Barbara Bel Geddes
Birth Name:
Barbara Bel Geddes
Birth Place:
New York City, New York, United States
Profession
Actress, Soundtrack
Fast Facts
- Inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame in 1993
- Named Hollywood's Most Attractive New Star by Life magazine in 1948
- Often advocated for the Lifeline for Wildlife non-profit organization run by her daughter Betsy
- Quote: "I'm not very well-bred and I'm not much of a lady․"
- After making her stage debut on Broadway in the 1940s, she would travel to audition for various Hollywood film roles by the late '40s where she would gain critical acclaim almost immediately
- Best known for her role as family matriarch on the long-running primetime soap "Dallas", a role she would portray for more than a decade over the course of almost 300 episodes
- Following her final retirement in 1990, she went on to author children's books and design stationary
- Originated many characters for stage, but did not land the same role in later film versions such as Elizabeth Taylor's role in "Cat On a Hot Tin Roof", Marilyn Monroe's part in "The Prince and the Showgirl" and Debbie Reynolds' role in "Mary, Mary"
- She was the only actress to audition for the part of Miss Ellie Ewing on "Dallas"
Awards
- 1947Photoplay Award - Best Performances of the Month (September):Winner
- 1949Oscar - Best Actress in a Supporting Role:Nominated
- 1979Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series:Nominated
- 1980Golden Globe - Best Actress in a Television Series - Drama:Nominated
- 1980Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series:Winner
- 1981Golden Globe - Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama:Nominated
- 1981Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series:Nominated
- 1982Golden Globe - Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama:Winner
- 1984Soap Opera Digest Award - Outstanding Actress in a Mature Role in a Prime Time Soap Opera:Winner
- 1985Golden Camera - Best International Actress:Winner
- 1986Soap Opera Digest Award - Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role on a Prime Time Serial:Nominated
- 1988Soap Opera Digest Award - Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role: Prime Time:Nominated