Marian Seldes Biography

Fast Facts

• Earned a Guinness World Record for her role in the 1978 play "Deathtrap," appearing in every one of the show's 1,793 performances over the course of four years
• Enrolled in the Neighborhood Playhouse in 1946 and trained with Sanford Meisner
• Made her stage debut as a serving girl in "Medea" in 1947 and later made her Broadway debut in "Ondine" in 1954
• Originally studied dance and attended the School of American Ballet before deciding she wanted to act instead
• Quote: "I know I'm funny, because I'm eccentric, I'm odd․ I'm not what you expect․"
• Quote: "(On her Tony Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010): "All I've done is live my life in the theater and loved it․ If you can get an award for being happy, that's what I've got․""
• Appeared in a number of Edward Albee's plays, including "Tiny Alice" and "A Delicate Balance․"
• Best known as a stage and film actress who appeared in a wide variety of productions during her 60-year career
• Was a faculty member at The Juilliard School from 1969 to 1991, where she taught students like Robin Williams, William Hurt, and Patti LuPone
• Published her autobiography "The Bright Lights: A Theater Life" in 1979 and wrote a novel called "Time Together" in 1981