Edith Atwater (April 22, 1911 – March 14, 1986) was an American stage, film, and television actress.

Career

Born in Chicago, Atwater made her Broadway debut in 1933. In 1939, she starred in ''

The Man Who Came to Dinner ''The Man Who Came to Dinner'' is a comedy play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. It debuted on October 16, 1939, at the Music Box Theatre in New York City, where it ran until 1941, closing after 739 performances. It then enjoyed a number of N ...

''. Her film career included roles in ''

The Body Snatcher "The Body Snatcher" is a short story by the Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894). First published in ''The Pall Mall Gazette'' in December 1884, its characters were based on criminals in the employ of real-life surgeon Robert K ...

'' (1945), ''

Sweet Smell of Success ''Sweet Smell of Success'' is a 1957 American film noir drama film directed by Alexander Mackendrick, starring Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis, Susan Harrison, and Martin Milner, and written by Clifford Odets, Ernest Lehman, and Mackendrick fr ...

'' (1957), '' It Happened at the World's Fair'' (1963), '' Strait-Jacket'' (1964), '' Strange Bedfellows'' (1965), ''

True Grit True Grit may refer to: Fiction * ''True Grit'' (novel), a 1968 novel by Charles Portis ** ''True Grit'' (1969 film), a film adaptation by Henry Hathaway, starring John Wayne ** ''True Grit'' (2010 film), a film adaptation by the Coen Brothers, ...

'' (1969), '' The Love Machine'' (1971), ''

Die Sister, Die! ''Die Sister, Die!'' (also known as ''The Companion'') is a 1978 American thriller film (filmed in 1972) directed by Randall Hood. Plot summary Edward (Jack Ging) is tired of the "allowance" granted him by his sister Amanda ( Edith Atwater) and ...

'' (1972), '' Mackintosh and T.J.'' (1975), and '' Family Plot'' (1976). From 1964 to 1965, Atwater appeared in several episodes of the television series '' Peyton Place'' in the role of Grace Morton, wife of Dr. Robert Morton, who was played by her real-life husband

Kent Smith Frank Kent Smith (March 19, 1907 – April 23, 1985) was an American actor who had a lengthy career in film, theatre and television. Early years Smith was the son of Mr. and Mrs. James E. Smith. He was born in New York City and was educated ...

. During the 1966–1967 television season, she appeared in the series ''

Love on a Rooftop ''Love on a Rooftop'' is an American sitcom about a newlywed couple, Dave and Julie Willis, and their humorous struggles to survive in San Francisco on Dave's apprentice architect's salary of $85.37 a week. Matters were complicated by the fact ...

''. She was also a regular on the television series '' Kaz'' during the 1978–1979 season. Her other television work included appearances on ''

The Rockford Files ''The Rockford Files'' is an American detective drama television series starring James Garner that aired on the NBC network from September 13, 1974 to January 10, 1980, and remains in syndication. Garner portrays Los Angeles private investiga ...

'', '' Hazel'', '' Knots Landing'', and numerous other series. Atwater's work on Broadway included performances in ''Flahooley'' (1951), ''King Lear'' (1950), ''Metropole'' (1949), ''The Gentleman From Athens'' (1947), ''Parlor Story'' (1947), ''State of the Union'' (1945), ''R.U.R.'' (1942), ''Broken Journey'' (1942), ''Johnny on a Spot'' (1942), ''Retreat to Pleasure'' (1940), ''The Man Who Came to Dinner'' (1939), ''Susan and God'' (1937), ''The Masque of Kings'' (1937), ''The Country Wife'' (1936), ''This Our House'' (1935), ''Brittle Heaven'' (1934), ''Are You Decent'' (1934), and ''Springtime for Henry'' (1931). Atwater was a member of the governing board of

Actors' Equity Association The Actors' Equity Association (AEA), commonly referred to as Actors' Equity or simply Equity, is an American labor union representing those who work in live theatrical performance. Performers appearing in live stage productions without a boo ...

Personal life and death

In November 1941, Atwater married actor

Hugh Marlowe Hugh Marlowe (born Hugh Herbert Hipple; January 30, 1911May 2, 1982) was an American film, television, stage and radio actor. Early life Marlowe was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was born Hugh Herbert Hipple. He was of primarily Engli ...

; they divorced in 1946. She was married to actor

from 1962 until his death in 1985. She died of cancer in 1986 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center at age 74. She had no children.

Legacy

Atwater's likeness was drawn in caricature by

Alex Gard Alex Gard (born Alexei Mikhailovich Kremkov, russian: Алексе́й Миха́йлович Кремко́в; also tr. Kremkoff; June 17, 1898 – June 1, 1948) was a Russian American cartoonist. He was a regular cartoonist for newspapers, mag ...

for

Sardi's Sardi's is a continental restaurant located at 234 West 44th Street, between Broadway and Eighth Avenue, in the Theater District of Manhattan, New York City. Sardi's opened at its current location on March 5, 1927. It is known for the carica ...

, the theatre-district restaurant in New York City. The picture is now part of the collection of the New York Public Library.The New York Public Library Inventory of Sardi's Caricatures
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Filmography

References

Sources

* "Edith Atwater Is Dead at 74; Actress in Theater and Film
''New York Times'', March 17, 1986

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Atwater, Edith 1911 births 1986 deaths Actresses from Chicago American film actresses American television actresses American stage actresses Deaths from cancer in California Actresses from Greater Los Angeles 20th-century American actresses