Edith King

For the American painter, see Edith L. King. For the South African painter, see Edith Louise Mary King.
Edith King
King in an episode of Man Against Crime (1953)
Born
Edith Keck

(1896-11-14)November 14, 1896
White Haven, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedFebruary 24, 1973(1973-02-24) (aged 76)
Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1916–1967

Edith King (born Edith Keck; November 14, 1896 – February 24, 1973) was an American stage and film actress.

Biography

Edith King was born Edith Keck, daughter of John Keck, in White Haven, Pennsylvania in November 14, 1896.[1][2] She first visited a theater when she was 14, and decided then to pursue an acting career.[3] She moved to New York City at a young age and promptly arranged a meeting with David Belasco, who gave her a part in his current play, Marie Odile.[3]

In later life, King lived in Kendall Park, New Jersey, where she owned a small gift shop while continuing her acting career.[2] In 1972 King moved from Riviera Beach to Daytona Beach, where she died on February 24, 1973.[1]

Career

King was known as a stage and film actress, with a career spanning over 50 years (from roughly 1916 to 1964).[1][4] Before her stage career took off, she was an artist's model, working with Howard Chandler Christy for several of his paintings and illustrations.[3] She appeared in theatrical productions such as Bab (playing the older sister of Helen Hayes's main character)[5] and Thank You,[6] and films such as Saratoga.[7] She worked with Alfred Lunt and his wife in several productions, including The Seagull (as Polina) and The Taming of the Shrew (as the minor characters Curtis and the widow).[4]

She played Bianca in Paul Robeson's 1943 production of Othello before taking over the role of Emilia in 1944 (replacing Margaret Webster).[8][9]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1946 Calcutta Mrs. Smith
1947 Blaze of Noon Mrs. Murphy
1948 The Gallant Blade Mme. Chauvignac
1948 Belle Starr's Daughter Mrs. Allen
1953 Girl on the Run Lil

References

  1. ^ a b c "Deaths: Edith King". Daytona Beach Sunday News-Journal. February 25, 1973. p. 8C. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Native Plays Broadway Role". Plain Speaker. January 4, 1960. p. 10.
  3. ^ a b c "Edith Was a Girl of 14 Before She Saw a Theater: Now She'd Rather Be Known as an Actress Than a Mere Artist's Model". Washington Herald. February 26, 1921. p. 1. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  4. ^ a b Senelick, Laurence (2013). Theatre Arts on Acting. Routledge. p. 455. ISBN 9780415774925.
  5. ^ "Mr. Hornblow Goes to the Play". Theatre Magazine. XXXIII (238): 33. January 1921. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  6. ^ "For Boudoir Tea and Promenade". Washington Herald. January 22, 1922. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  7. ^ Green, Stanley (1960). The world of musical comedy. A.S. Barnes & Co. p. 361. hdl:2027/uc1.32106007510941.
  8. ^ Nathan, George Jean (1972). Theatre Book of the Year 1943-44. Fairleigh Dickinson. p. 90. ISBN 978-0838679623.
  9. ^ Swindall, Lindsey R. (2011). The Politics of Paul Robeson's Othello. University Press of Mississippi. p. 100. ISBN 9781604738247.
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