Don't You Die" 1974 The Great Ice Rip-Off Helen Calso Television film 1975 The Wide World of Mystery Rhea Episode: "The Two Deaths of Sean Doolittle" 1982 CBS Library Mrs. Mahoney (segment "The Chaparral Prince") Episode: "Robbers, Rooftops, and Witches" 1982–83 One Life to Live Euphemia Ralston

Awards and nominations