Rose Constance Gilchrist (July 17, 1895 – March 3, 1985) was an American stage, film, and television actress. Among her screen credits are her roles in the

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywoo ...

productions '' Cry 'Havoc''' (1943), '' A Letter to Three Wives'' (1949), '' Little Women'' (1949), ''

Tripoli Tripoli or Tripolis may refer to: Cities and other geographic units Greece *Tripoli, Greece, the capital of Arcadia, Greece *Tripolis (region of Arcadia), a district in ancient Arcadia, Greece * Tripolis (Larisaia), an ancient Greek city in t ...

'' (1950), ''

Houdini Harry Houdini (, born Erik Weisz; March 24, 1874 – October 31, 1926) was a Hungarian-American escape artist, magic man, and stunt performer, noted for his escape acts. His pseudonym is a reference to his spiritual master, French magician ...

'' (1953), '' Some Came Running'' (1958), and ''

Auntie Mame ''Auntie Mame: An Irreverent Escapade'' is a 1955 novel by American author Patrick Dennis chronicling the madcap adventures of a boy, Patrick, growing up as the ward of his Aunt Mame Dennis, the sister of his dead father. The book is often de ...

'' (1958).

Early years

Gilchrist was born in

Brooklyn, New York Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, behi ...

and attended Assumption Academy. Her mother, Martha Daniels, was an actress.

Career

Gilchrist made her stage debut in

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

at age 22 in 1917. She eventually made her way to

, where she was signed by

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 ...

to a 10-year contract in 1939. After playing Purity Pinker in the 1954 film ''

Long John Silver Long John Silver is a fictional character and the main antagonist in the novel '' Treasure Island'' (1883) by Robert Louis Stevenson. The most colourful and complex character in the book, he continues to appear in popular culture. His missin ...

'', Gilchrist reprised her role, as did

Robert Newton Robert Guy Newton (1 June 1905 – 25 March 1956) was an English actor. Along with Errol Flynn, Newton was one of the more popular actors among the male juvenile audience of the 1940s and early 1950s, especially with British boys. Known for h ...

, in the television series ''

The Adventures of Long John Silver ''The Adventures of Long John Silver'' is a TV series about the Long John Silver character from Robert Louis Stevenson's 1883 novel '' Treasure Island''. It was made in 1954 in colour in Australia for the American and British markets before t ...

''. She is perhaps best known today for her role as Norah Muldoon in the 1958 film ''

'', and her role in the 1949 film '' A Letter to Three Wives'', in which she exclaims the iconic line "Bingo" while fainting. She was also seen on television's ''

General Electric Theater ''General Electric Theater'' was an American anthology series hosted by Ronald Reagan that was broadcast on CBS radio and television. The series was sponsored by General Electric's Department of Public Relations. Radio After an audition s ...

''. Gilchrist's

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

credits include '' Ladies and Gentlemen'', ''Work Is for Horses'', ''Excursion'', and ''Mulato''.

Personal life

Gilchrist married Edward O'Hanlon in 1922. Their daughter, Dorothy, was also an actress. She was involved in a lawsuit in 1961, charging that a hair dresser had permanently damaged her scalp when tinting her hair. A news report said, "She contended that she is now confined to grandmotherly roles because her scalp will stand no more dyeing." She sought $50,000 in damages but received $5,000 ($ today) in a settlement. Gilchrist was of the

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a letter ...

faith and a lifelong Democrat who supported

Adlai Stevenson Adlai Stevenson may refer to: * Adlai Stevenson I (1835–1914), U.S. Vice President (1893–1897) and Congressman (1879–1881) * Adlai Stevenson II (1900–1965), Governor of Illinois (1949–1953), U.S. presidential candida ...

's campaign during the 1952 presidential election.

Death

Connie Gilchrist died on March 3, 1985, aged 89, in

Santa Fe, New Mexico Santa Fe ( ; , Spanish for 'Holy Faith'; tew, Oghá P'o'oge, Tewa for 'white shell water place'; tiw, Hulp'ó'ona, label= Northern Tiwa; nv, Yootó, Navajo for 'bead + water place') is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. The name “S ...

