Thelma Ritter

Father, Charles Vaname Ritter a shoe salesman and mother, Lucy B. Hale, married on 25 April 1900.

Alumna of the AADA (American Academy of Dramatic Arts), Class of 1922.

Worked in radio and on stage until a former neighbour, the writer-director George Seaton, gave her a role in Miracle on 34th Street.

In 1937 they bought a home at 65 Greenway Terrace in Forest Hills, New York.

Thelma Ritter appeared in high school plays and was trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. In the 1940s she worked in radio.

Her movie career was started with a bit part in the 1946 Miracle on 34th Street (1947). In the movie she played a weary Xmas shopper. Her performance in the short scene was noticed by Darryl F. Zanuck who insisted her role be expanded.

Was in four Oscar Best Picture nominees: Miracle on 34th Street (1947), A Letter to Three Wives (1949), All About Eve (1950) and How the West Was Won (1962), with All About Eve winning.

Appeared in three films with James Stewart: Call Northside 777 (1948), Rear Window (1954) and How the West Was Won (1962).

Her first Oscar nomination for All About Eve (1950) marks her first of 4 consecutive nominations, a feat she shares with Jennifer Jones (1943-1946), Marlon Brando (1951-1954), Elizabeth Taylor (1957-1960) and Al Pacino (1972-1975). Greer Garson and Bette Davis both have five consecutive nominations (1942-1946) and (1939-1943), respectively.

During the period 1951 to 1963 Ms. Ritter was nominated for 6 Academy Awards. She is one of the most nominated actors who never won the statue.

In Italy, throughout her career, she was dubbed by different actresses: Rina Morelli (e.g. Pickup on South Street (1953)), Tina Lattanzi (e.g. Daddy Long Legs (1955)), Wanda Tettoni (e.g. Pillow Talk (1959)), Lia Orlandini (e.g. How the West Was Won (1962)) and Franca Dominici (e.g. Rear Window (1954)). The talented Maria Saccenti lent her voice to Ritter only once: in All About Eve (1950).

Won Broadway's 1958 Tony Award as Best Actress (Musical) for "New Girl in Town" in a tie with her co-star, Gwen Verdon .

Thelma played a character called Aggie in "The Second Time Around" (1961) and a year later played a character called Agatha (referred to as 'Aggie') in "How The West Was Won" (1962). Both of those roles were opposite Debbie Reynolds with almost identical personas, backgrounds and situations.

Mother of actress Monica Moran, they appeared together in a 1966 road show production of "Bye Bye Birdie" that also starred Tab Hunter.

Actress Rhea Perlman modeled her character of Thelma Katz on the TV show Kirstie (2013) after Ritter.

She and Deborah Kerr have the curious distinction of being Oscar-nominated six times each in competitive categories - without ever winning the coveted statuette. Her six nominations were in supporting roles, a record number that still stands in that category, and Kerr's six nominations were for leading roles. As of 2019, Glenn Close has been nominated seven times, four in leading roles and three in supporting roles, and still has not won the Oscar.