Mary Nash

Mary Nash
Born	Mary Nash August 15, 1884(1884-08-15) Troy, New York, U.S.
Died	December 3, 1976(1976-12-03) (aged 92) Brentwood, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1904–1946
Spouse	Jose Ruben (1918–?) (divorce)

Mary Nash (August 15, 1884 – December 3, 1976) was an American actress.^[1]

Early life

Nash was born on August 15, 1884 (some say 1885) in Troy, New York, to parents Philip Nash, who worked for B. F. Keith Vaudeville Circuit, and Ellen Frances MacNamara.^[2] She was educated at the Convent of St. Anne in Montreal and trained for acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Her younger sister was theater actress Florence Nash.

Stage and film career

She was a noted stage actress in New York^[3] and successful in vaudeville before moving to Hollywood in 1934, where she was in films until 1946. According to Allmovie: "Nash was often cast as seemingly mild-mannered women who turned vicious when challenged, as witness her work in College Scandal (1936) and Charlie Chan in Panama (1940). ... Mary Nash's most sympathetic role was as the long-suffering wife of blustering capitalist J. B. Ball in Easy Living (1937)."^[4] Nash probably is best known for two films where she acted alongside Shirley Temple, first as Fraulein Rottenmeier in Heidi (1937) and then as the selfish and authoritarian Miss Minchin in The Little Princess (1939). She also was well known as Katharine Hepburn's socialite mother in both stage and movie productions of The Philadelphia Story (1940). She played a supporting role in the 1936 Academy Award-winning film Come and Get It and a featured role in In the Meantime, Darling in 1944.

Personal life

In 1918 she married French actor, writer and director Jose Ruben (1888–1969). They were divorced shortly after.

She died from natural causes, at home on December 3, 1976, in Brentwood, California.^[1]

Filmography

• The Unbroken Road (1915)
• Arms and the Woman (1916)
• Uncertain Lady (1934)
• College Scandal (1935)
• Come and Get It (1936)
• The Kid and The College Girl (1937)
• Easy Living (1937)
• Heidi (1937)
• Wells Fargo (1937)
• The Little Princess (1939)
• The Rains Came (1939)
• Charlie Chan in Panama (1940)
• The Philadelphia Story (1940)
• Sailor's Lady (1940)
• Gold Rush Maisie (1940)
• Men of Boys Town (1941)
• Calling Dr. Kildare (1942)
• The Human Comedy (1943)
• The Lady and The Monster (1944)
• Cobra Woman (1944)
• In the Meantime, Darling (1944)
• Yolanda and the Thief (1945)
• Monsieur Beaucaire (1946)
• Till the Clouds Roll By (1946)
• Swell Guy (1946)

Photos

• Photograph by James Abbe, Captain Applejack, 1921
• Portrait by Ben Solowey, Diana, 1929
• Portrait by Ben Solowey, A Strong Man's House, 1929
• Photograph, Cobra Woman, 1944
• Photograph, 1944

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Mary Nash Dead; Character Actress Of Stage and Film". New York Times. December 8, 1976. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F4091FFA3F59157493CAA91789D95F428785F9. Retrieved 2010-10-07. "Mary Nash, whose 40-year career as an actress included stardom on Broadway and success in motion pictures and vaudeville, died Friday at her home in Brentwood, Calif. She was 92 years old." 
2. ^ Great Stars of the American Stage by Daniel C. Blum Profile #103 c.1952(this 2nd edition c.1954)
3. ^ Mary Nash at the Internet Broadway Database
4. ^ Hal Erickson, Allmovie, 2006

External links

Biography portal

• Mary Nash at Find a Grave
• Mary Nash at the Internet Movie Database
• Mary Nash at the Internet Broadway Database
• Mary Nash at NY Public Library Billy Rose collection
• Mary Nash in Vanity Fair October 1920 taken by Dorothy Wilding
• Mary Nash in Vanity Fair March 1924 wearing large plumed headdress taken by Edward Steichen

Persondata
Name	Nash, Mary
Alternative names	Ryan, Mary
Short description	Actress
Date of birth	August 15, 1884
Place of birth	Troy, New York, U.S.
Date of death	December 3, 1976
Place of death	Brentwood, California, U.S.