. Her husband died on December 13, 1983. She is buried at Santa Fe National Cemetery in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Complete filmography

*''

Hullabaloo Hubbabaloo or hullaballoo may refer to: * Hullabaloo (band), a punk band * Hullabaloo (song), a 1990 single by Absent Friends * Hullabaloo (festival), a music festival at the University of California San Diego * ''Hullabaloo'' (film), a 1940 film ...

'' (1940) as Arline Merriweather *'' The Wild Man of Borneo'' (1941) as Mrs. Diamond *'' Barnacle Bill'' (1941) as Mamie *'' A Woman's Face'' (1941) as Christina Dalvik *''

Billy the Kid Billy the Kid (born Henry McCarty; September 17 or November 23, 1859July 14, 1881), also known by the pseudonym William H. Bonney, was an outlaw and gunfighter of the American Old West, who killed eight men before he was shot and killed at t ...

'' (1941) as Mildred (uncredited) *'' Down in San Diego'' (1941) as Proprietress (uncredited) *'' Dr. Kildare's Wedding Day'' (1941) as Jennie the Maid (uncredited) *'' Married Bachelor'' (1941) as Mother with Baby on Train (uncredited) *''

H. M. Pulham, Esq. ''H. M. Pulham, Esq.'' is a 1941 American drama film directed by King Vidor and starring Hedy Lamarr, Robert Young, and Ruth Hussey. Based on the novel ''H. M. Pulham, Esq.'' by John P. Marquand, the film is about a middle-aged businessman who h ...

'' (1941) as Tillie, Elevator Operator (uncredited) *'' Johnny Eager'' (1941) as Peg *'' Born to Sing'' (1942) as Welfare Worker *'' This Time for Keeps'' (1942) as Miss Nichols *'' We Were Dancing'' (1942) as Olive Ransome *''

Sunday Punch The following is a ''list of phrases from sports'' that have become idioms (slang or otherwise) in English. They have evolved usages and meanings independent of sports and are often used by those with little knowledge of these games. The sport fro ...

'' (1942) as Ma Galestrum *''

Tortilla Flat ''Tortilla Flat'' (1935) is an early John Steinbeck novel set in Monterey, California. The novel was the author's first clear critical and commercial success. The book portrays a group of 'paisanos'—literally, countrymen—a small band of er ...

'' (1942) as Mrs. Torrelli *'' Grand Central Murder'' (1942) as Pearl Delroy *'' Apache Trail'' (1942) as Señora Martinez *'' The War Against Mrs. Hadley'' (1942) as Cook *'' The Human Comedy'' (1943) (listed in the cast, but did not appear onscreen) *'' Presenting Lily Mars'' (1943) as Frankie *'' Thousands Cheer'' (1943) *'' Swing Shift Maisie'' (1943) as Maw Lustvogel *'' Cry 'Havoc''' (1943) as Sadie *'' See Here, Private Hargrove'' (1944) (listed in the cast, but did not appear onscreen) *'' The Heavenly Body'' (1944) as Beulah - 'Delia Murphy' *''

Rationing Rationing is the controlled distribution of scarce resources, goods, services, or an artificial restriction of demand. Rationing controls the size of the ration, which is one's allowed portion of the resources being distributed on a particular ...

'' (1944) as Mrs. Porter *''Patrolling the Ether'' (1944, Short) as Phillip's Mother (uncredited) *''Important Business'' (1944, Short) as Miss Larkin (uncredited) *''

Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble ''Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble'' is a 1944 romantic comedy film directed by George B. Seitz. It is the fourteenth link starring Mickey Rooney as Andy Hardy. In the film, Andy goes to college, but soon gets in trouble with some pretty co-eds. Plo ...

'' (1944) as Mrs. Gordon (uncredited) *''

The Seventh Cross ''The Seventh Cross'' (german: Das siebte Kreuz) is a novel by Anna Seghers, one of the better-known examples of German literature circa World War II. It was first published in Mexico by ''El Libro Libre'' In 1942. The English translation came o ...

