Nancy Kelly American stage, film and television actress Date of Birth: 25.03.1921 Country: USA

Biography of Nancy Kelly

Nancy Kelly, an American theater, film, and television actress, began her career in early childhood and continued until 1977. Born on March 25, 1921, in Lowell, Massachusetts, Nancy's mother, Nan Kelly, was also an actress. Nancy started appearing in films from a young age, with her first works dating back to 1926. In June 1929, the newspaper "Film Daily" wrote, "Little Nancy Kelly has appeared in 23 pictures in the past two years. Nancy is probably the most photographed child in America."

Her younger brother, Jack Kelly, also started his career at a young age, at 14, and became a successful actor, although he appeared more frequently on television. Despite their striking resemblance, the siblings never worked together.

In addition to her film roles, Nancy portrayed Dorothy Gale in the radio adaptation of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" from 1933 to 1934. As she grew into adulthood, Nancy played several leading female roles in popular films of the 1930s and 1940s, starring alongside stars such as Tyrone Power and Henry Fonda in the classic western "Jesse James" in 1939, and Spencer Tracy in the adventure film "Stanley and Livingstone" later that same year. She was twice awarded the Sarah Siddons Award for her work in Chicago theater.

In 1955, Nancy, who had an impressive list of Broadway works, became the recipient of a Tony Award for "Best Actress" for her role in "The Bad Seed." This theatrical success was followed by a film adaptation in which Nancy reprised the same role, earning her an Academy Award nomination.

From 1950 onwards, Nancy mainly appeared on television. Among her works was the leading role in an episode called "The Lonely Hour" that aired on "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour" in 1963. In 1957, Nancy was nominated for an Emmy Award for "Outstanding Single Performance" in an episode called "The Pilot" in the series "Studio One."

In recognition of her contributions to the film industry, Nancy Kelly received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Nancy was married three times. At the age of 19, she married actor Edmond O'Brien, but they divorced just a year later. In 1946, she married cinematographer Fred Jackman Jr., but the couple divorced in 1950. Her third marriage to Warren Caro lasted from 1955 to 1968 and also ended in divorce. From this marriage, Nancy gave birth to her daughter, Kelly Lurie Caro, in January 1957, 11 weeks premature and weighing only about a kilogram.

Nancy Kelly suffered from diabetes and died from complications on January 2, 1995, in Bel Air, California, at the age of 73. She was laid to rest at the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, where many entertainment industry celebrities are buried.