Edith King (1896– February 24, 1973) was an American stage and film actress.

Biography

Edith King was born Edith Keck, daughter of John Keck, in White Haven, Pennsylvania in 1896.[1][2] She first visited a theater when she was 14, and decided then to pursue an acting career.[3] She moved to New York City at a young age and promptly arranged a meeting with David Belasco, who gave her a part in his current play, Marie Odile.[3]

In later life, King lived in Kendall Park, New Jersey, where she owned a small gift shop while continuing her acting career.[2] In 1972 King moved from Riviera Beach to Daytona Beach, where she died on February 24, 1973.[1]

Career

King was known as a stage and film actress, with a career spanning over 50 years (from roughly 1916 to 1964).[1][4] Before her stage career took off, she was an artist's model, working with Howard Chandler Christy for several of his paintings and illustrations.[3] She appeared in theatrical productions such as Bab (playing the older sister of Helen Hayes's main character)[5] and Thank You,[6] and films such as Saratoga.[7] She worked with Alfred Lunt and his wife in several productions, including The Seagull (as Polina) and The Taming of the Shrew (as the minor characters Curtis and the widow).[4]

She played Bianca in Paul Robeson's 1943 production of Othello before taking over the role of Emilia in 1944 (replacing Margaret Webster).[8][9]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1946CalcuttaMrs. Smith
1947Blaze of NoonMrs. Murphy
1948The Gallant BladeMme. Chauvignac
1948Belle Starr's DaughterMrs. Allen
1953Girl on the RunLil

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Deaths: Edith King". Daytona Beach Sunday News-Journal. February 25, 1973. p. 8C. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Native Plays Broadway Role". Plain Speaker. January 4, 1960. p. 10.
  3. 1 2 3 "Edith Was a Girl of 14 Before She Saw a Theater: Now She'd Rather Be Known as an Actress Than a Mere Artist's Model". Washington Herald. February 26, 1921. p. 1. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  4. 1 2 Senelick, Laurence (2013). Theatre Arts on Acting. Routledge. p. 455. ISBN 9780415774925.
  5. ↑ "Mr. Hornblow Goes to the Play". Theatre Magazine. XXXIII (238): 33. January 1921. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  6. ↑ "For Boudoir Tea and Promenade". Washington Herald. January 22, 1922. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  7. ↑ Green, Stanley (1960). The world of musical comedy. A.S. Barnes & Co. p. 361. hdl:2027/uc1.32106007510941.
  8. ↑ Nathan, George Jean (1972). Theatre Book of the Year 1943-44. Fairleigh Dickinson. p. 90. ISBN 978-0838679623.
  9. ↑ Swindall, Lindsey R. (2011). The Politics of Paul Robeson's Othello. University Press of Mississippi. p. 100. ISBN 9781604738247.
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