'' (1944) as Frau Binder (uncredited) *'' The Thin Man Goes Home'' (1944) as Woman on Train with Baby (uncredited) *'' Nothing but Trouble'' (1944) as Mrs. Flannigan *''

Music for Millions ''Music for Millions'' is a 1944 musical comedy film directed by Henry Koster and starring Margaret O'Brien, José Iturbi, Jimmy Durante, June Allyson, Marsha Hunt, Hugh Herbert, Harry Davenport, and Marie Wilson. It was nominated for an Oscar ...

'' (1944) as Travelers Aid Woman *'' The Valley of Decision'' (1945) as The Scotts' Cook (uncredited) *'' Junior Miss'' (1945) as Hilda *'' Up Goes Maisie'' (1946) as Cleaning Lady (uncredited) *''

Young Widow ''Young Widow'' is a 1946 drama film directed by Edwin L. Marin and starring Jane Russell and Louis Hayward. It focuses on Joan Kenwood, a young journalist who cannot get over her husband's death in World War II. Kenwood is reminded in larg ...

'' (1946) as Aunt Cissie *'' Bad Bascomb'' (1946) as Annie Freemont *'' Faithful in My Fashion'' (1946) as Mrs. Murphy *''A Really Important Person'' (1947, Short) as Mrs. Reilly *'' The Hucksters'' (1947) as Betty as Switchboard Operator *'' Song of the Thin Man'' (1947) as Bertha *'' The Unfinished Dance'' (1947) as Josie's Mother (uncredited) *'' Good News'' (1947) as Cora, the cook *'' Tenth Avenue Angel'' (1948) as Mrs. Murphy *'' The Bride Goes Wild'' (1948) as Nurse Tooker (uncredited) *'' The Big City'' (1948) as Martha *'' Luxury Liner'' (1948) as Bertha *''

Chicken Every Sunday ''Chicken Every Sunday'' is a 1949 American comedy film directed by George Seaton. The screenplay by Seaton and Valentine Davies is based on the 1944 play of the same title by Julius J. Epstein and Philip G. Epstein, which was based on the memoi ...

'' (1949) as Millie Moon *'' A Letter to Three Wives'' (1949) as Mrs. Ruby Finney *''

Act of Violence ''Act of Violence'' is a 1949 American film noir starring Van Heflin, Robert Ryan and featuring Janet Leigh, Mary Astor and Phyllis Thaxter. Directed by Fred Zinnemann and adapted for the screen by Robert L. Richards from a story by Collier ...

'' (1949) as Martha Finney *'' Little Women'' (1949) as Mrs. Kirke *'' The Story of Molly X'' (1949) as Dawn *'' Buccaneer's Girl'' (1950) as Vegetable Woman *'' Stars in My Crown'' (1950) as Sarah Isbell *'' A Ticket to Tomahawk'' (1950) as Madame Adelaide *'' Louisa'' (1950) as Housekeeper Gladys *'' Peggy'' (1950) as Miss Zim *''

The Killer That Stalked New York ''The Killer That Stalked New York'' (also known as ''Frightened City'') is a 1950 American film noir directed by Earl McEvoy and starring Evelyn Keyes, Charles Korvin and William Bishop. The film, shot on location and in a semi-documentary sty ...

'' (1950) as Belle *'' Undercover Girl'' (1950) as Capt. Sadie Parker *''

'' (1950) as Henriette *'' Thunder on the Hill'' (1951) as Sister Josephine *'' Chain of Circumstance'' (1951) as Mrs. Mullins *'' Here Comes the Groom'' (1951) as Ma Jones *'' One Big Affair'' (1952) as Miss Marple *'' Flesh and Fury'' (1952) as Mrs. Richardson *'' The Half-Breed'' (1952) as Ma Higgins *''

'' (1953) as Mrs. Shultz *'' The Great Diamond Robbery'' (1954) as Blonde *''

It Should Happen to You ''It Should Happen to You'' is a 1954 American romantic comedy film starring Judy Holliday, Peter Lawford and Jack Lemmon; it was Lemmon's first major film appearance. The film was directed by George Cukor, and partly filmed on location in New Yo ...

