Daphne Katherine Reid (4 November 1930 – 27 March 1993) was a Canadian actress, whose career spanned over fifty years and hundreds of roles across both stage and screen.
She was described by the book ''Inspiring Women: A Celebration of Herstory'' as "the finest actress ever developed in Canada".
Born in
England
England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
and raised in
Ontario
Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...
, Reid performed with the
Stratford Festival
The Stratford Festival is a repertory theatre organization that operates from April to October in the city of Stratford, Ontario, Canada. Founded by local journalist Tom Patterson in 1952, the festival was formerly known as the Stratford Shak ...
, before making her Broadway debut as Martha in the matinee cast of ''
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?'', and went on to be nominated for two
Tony Awards
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual cere ...
,
Best Featured Actress in a Play for
''Dylan'' and
Best Actress in a Play for ''
Slapstick Tragedy''. She played Linda Loman in the acclaimed 1984 revival of ''
Death of a Salesman
''Death of a Salesman'' is a 1949 stage play written by the American playwright Arthur Miller. The play premiered on Broadway in February 1949, running for 742 performances. It is a two-act tragedy set in late 1940s Brooklyn told through a ...
''.
On screen, Reid won the
Genie Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in
Louis Malle's
''Atlantic City'' (1980). She was also nominated for a
for
''A Delicate Balance'' (1973), and
Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film for the
1985 television film of ''Death of a Salesman''. She also won a
Dora Mavor Moore Award
The Dora Mavor Moore Awards (also known as the Dora Awards or the Doras) are awards presented annually by the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA), honouring theatre, dance and opera productions in Toronto. Named after Dora Mavor Moor ...
, and the
Earle Grey Award
The Earle Grey Award is the lifetime achievement award for television acting of the Canadian Screen Awards, and its predecessor the Gemini Awards. It can be presented to an individual or collaborative team (such as SCTV or Royal Canadian Air Fa ...
.
Early life and education
Reid was born on 4 November 1930 in London, England, the daughter of Canadian parents Walter Clarke Reid, a retired colonel of the
Bengal Lancers in the
Indian Army
The Indian Army (IA) (ISO 15919, ISO: ) is the Land warfare, land-based branch and largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Commander-in-Chief, Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and its professional head ...
, and Helen Isabel, ''née'' Moore. While Reid was still a toddler, she and her family moved back to Canada and settled in
Oakville, Ontario
Oakville is a town and List of municipalities in Ontario#Lower-tier municipalities, lower-tier municipality in Regional Municipality of Halton, Halton Region, Ontario, Canada. Generally seen as a commuter suburb of Toronto, it is located on Lake ...
.
She attended
Havergal College in Toronto, the
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public university, public research university whose main campus is located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park (Toronto), Queen's Park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded by ...
,
and then studied acting at the
Royal Conservatory of Music.
She made her earliest stage appearances at the
Hart House Theatre, before her professional debut with the Straw Hat Players in
Muskoka.
Career
Theatre
Reid performed with the Crest Theatre in Toronto and starred in
''The Stepmother'' on
London
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
's
West End, before joining the
Stratford Festival
The Stratford Festival is a repertory theatre organization that operates from April to October in the city of Stratford, Ontario, Canada. Founded by local journalist Tom Patterson in 1952, the festival was formerly known as the Stratford Shak ...
in 1959. She maintained a close association with the Festival until her death, over the years playing such roles as
Lady Macbeth in ''
Macbeth
''The Tragedy of Macbeth'', often shortened to ''Macbeth'' (), is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, estimated to have been first performed in 1606. It dramatises the physically violent and damaging psychological effects of political ambiti ...
'', Katharina in ''
The Taming of the Shrew
''The Taming of the Shrew'' is a comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1590 and 1592. The play begins with a framing device, often referred to as the induction, in which a mischievous nobleman tricks a drunke ...
'', Celia in ''
As You Like It
''As You Like It'' is a pastoral Shakespearean comedy, comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1599 and first published in the First Folio in 1623. The play's first performance is uncertain, though a performance at Wil ...
