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Agnes Moorehead Biography

Birth Name:Agnes Robertson Moorehead

Birth Place:Clinton, Massachusetts, United States

Profession Actress, Soundtrack

Fast Facts

  • Posthumously honored by the St․ Louis Walk of Fame
  • First woman to be named co-host of the Oscars
  • After receiving a bachelor's degree from Muskingum College, she would become a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin before eventually studying at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts
  • After graduating from Muskingum College with a bachelor's degree, she would move with her family to Reedsburg, Wisconsin, where she would teach public school for five years before pursuing her acting career full-time
  • Quote: "Permissiveness in society springs from a lack of standards․ There must be a rule of behavior, an appreciation of basic values․"
  • Initially interested in stage work, she would be persuaded to try a career in film by new acquaintance Helen Hayes in the early '30s
  • Most well-known for her work as Endora on "Bewitched", a role she would portray for more than eight years, garnering her multiple award nominations and wins until the series' end in 1972
  • Endured unemployment during the earliest stages of her career and once recounted a period in which she was forced to go four days without eating
  • One of more than 90 crew members of "The Conqueror", which filmed in the Nevada desert near nuclear test sites, that subsequently died of various types of cancer

Awards

  • 1942NBR Award-Best Acting: winner
  • 1942NYFCC Award-Best Actress: winner
  • 1942Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (September): winner
  • 1943Oscar-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 1945Oscar-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 1945Golden Globe-Best Supporting Actress: winner
  • 1949Oscar-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 1951Golden Laurel-Top Female Character Performance: nominated
  • 1952Golden Laurel-Top Female Character Performance: winner
  • 1957Golden Laurel-Top Female Comedy Performance: nominated
  • 1958Golden Laurel-Top Female Supporting Performance: nominated
  • 1965Oscar-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 1965Golden Globe-Best Supporting Actress: winner
  • 1965Golden Laurel-Supporting Performance, Female: nominated
  • 1966Golden Laurel-Supporting Performance, Female: nominated
  • 1966Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Comedy: nominated
  • 1967Gold Medal-Favorite TV Program: nominated
  • 1967Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Drama: winner
  • 1967Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1968Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Comedy: nominated
  • 1969Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series: nominated
  • 1970Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in Comedy: nominated
  • 1971Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in Comedy: nominated
  • 2003TV Land Award-Favorite Classic TV In-Law: winner
  • 2004TV Land Award-Favorite "Big, Bad Momma": nominated
  • 2005TV Land Award-Favorite Mother-In-Law: winner