Kim Stanley

This imposing, emotional stage actress also made an occasional inroad into film and TV since the 1950s. After studying at the Pasadena Community Playhouse and New York's Actors Studio, Stanley appeared in a number of shows before making her Broadway debut replacing Julie Harris in "Monserrat" (1949). Her first major success came as the lovesick tomboy sister in William Inge's "Picnic" (1953), which led to further theatrical successes as nightclub "chantoosie" Cherie in Inge's "Bus Stop" (1955), the rebellious daughter in Eugene O'Neill's "A Touch of the Poet" (1958), one of Freud's patients in "A Far Country" (1961) and Masha in a 1964 revival of "Three Sisters," which was also filmed.

Stanley began making TV appearances on the "Golden Age" dramatic anthologies, "Danger," "Goodyear TV Playhouse," "Studio One," "Magnavox Theater" and others from the early 1950s. She won an Emmy for her turn on a 1963 "Ben Casey" episode that dealt with mercy killing and made her TV-movie debut in the family drama "Flesh and Blood" (NBC, 1986). The following year she appeared in "U.M.C." (CBS), the pilot for the series "Medical Center." Her performance as Big Mama in a PBS/Showtime production of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" (1984) won Stanley a second Emmy.

Her big screen career has been extremely uneven and frustrating. Stanley's debut was in "The Goddess" (1958), she managed to turn in an intelligent performance despite being ludicrously miscast as a Marilyn Monroe-inspired sexpot. She was again impressive as a medium in the low-budget "Seance on a Wet Afternoon" (1964). Despite earning an Oscar nomination as Best Actress, Stanley left films for 18 years. She returned to features as the rapacious monster mother of disturbed actress Frances Farmer (Jessica Lange) in "Frances" (1982), for which she earned a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nod. This was followed by another great turn as early barnstorming pilot Pancho Barnes in Philip Kaufman's space-race saga "The Right Stuff" (1983). By this time, however, Stanley was devoting most of her time to teaching drama at the College of Santa Fe in her native New Mexico.

Filmography

Cast (Feature Film)

The Right Stuff (1983)

Operation Heartbeat (1969)

Seance on a Wet Afternoon (1964)

Myra Savage

To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

Voice of Scout as an adult

The Goddess (1958)

Emily Ann Faulkner, also known as Rita Shaw

Cast (Special)

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1984)

Life Events

1947

Moved to NYC; supported herself as a waitress and dress model (for Herbert Sondheim, father of composer Stephen Sondheim)

1949

Garnered attention for her performance in the Off-Broadway show "Yes Is for a Very Young Man"

1949

Made Broadway debut replacing Julie Harris in "Monserrat"

1953

Enjoyed theatrical success portraying a lovesick pre-teen in "Picnic" by William Inge

1955

Garnered critical praise as the nightclub singer Cherie in Inge's "Bus Stop"

1958

Departed the Broadway production of "A Touch of the Poet", co-starring Helen Hayes and Eric Portman, after falling into conflict with Portman; she later claimed he struck a bit too enthusiastically in one scene and left the production; received Tony nomination as Best Actress nevertheless

1958

London stage debut, "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof"

1958

Film debut, the starring role in "The Goddess"

1959

Starred in Anita Loos' stage adaptation of Colette's "Cherie"

1962

Picked up second Tony nomination for turn as a woman afflicted with hysterical paralysis in "A Far Country"

1963

Won an Emmy for a guest appearance on "Ben Casey"

1964

Earned Best Actress Oscar nomination as a medium in "Seance on a Wet Afternoon"; last film for 18 years

1964

Final NYC stage appearance in "Three Sisters", with Geraldine Page, Shirley Knight and Sandy Dennis; production filmed

1968

TV-movie debut in "Flesh and Blood" (NBC)

1979

Returned to NYC; served as artistic director at a small theater company

1982

Return to films as the title character's mother in the biopic "Frances"; received Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination; first screen collaboration with Jessica Lange

1983

Final film, "The Right Stuff"; played pilot Pancho Barnes

1984

Last TV appearance to date, co-starred with Lange in "Cat on a Hit Tin Roof" (Showtime/PBS), won second Emmy Award

Photo Collections

The Goddess - Lobby Card Set

Here is a set of Lobby Cards from Columbia Pictures' The Goddess (1958), starring Kim Stanley. Lobby Cards were 11" x 14" posters that came in sets of 8. As the name implies, they were most often displayed in movie theater lobbies, to advertise current or coming attractions.