Phyllis Kirk

Phyllis Kirk (born Phyllis Kirkgaard or Kirkegaard; was an American actress.

Early life Kirk was born in Syracuse, New York, although some sources state her birthplace as Plainfield, New Jersey. She contracted polio as a child, which resulted in health problems for the rest of her life. Kirk grew up in Elizabeth, New Jersey and graduated from Battin High School in 1945.

Career As a teenager, Kirk moved to New York City to study acting and shortened her last name from Kirkegaard to Kirk. She began her career on Broadway before embarking on a television and film career. Among 1949 stage appearances were My Name is Aquilon in New York and the road company of Present Laughter before beginning her long-term contract with Samuel Goldwyn in Hollywood that summer.

Kirk is best known for her many roles throughout the 1950s. In Two Weeks With Love, she sang and danced with Jane Powell, Richardo Montalban and Debbie Reynolds (1950). She appeared with Vincent Price in the 3D horror film House of Wax (1953), the first major 3D movie. She co-starred as Frank Sinatra's love interest in the western he produced, Johnny Concho (1956). She replaced Gloria Vanderbilt in the role a week before filming began.

Her most notable television role was opposite Peter Lawford in The Thin Man (19571959), wherein they played Nick and Nora Charles. A newspaper columnist described what distinguished Kirk's role in the program: "t's her brains that keep her flying high on 'The Thin Man' series." She also received an Emmy nomination as Best Actress in a Leading Role (Continuing Character) in a Dramatic Series in 1959.

She also appeared with Jerry Lewis in his 1957 film The Sad Sack and the 1956 film Back from Eternity. Kirk was a regular on The Red Buttons Show and appeared as a guest on some television programs, including an episode of The Twilight Zone ("A World of His Own"). As her acting career slowed down, Kirk began serving as an activist for various social causes. She vocally opposed death row inmate Caryl Chessman's death sentence and visited Chessman in prison until his execution in 1960. After the Watts Riots in 1965, she funded preschool programs for underprivileged families in South Los Angeles.

Personal life Kirk's marriage to television producer and screenwriter Warren Bush was announced in the press in early 1967, and lasted until his death in 1991 at the age of 65.

On October 19, 2006, Kirk died of a cerebral aneurysm at age 79 in Woodland Hills, California. She was buried with her husband Warren Bush at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes 1950 Our Very Own Zaza A Life of Her Own Jerry Two Weeks with Love Valerie Stresemann Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone Kay 1951 Three Guys Named Mike Kathy Hunter 1952 Just This Once Young Lover on Ferry Uncredited About Face Alice Wheatley She's Working Her Way Through College Co-ed Uncredited The Iron Mistress Ursula de Varamendi Stop, You're Killing Me Nurse Uncredited 1953 House of Wax Sue Allen Crime Wave Ellen Lacey Thunder Over the Plains Norah Porter 1954 River Beat Judy Roberts 1955 Canyon Crossroads Katherine Rand 1956 Johnny Concho Mary Dark Back from Eternity Louise Melhorn 1957 That Woman Opposite Eve Atwood The Sad Sack Major Shelton

Television Year Title Role Notes 1952 The Philco Television Playhouse Dolly 1 episode 1952 Tales of Tomorrow Irene Chappell 1 episode 1952–1956 Studio One Various Characters 4 episodes 1953 World by the Tail TV movie 1953 Armstrong Circle Theatre 1 episode 1953 The United States Steel Hour Betty Lou 1 episode 1953–1954 Lux Video Theatre 2 episodes 1953–1954 Goodyear Television Playhouse Girl 3 episodes 1953–1954 The Web Meg Loomis 2 episodes 1953–1957 Robert Montgomery Presents Various Characters 4 episodes 1954 Suspense 1 episode 1954 Your Show of Shows 1 episode 1954 Justice 1 episode 1955 Appointment with Adventure (CBS anthology series), 1 episode 1955 Playwrights '56 Girl Friend 1 episode 1955 Letter to Loretta Jess Blackston 1 episode 1955 The Red Buttons Show Various Characters Unknown episodes 1955–1956 Climax! Various Characters 3 episodes 1956 Schlitz Playhouse of Stars Barbara Hunter 1 episode 1956 Celebrity Playhouse Laurie Westbrook 2 episodes 1956 Playhouse 90 Nancy Tennant 1 episode 1956–1957 The Ford Television Theatre Various Characters 4 episodes 1957 The Errol Flynn Theatre 2 episodes 1957 The 20th Century Fox Hour Barbara Sherwood 1 episode 1957–1959 The Thin Man Nora Charles 72 episodes 1958 The Ford Show, Starring Tennessee Ernie Ford Herself 1 episode 1960 Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater Ann Bagley 1 episode 1960 The Twilight Zone Victoria West Episode: "A World of His Own" 1970 The F.B.I. Nora Tobin 1 episode, (final appearance)

Award nominations