Celeste Holm Biography

(Actress)

Birthday: April 29, 1917 (Taurus)

Born In: Brooklyn, New York, United States

Celeste Holm was an American stage, film, and TV actor. She began her career through theater. Celeste had established herself as a prolific stage artist with her debut effort. She played ‘Ado Annie’ in the musical 'Oklahoma!,' which remained a cult classic for the following generations. Her career on the small and large screens, too, was nothing short of phenomenal. She had earned 'Academy' and 'Primetime Emmy' nominations for her roles. However, Celeste had once left her flourishing film and TV career for theater. Although she did come back to films and TV, theater had always been her first love. Celeste had performed in five stage productions with legendary playwright George M Cohan and was honored for her contribution to the 'Chicago Theatre.' Celeste was also involved in philanthropic work and had served as a spokesperson for the ‘United Nations Children's Fund’ (UNICEF). She had been married five times and had two sons. Celeste died of a heart attack at the age of 95 years.
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Quick Facts

Died At Age: 95

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Frank Basile (m. 2004), A. Schuyler Dunning (m. 1946 – div. 1953), Francis Davies (m. 1940 – div. 1945), Ralph Nelson (m. 1936 – div. 1939), Wesley Addy (m. 1961 – his death. 1996)

father: Theodor Holm

mother: Jean Parke

children: Daniel Dunning, Ted Nelson

Born Country: United States

Actresses American Women

Height: 5'6" (168 cm), 5'6" Females

Died on: July 15, 2012

place of death: Manhattan, New York, United States

Diseases & Disabilities: Ulcers, Skin Cancer

Notable Alumni: University School For Girls, Chicago

Cause of Death: Heart Attack

U.S. State: New Yorkers

More Facts

education: University Of Chicago, University School for Girls, Chicago

  • 1

    When did Celeste Holm start her acting career?

    Celeste Holm started her acting career in the late 1930s, appearing in Broadway productions.
  • 2

    Which famous film did Celeste Holm star in alongside Bette Davis?

    Celeste Holm starred alongside Bette Davis in the classic film "All About Eve" in 1950.
  • 3

    What was one of Celeste Holm's notable roles on television?

    One of Celeste Holm's notable roles on television was as a guest star on the popular series "Falcon Crest."
  • 4

    Did Celeste Holm ever perform in musical theater productions?

    Yes, Celeste Holm had a successful career in musical theater, appearing in productions such as "Oklahoma!" and "The King and I."
  • 5

    Which organization was Celeste Holm actively involved in during her lifetime?

