Aline McDermott

Aline McDermott
A white woman standing, one hand on her head, one hand holding flowers on her chest, wearing a flowing gown and shawl
Aline McDermott, from a 1916 publication
BornOctober 23, 1881
Jersey City, New Jersey
DiedFebruary 16, 1951
New York City
OccupationActress
ParentAllan Langdon McDermott

Mary Aline Langdon McDermott (October 23, 1881 – February 16, 1951) was an American actress. She created the role of Mrs. Lily Mortar in the original Broadway production of Lillian Hellman's The Children's Hour (1934). She was also in the original Broadway cast of Thornton Wilder's Our Town (1938).

Early life

McDermott was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, the daughter of Allan Langdon McDermott and Margaret Elizabeth O'Neill McDermott. Her father was a lawyer and a Congressman.[1]

Career

McDermott was a stage actress. Her Broadway credits included roles in The Runaway (1911),[2] Go West, Young Man (1923),[3][4] Bachelors' Brides (1925), American Born (1925),[5][6] The Rhapsody (1930), Page Pygmalion (1932),[7] The Children's Hour (1934–1936),[8] Our Town (1938), Blind Alley (1940), and State of the Union (1945–1947).[9] She also appeared on the London stage.[1] She was a leading lady in touring and stock companies including the Northampton Players,[10][11] and was known for counseling young women away from a stage career.[12][13]

Personal life

McDermott was a noted amateur photographer in the 1910s.[14] She injured her arm when she slipped on an icy sidewalk in 1936.[15] She died in 1951, in New York City.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Aline L. M'Dermott, Often on Stage Here". The New York Times. 1951-02-17. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
  2. ^ Hines, Dixie; Hanaford, Harry Prescott (1914). Who's who in Music and Drama. H.P. Hanaford. pp. 415–416.
  3. ^ Lawren, Joseph (1924). The Drama Year Book. J. Lawren. pp. 89–90.
  4. ^ Mantle, Burns; Chapman, John Arthur; Sherwood, Garrison P.; Kronenberger, Louis (1924). The Best Plays. Dodd, Mead. p. 352.
  5. ^ "New Plays of the Month". Theatre Magazine. 40: 62. December 1925.
  6. ^ "Cohan Returns with Bright New Comedy". The Boston Globe. 1925-09-22. p. 22. Retrieved 2022-07-13 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Field, Rowland (1932-08-05). "'Page Pygmalion' a New Comedy at Bijou Theatre". Times Union. p. 7. Retrieved 2022-07-13 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Hodges, Benjamin A. (2003). Forbidden Acts: Pioneering Gay & Lesbian Plays of the Twentieth Century. Applause Theatre & Cinema Books. p. 177. ISBN 978-1-55783-587-1.
  9. ^ "State of the Union". Dramatics. 17 (5): 17. February 1946 – via Internet Archive.
  10. ^ Pera, O. (1915-11-22). "Miss Aline McDermott a Real Leading Lady". The News-Journal. p. 12. Retrieved 2022-07-13 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Brewster, Mary (September 15, 1917). "New Ideas at Northampton". Dramatic Mirror. 77: 29.
  12. ^ Mann, William J. (2009-10-21). How to Be a Movie Star: Elizabeth Taylor in Hollywood. HMH Books. p. 50. ISBN 978-0-547-41774-5.
  13. ^ Cain, Giles P. (September 30, 1916). "Little Stories of Plays and Players". The Independent. 36: 3.
  14. ^ "News Items from Local Theatres". The Washington Herald. July 7, 1912. p. 16. Retrieved July 13, 2022 – via NewspaperArchive.com.
  15. ^ "Actress Hurt by Fall; Aline McDermott of 'Children's Hour' Slips on Icy Sidewalk". The New York Times. 1936-01-02. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-07-13.