Madge Kennedy

Madge Kennedy (April 19, 1891 – June 9, 1987) was a stage, film and television actress whose career began as a stage actress in 1912 and flourished in motion pictures during the silent film era. In 1921, journalist Heywood Broun described her as "the best farce actress in New York".

Early years

Kennedy was born in Chicago. After she and her family lived in California, Luis Mora saw her art work and recommended that she go to Siasconset (in Nantucket, Massachusetts) for a summer.

Career

Theater The Siasconset colony was evenly divided among actors and artists, and painters often gave theatrical performances.

Kennedy appeared in a skit written by Kenneth and Roy Webb and impressed professional Harry Woodruff, who commented, "She could act rings around anybody." As a result, she was offered the lead opposite Woodruff in The Genius. Soon she was in Cleveland, where Robert McLaughlin gave her work with his stock company. a farce in three acts presented at the 48th Street Theater. Critics found Kennedy's performance most pleasing, writing, "Miss Kennedy's youth, good looks, and marked sense of fun helped her to make a decidedly favorable impression last night." That same year she appeared in The Point of View.

After an absence of 33 years, she returned to Broadway in August 1965, appearing with her good friend Ruth Gordon in Gordon and Kanin's A Very Rich Woman.

Madge Kennedy died of respiratory failure at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital

Filmography Silent

Talkies Year Title Role Notes1952 The Marrying Kind Judge Anne B. Carroll 1953 Main Street to Broadway Mrs. Cope in Fantasy Sequence 1955 The Rains of Ranchipur Mrs. Smiley 1956 Three Bad Sisters Martha Craig The Catered Affair Mrs. Joe Halloran Lust for Life Anna Cornelia Van Gogh 1958 Houseboat Mrs. Farnsworth A Nice Little Bank That Should Be Robbed Grace Havens 1959 Plunderers of Painted Flats Mary East North by Northwest Mrs. Finlay, US Intelligence Agency official Uncredited1960 Let's Make Love Miss Manners, Clement's Secretary Uncredited1969 They Shoot Horses, Don't They? Mrs. Laydon 1970 The Baby Maker Tish's Grandmother 1975 The Day of the Locust Mrs. Johnson 1976 Marathon Man Lady in Bank

Television Year Title Role Notes1954 Lux Video Theatre Ma Glover Season 4 Episode 23: "Borrowed Life" Schlitz Playhouse of Stars Clara Matheson Season 4 Episode 1: "The Secret" The Lineup Victim's Mother Season 1 Episode 8: "Cop Killer" Studio 57 Grandmother Season 1 Episode 14: "Christmas Every Day"1955 General Electric Theater Henrietta Mallory Season 3 Episode 36: "Star in the House" Climax! Season 1 Episode 28: "The Dark Fleece" Science Fiction Theatre Mrs. Canby Season 1 Episode 28: "The Unexplored"1956 The Ford Television Theatre Helen Quade Season 5 Episode 6: "Sometimes It Happens" Alfred Hitchcock Presents Laura Crabtree Season 1 Episode 27: "Help Wanted"1957-63 Leave It to Beaver Aunt Martha Bronson 5 episodes1958 Official Detective Miss Greenville Season 1 Episode 34: "Murder in a Girls School" 1959 Goodyear Theatre Birdie Season 2 Episode 15: "I Remember Caviar" Alfred Hitchcock Presents Laura Crabtree Season 4 Episode 34: "A True Account" Alfred Hitchcock Presents Mrs. Barnes Season 5 Episode 14: "Graduating Class"1960 The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp Mary Rowland Season 5 Episode 26: "Don't Get Tough with a Sailor" Alfred Hitchcock Presents Mrs. Carter Season 6 Episode 10: "Sybilla"1961 The Best of the Post Mrs. Bedenbaugh Season 1 Episode 10: "Carnival of Fear" Alfred Hitchcock Presents Mrs. Baldwin Season 6 Episode 26: "Coming, Mama"1962 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Mrs. MacFarlane Season 1 Episode 2: "Don't Look Behind You"1963 The Twilight Zone Colonist Season 4 Episode 16: "On Thursday We Leave for Home" 1967 CBS Playhouse Mrs. Flagler Season 1 Episode 2: "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night"1968 Julia Lady Employer Season 1 Episode 4: "Homework Isn't Housework"1972 The Odd Couple Mimi Season 2 Episode 18: "Where's Grandpa?"