'' (1954) as Mrs. Riker *'' The Far Country'' (1954) as Hominy *''

'' (1954) as Purity Pinker *'' The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit'' (1956) as Mrs. Manter *'' Machine-Gun Kelly'' (1958) as "Ma" Becker *''

'' (1958) as Norah Muldoon *'' Some Came Running'' (1958) as Jane Barclay *'' Say One for Me'' (1959) as Mary *'' Swingin' Along'' (1961) as Aunt Sophie *'' The Interns'' (1962) as Nurse Connie Dean *''

The Misadventures of Merlin Jones ''The Misadventures of Merlin Jones'' is a 1964 American science-fiction comedy film directed by Robert Stevenson and produced by Walt Disney Productions. The film stars Tommy Kirk as a college student who experiments with mind-reading and hyp ...

'' (1964) as Mrs. Gossett *'' A Tiger Walks'' (1964) as Liddy Lewis *'' A House Is Not a Home'' (1964) as Hattie Miller *''

Two on a Guillotine ''Two on a Guillotine'' is a 1965 American horror film produced and directed by William Conrad and starring Connie Stevens. The screenplay by John Kneubuhl and Henry Slesar is based on a story by Slesar. The movie would be the first in a series o ...

'' (1965) as Ramona Ryerdon *'' Sylvia'' (1965) as Molly Baxter (uncredited) *''

The Monkey's Uncle ''The Monkey's Uncle'' is a 1965 American comedy film starring Tommy Kirk as genius college student Merlin Jones and Annette Funicello (former Mouseketeer from ''The Mickey Mouse Club'') as his girlfriend, Jennifer. The title plays on the idio ...

'' (1965) as Mrs. Gossett *'' Fluffy'' (1965) as Maid *'' Tickle Me'' (1965) as Hilda *''

Some Kind of a Nut ''Some Kind of a Nut'' is a 1969 American comedy film written and directed by Garson Kanin and starring Dick Van Dyke, Angie Dickinson and Rosemary Forsyth. This was the final film of Dennis King. Plot Fred Amidon is a New York City bank ...

'' (1969) as Mrs. Boland (uncredited) (final film role)

Television credits

*'' Leave It to Beaver'' (1957) as Minerva, a maid, in the episode "Captain Jack" *'' The Restless Gun'' (1958) as Aunt Emma in Episode "Aunt Emma" *''

The Real McCoys ''The Real McCoys'' is an American situation comedy starring Walter Brennan, Richard Crenna, and Kathleen Nolan. Co-produced by Danny Thomas's Marterto Productions in association with Walter Brennan and Irving Pincus's Westgate Company ...

'' (1961) as Mrs. Jensen *'' The Tall Man'' as Big Mamacita in the episode "The Great Western" (1961) *''

Going My Way ''Going My Way'' is a 1944 American musical comedy drama film directed by Leo McCarey and starring Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald. Written by Frank Butler and Frank Cavett based on a story by McCarey, the film is about a new young priest ta ...

'', as Mrs. Reardon in "Blessed Are the Meek" (1963) *''

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, aired on CBS and NBC between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers and mysteries. Between 1962 and 1965 it was rena ...

'', two appearances in 1963 *''

The Twilight Zone ''The Twilight Zone'' is an American media franchise based on the anthology series, anthology television program, television series created by Rod Serling. The episodes are in various genres, including fantasy, science fiction, absurdism, dysto ...

'', as Mrs. Feeney in "

In Praise of Pip "In Praise of Pip" is an episode of the American television anthology series '' The Twilight Zone''. In this episode, after learning that his soldier son has suffered a mortal wound in an early phase of the Vietnam War, a crooked bookie encounte ...

" (1963) *Perry Mason as Natasha in “The Case of the Scarlet Scandal” (1966)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Gilchrist, Connie 1895 births 1985 deaths 20th-century American actresses Actresses from New York City American film actresses American stage actresses American television actresses Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract players People from Brooklyn American Roman Catholics New Mexico Democrats California Democrats New York (state) Democrats