    Celeste Holm was actively involved in various charitable organizations, including UNICEF, throughout her life.
Childhood & Early Life
Celeste was born on April 29, 1917, in Manhattan, to American artist Jean Parke and Norwegian businessman Theodor Holm. Because of her parents' professions, most of Celeste's early years were spent traveling.
Celeste had attended various schools, in the Netherlands, France, and the US. She graduated from the 'University School for Girls' in Chicago and then went to the 'Francis W Parker School.' She graduated from there in 1935.
At 'Francis,' Celeste actively participated in the school's stage productions, which inspired her to nurture the craft further. Hence, she enrolled at the 'University of Chicago' and studied drama.
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Career
Celeste made her acting debut through theater in 1938. Her first stage performance was as ‘Lady Mary’ in the three-part opera 'Gloriana.' However, her first prominent stage performance was as ‘Mary L’ in the ‘Broadway’ revival of 'The Time of Your Life' (1940).
Celeste was the first actor to portray the character ‘Ado Annie,’ a flirtatious but innocent young woman, in the 1943 musical 'Oklahoma!' The role brought her scant accolades from fans and critics. Subsequently, she performed in the ‘Broadway’ musical 'Bloomer Girl' and had a guest appearance in the radio musical ‘The Bob Crosby Show’ before she made her transition to films.
In 1946, Celeste signed a contract with '20th Century Fox' and made her big-screen debut with the 'Technicolor' musical film 'Three Little Girls in Blue' (as ‘Miriam Harrington’). The following year, she received her first 'Academy' and 'Golden Globe' for her supporting role of a fashion editor named ‘Anne Dettrey’ in the drama film 'Gentleman's Agreement,' an adaptation of the novel of the same name. Celeste also earned a 'New York Film Critics Circle Award' for her performance in the movie.
Celeste was nominated for the 'Academy' for the ‘Best Supporting Actress’ for her performance as ‘Sister Scholastica’ in the 1949 drama film 'Come to the Stable.' Her next 'Academy' nomination was for her supporting role as ‘Karen Richards’ in the 1950 drama film 'All About Eve.'
Around the same time, Celeste made her first TV appearance in an episode of the 'NBC' comedy-variety show 'All Star Revue.' Despite her successful career in films, Celeste preferred live theater over movies. For the next few years, she mostly did theater and appeared in a few select film roles only. She, however, simultaneously continued making appearances on TV.
Celeste also performed in several stage productions, such as 'Affairs of State' (1950), 'The King and I' (1951), 'Anna Christie' (1952), 'His and Hers' (1954), and 'Interlock' (1958). In 1958, Celeste played a reporter in an unsold TV pilot for her self-titled show, which was based on the book 'No Facilities for Women.'
Some of her prominent film roles around the time were in 'The Tender Trap' (1955), 'High Society' (1956), and 'Bachelor Flat' (1961). Celeste provided her voice as the narrator of the 1963 short 'Hailstones and Halibut Bones.'
Celeste played the titular role in the 1970 version of the comedy play 'Candida,' written by George Bernard Shaw in 1894. That year, she appeared as ‘Abigail,’ her first recurring role, in the 'NBC' sitcom 'Nancy.' Her first big TV achievement was a 'Primetime Emmy' nomination for her supporting role as First Lady Florence Harding in the 'NBC' miniseries 'Backstairs at the White House.'
During that decade, Celeste was more active in films than in theater. She had starring roles in the 1976 romantic drama 'Bittersweet Love' and the 1977 biopic 'The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover' (which featured her as ‘Florence Hollister’).
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From 1996 to 1999, Celeste played the character ‘Hattie Greene’ in 69 episodes of the 'CBS' drama 'Promised Land.' Her next recurring role was that of ‘Frances Robinson’ in the 'UPN' drama 'The Beat.' Her final two theater appearances were as ‘Lilian Troy’ in the 1991 comedy–drama 'I Hate Hamlet' and the musical 'Allegro’ (1994).
Celeste was a life member of 'The Actors Studio' and had been honored with the 'Sarah Siddons Award' in 1968 for her achievements in 'Chicago Theatre.' Former president Ronald Reagan appointed her to the 'National Arts Council.' She was honored with the title ''Knight, First Class of the Order of St. Olav'' by King Olav of Norway in 1979.
In 1991, Celeste received an honorary degree from 'Seton Hall University.' She was then inducted to the 'American Theater Hall of Fame' in 1992. In 1995, she had an honorary mention in the 'Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame.' She had also received the 'Ellis Island Medal of Honor.'
In 2006, Celeste was awarded the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ by the 'SunDeis Film Festival' at 'Brandeis University.'
She had contributed to the soundtracks of ‘Tom Sawyer,’ ‘Doctor, You've Got to Be Kidding!,’ ‘Three Little Girls in Blue,’ and many such musicals.
Family, Personal Life & Death
Celeste's mother was a renowned American portrait artist and author. Her father owned a company that provided marine adjustment services for ‘Lloyd's of London.’
Celeste was married to actor, producer, director Ralph Nelson from 1936 to 1939. Their son, Ted Nelson, is an internet pioneer and sociologist. Celeste was received into the Roman Catholic Church to marry her second husband, English auditor Francis Emerson Harding Davies, on January 7, 1940. The marriage ended on May 8, 1945.
Celeste was married to airline public relations executive A Schuyler Dunning from 1946 to 1952. They had a son, Daniel Dunning, who is an entrepreneur now.
Celeste married actor Wesley Addy in 1961 and remained married to him until he died in 1996. On April 29, 2004, Celeste married opera singer Frank Basile, who was around 40 years younger to her. The two had met in October 1999, at a fundraising event where Frank performed.
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Celeste and Frank sued the trust that was set up in 2002 by her younger son to shelter his mother's financial assets from taxes. However, Frank believed that the primary purpose of the trust was to keep him from inheriting Celeste's assets.
According to an article in 'The New York Times,' the 5-year-long court case cost them millions of dollars, and this left Celeste and Frank with a "fragile hold" on their luxury apartment.
Celeste was a spokesperson for ‘UNICEF’ and had also served as the chairperson of the 'Board of Arts Horizons,' a non-profit educational organization founded in 1995.
Since 2002, Celeste was under treatment for memory loss and later suffered from skin cancer, bleeding ulcers, and a collapsed lung. Moreover, she had also undergone hip replacements and had pacemakers. In June 2012, he was admitted to New York's ‘Roosevelt Hospital,' where she had a heart attack the following day. Two days later, Celeste died at her ‘Central Park West’ apartment.
Facts About Celeste Holm
Celeste Holm was an accomplished painter and her artwork was featured in several exhibitions during her lifetime.
She was known for her love of animals and was a dedicated supporter of various animal welfare organizations.
In addition to her successful acting career, Celeste Holm also had a passion for gardening and spent much of her free time tending to her plants and flowers.
She was an avid reader and had a vast collection of books in her personal library, spanning a wide range of genres and topics.
Celeste Holm was known for her quick wit and sense of humor, often charming those around her with her playful personality.

Awards

Academy Awards(Oscars)
1948 Best Actress in a Supporting Role Gentleman's Agreement (1947)
Golden Globe Awards
1948 Best Supporting Actress Gentleman's Agreement (1947)

See the events in life of Celeste Holm in Chronological Order

How To Cite

Article Title
- Celeste Holm Biography
Author
- Editors, TheFamousPeople.com
Website
- TheFamousPeople.com
URL
https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/celeste-holm-39702.php

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