'', Emilia in ''
Othello
''The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice'', often shortened to ''Othello'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare around 1603. Set in Venice and Cyprus, the play depicts the Moorish military commander Othello as he is manipulat ...
'', the Nurse in ''
Romeo and Juliet
''The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet'', often shortened to ''Romeo and Juliet'', is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare about the romance between two young Italians from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's ...
'', and Mistress Overdone in ''
Measure for Measure
''Measure for Measure'' is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1603 or 1604 and first performed in 1604. It was published in the First Folio of 1623.
The play centers on the despotic and puritan Angelo (Measure for ...
''.
In the early 1960s, Reid moved to New York City to study with
Uta Hagen. She was cast as Martha in the alternate matinee cast of ''
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?''.
At the
Shaw Festival
The Shaw Festival is a Charitable organization, Charitable theatre festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada. It is the second largest repertory theatre company in North America, second only to Canada's Strat ...
, Reid played the title role in ''
Mrs. Warren's Profession'' and in ''
The Apple Cart''.
In 1984, Reid starred in the critically-acclaimed Broadway revival of ''
Death of a Salesman
''Death of a Salesman'' is a 1949 stage play written by the American playwright Arthur Miller. The play premiered on Broadway in February 1949, running for 742 performances. It is a two-act tragedy set in late 1940s Brooklyn told through a ...
'', opposite
Dustin Hoffman
Dustin Lee Hoffman (born August 8, 1937) is an American actor. As one of the key actors in the formation of New Hollywood, Hoffman is known for Dustin Hoffman filmography, his versatile portrayals of antiheroes and emotionally vulnerable charac ...
,
John Malkovich, and
Stephen Lang
Stephen Lang (born July 11, 1952) is an American stage and screen actor. He gained fame for his role as main antagonist Miles Quaritch, Colonel Miles Quaritch in James Cameron's ''Avatar (2009 film), Avatar'' (2009), for which he won the Saturn ...
.
Film
Reid made her film debut in the
NFB short ''
Farewell Oak Street'', then starred in
Sidney J. Furie's ''
A Dangerous Age'', notable for being English-language Canadian feature. Following her stage success, she was cast as the scheming and domineering mother of
Natalie Wood
Natalie Wood (née Zacharenko; July 20, 1938 – November 29, 1981) was an American actress. She began acting at age four and co-starred at age eight in ''Miracle on 34th Street'' (1947). As a teenager, she was nominated for an Academy Award f ...
's character in
Sydney Pollack's 1966 film ''
This Property is Condemned'', although she was only seven years Wood's senior.
Her other film appearances included starring roles as acerbic scientist Dr. Ruth Leavitt in ''
The Andromeda Strain
''The Andromeda Strain'' is a 1969 novel by American writer Michael Crichton, his first novel under his own name and his sixth novel overall. It documents the outbreak of a deadly extraterrestrial microorganism in Arizona and the team of scie ...
'' (1971), the alcoholic sister of
Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Houghton Hepburn (May 12, 1907 – June 29, 2003) was an American actress whose Katharine Hepburn on screen and stage, career as a Golden Age of Hollywood, Hollywood leading lady spanned six decades. She was known for her headstrong ...
's character in ''
A Delicate Balance'' (1973) - which earned her a
Golden Globe
The Golden Globe Awards are awards presented for excellence in both international film and television. It is an annual award ceremony held since 1944 to honor artists and professionals and their work. The ceremony is normally held every Januar ...
nomination for
Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture, Margaret Dysart in the
1977 film version of
''Equus'', and aging beauty Grace in ''
Atlantic City
Atlantic City, sometimes referred to by its initials A.C., is a Jersey Shore seaside resort city in Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.
Atlantic City comprises the second half of the Atlantic City- Hammonton metropolitan sta ...
'' (1980). The latter role won her the
Genie Award for Best Supporting Actress at the
2nd Genie Awards
The 2nd Genie Awards were held March 12, 1981, honouring Canadian films released in 1980. Jay Scott, "Genie nominations released". ''The Globe and Mail'', February 10, 1981. The ceremony, which was broadcast live by the CBC, was held at the Roya ...
.
Television
Reid was nominated for a
Primetime Emmy Award
The Primetime Emmy Awards, or Primetime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Owned and operated by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), the P ...
for playing
Queen Victoria
Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in January 1901. Her reign of 63 year ...
in the television drama ''Invincible Mr. Disraeli'' (1963).
In 1971, Reid co-starred with
Eddie Albert and
Suzanne Pleshette
Suzanne Pleshette (January 31, 1937 – January 19, 2008) was an American actress. Pleshette was known for her roles in theatre, film, and television. She was nominated for three Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards. For her role as Emily Hart ...
in the ''
Columbo
''Columbo'' is an American crime drama television series starring Peter Falk as Columbo (character), Lieutenant Columbo, a homicide detective with the Los Angeles Police Department. After two pilot episodes in 1968 and 1971, the show originall ...
'' episode "Dead Weight".
She also co-starred as Lil Trotter on ''
Dallas
Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...
'', between seasons 6 and 9.
In 1985, she reprised her role as Linda in the
CBS television version of ''Death of a Salesman'', alongside the other stars of the '84 Broadway revival. The film won three Emmys, and Reid received her second Golden Globe nomination, for
Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film
Honours
In 1974, Reid was acclaimed an Officer of the
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada () is a Canadian state order, national order and the second-highest Award, honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit.
To coincide with the Canadian Centennial, ce ...
.
She received honorary degrees from
York University
York University (), also known as YorkU or simply YU), is a public university, public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, and it has approximately 53,500 students, 7,000 faculty and staff, ...
(1970) and the
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public university, public research university whose main campus is located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park (Toronto), Queen's Park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded by ...
(1989).
She had lifetime achievement
ACTRA and
Dora Awards. In 1988, she received the
Earle Grey Award
The Earle Grey Award is the lifetime achievement award for television acting of the Canadian Screen Awards, and its predecessor the Gemini Awards. It can be presented to an individual or collaborative team (such as SCTV or Royal Canadian Air Fa ...
from the
Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television
The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television is a Canadian non-profit organization created in 1979 to recognize the achievements of the over 4,000 Canadian cinema of Canada, film industry and television in Canada, television industry professionals ...
.
Personal life
Both of Reid's marriages, to Michael Sadlier and Austin Willis, ended in divorce. She had two children with Willis, Reid and Robin.
Death
Reid died of brain cancer in
Stratford, Ontario
Stratford is a city on the Avon River (Ontario), Avon River within Perth County, Ontario, Perth County in southwestern Ontario, Canada, with a 2021 Canadian census, 2021 population of 33,232 in a land area of . Stratford is the County seat, s ...
, aged 62, in 1993.
Her memorial service was held at St Clement's Episcopal Church in New York. Among those in attendance were
Edward Albee
Edward Franklin Albee III ( ; March 12, 1928 – September 16, 2016) was an American playwright known for works such as ''The Zoo Story'' (1958), ''The Sandbox (play), The Sandbox'' (1959), ''Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?'' (1962), ''A Delicat ...
,
John Guare
John Guare ( ; born February 5, 1938) is an American playwright and screenwriter. He is best known as the author of '' The House of Blue Leaves'' and '' Six Degrees of Separation''.
Early life
He was raised in Jackson Heights, Queens.Druckma ...
,
Elizabeth Wilson,
Marian Seldes,
Rosemary Murphy
Rosemary Murphy (January 13, 1925 – July 5, 2014) was an American actress of stage, film, and television. She was nominated for three Tony Awards for her stage work, as well as two Emmy Awards for television work, winning once, for her perfo ...
, and
Carrie Nye.
Filmography
Film
Television
Awards and nominations
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Reid, Kate
1930 births
1993 deaths
Canadian film actresses
Canadian stage actresses
Canadian television actresses
Canadian expatriate actresses in the United States
Deaths from cancer in Ontario
English emigrants to Canada
Best Supporting Actress Genie and Canadian Screen Award winners
Officers of the Order of Canada
People from Stratford, Ontario
Actresses from Ontario
20th-century English actresses
Canadian Shakespearean actresses
Havergal College alumni
Actresses from London