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Nancy Coleman
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Nancy Coleman (December 30, 1912 – January 18, 2000) was an American film, stage, television and radio actress. After working on radio and appearing on the Broadway stage, Nancy Coleman moved to Hollywood to work for Warner Bros. studios.
Key Information
Early life
[edit]Coleman was born December 30, 1912, in Everett, Washington,[1] where her father, Charles Sumner Coleman, was editor of The Daily Herald.[2] Her mother, Grace Sharplass Coleman,[3] was "an accomplished violinist."[4] The family lived in Everett, Washington, where she graduated with honors from Everett High School.[2]
She attended the University of Washington in Seattle where she majored in English[5][4] and was a member of the Alpha Lambda chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta.[6] After graduating, she was accepted at Columbia University's Teacher's College in New York. She attended the university, but dropped out, moving to San Francisco, California,[7] where she worked as an elevator operator at a department store.[8]
Career
[edit]Early in her career as an actress, Coleman portrayed Alice Hughes on the radio version of the soap opera Young Doctor Malone.[9] Coleman also appeared as the lead in the 04/13/1943 episode of "Suspense", entitled "Fear Paints a Picture". On television, she played Helen Emerson on Valiant Lady.[10]
Coleman's Broadway credits include Liberty Jones (1941), The Sacred Flame (1952), and The Desperate Hours (1955).[11]
Memorable roles include playing the mistress to a Nazi (played by Helmut Dantine) in Edge of Darkness and co-starring with Paul Henreid in In Our Time. In the 1950s, Coleman began making guest appearances on television. She also played Anne Brontë in the film Devotion (1946) opposite Olivia de Havilland and Ida Lupino.
Personal life
[edit]Coleman married Whitney Bolton, a drama critic and publicity director,[12] on September 16, 1943.[13] They remained wed until his death in 1969.[14] She gave birth to twin girls, Charla Elizabeth and Grania Theresa, on July 13, 1944.[15]
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1941 | Dangerously They Live | Jane | |
| 1942 | Kings Row | Louise Gordon | |
| The Gay Sisters | Susie Gaylord | ||
| Desperate Journey | Kaethe Brahms | ||
| 1943 | Edge of Darkness | Katja | |
| 1944 | In Our Time | Janina Orwid | |
| 1946 | Devotion | Anne Brontë | |
| Her Sister's Secret | Antoinette 'Toni' DuBois | ||
| 1947 | Violence | Ann Dwire, alias Ann Mason | |
| Mourning Becomes Electra | Hazel Niles | ||
| 1953 | That Man from Tangier | Mary Ellen | |
| 1969 | Slaves | Mrs. Stillwell |
References
[edit]- ^ Bubbeo 2001, p. 19.
- ^ a b Bentley, Janet (July 1943). "She's Solid! -- Nancy Coleman". Photoplay. 23 (2): 59–60, 72. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
- ^ Bubbeo, Daniel (2013). "Nancy Coleman: 'The Fragile Heroine'". The Women of Warner Brothers: The Lives and Careers of 15 Leading Ladies, with Filmographies for Each. McFarland. pp. 19–30. ISBN 9780786462360. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
- ^ a b Burroughs, Jack (September 19, 1937). "From Elevator to Mike". Oakland Tribune. California, Oakland. p. 73. Retrieved June 7, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Bubbeo 2001, p. 20.
- ^ "Notable Thetas". Kappa Alpha Theta Heritage. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
- ^ Bubbeo 2001, p. 21.
- ^ Bubbeo 2001, p. 22.
- ^ Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 361. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4.
- ^ Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 1136. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
- ^ "Nancy Coleman". Playbill Vault. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
- ^ "Whitney Bolton, Drama Reviewer; Morning Telegraph's Critic and Columnist, Dies". The New York Times. November 5, 1969. p. 47. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
- ^ "On Honeymoon". The Minneapolis Star. Associated Press. September 17, 1943. p. 6. Retrieved March 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Riddle, Margaret (2006). "Nancy Coleman Bolton". Women's Stories, Women's Lives. Women's Legacy Project of Snohomish County, Washington.
- ^ "Actress Nancy Coleman Gives Birth to Twins". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. New York, Brooklyn. United Press. July 14, 1944. p. 7. Retrieved June 7, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
Bibliography
[edit]- Bubbeo, Daniel (2001). The Women of Warner Brothers: The Lives and Careers of 15 Leading Ladies with Filmographies for Each. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-786-41137-5.
External links
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Nancy Coleman
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Early years
Birth and family background
Nancy Coleman was born on December 30, 1912, in Everett, Washington.[1] She was the daughter of Charles Sumner Coleman (1881–1932), who served as the managing editor of the Everett Daily Herald, and Grace Sharpless Coleman (1885–1977), the newspaper's society reporter.[1] The family resided at 919 Grand Avenue in Everett and owned a vacation home called "Greycroft" on Lake Stevens, fostering an environment that emphasized reading and cultural pursuits.[1] Coleman's parents, both immersed in journalism, created a cultured household that exposed her to the world of print media and public events from an early age.[1] Coleman had one younger sister, Barbara, born in 1916, though specific influences from her sibling on her early development are not well-documented.[1] Growing up in this middle-class family in Everett, she benefited from access to the local arts scene, particularly through complimentary tickets to performances at the Everett Opera House, where her father reviewed shows for the newspaper.[1] This early immersion in theater sparked her fascination with stage plays and performances.[1] During her childhood, Coleman attended North Junior High School and later became involved in dramatics at Everett High School, where she graduated in 1930 amid the onset of the Great Depression.[1] Her upbringing in Everett laid the groundwork for her interests in the arts, leading her to pursue further opportunities at the University of Washington.[1]Education and initial pursuits
Coleman graduated from Everett High School in 1930 as a bright student who had advanced a year ahead in her classes.[3] She then enrolled at the University of Washington in Seattle that same year, majoring in English since the institution lacked a dedicated drama department at the time.[1] As a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, she frequently wore her sorority pin and actively participated in campus plays, which helped nurture her passion for performance.[1] Following her graduation with a bachelor's degree in 1934, Coleman briefly attended Columbia University's Teachers College in New York to pursue a master's degree in teaching.[1] However, she soon abandoned these studies to focus on an acting career. In 1936, she relocated to San Francisco and took a job as an elevator operator and model in the millinery department at the Emporium Department Store, earning $11 per week.[1] Overhearing customers in the elevator discuss auditions for local radio and theater productions ignited her interest in the field, leading her to secure early modeling assignments and participate in amateur theater groups as initial steps toward professional opportunities.[1]Career
Radio and stage debut
After completing her education, Nancy Coleman relocated to San Francisco in 1936 to pursue acting in radio, appearing in serials such as One Man's Family and Death Valley Days.[1] She later moved to New York City, supporting herself through modeling and additional drama training at Columbia University while auditioning for radio roles. She began appearing in radio dramas that year, marking her entry into professional broadcasting amid the competitive New York scene during the Great Depression, where newcomers often faced financial instability and frequent rejections. Her breakthrough came in 1939 when she was cast as Alice Hughes, the daughter of the central doctor character, in the NBC Blue Network soap opera Young Doctor Malone, which premiered on November 20 and aired daily as a 15-minute serial sponsored by General Foods.[4][5] This role provided steady work and visibility, allowing her to hone her versatile voice acting skills in the fast-paced format of daytime radio soaps.[6] Parallel to her radio commitments, Coleman built her stage experience through minor New York theater productions, starting with a supporting role as the awkward teenager Blossom in Rachel Crothers's Susan and God at the Plymouth Theatre in 1938, where she replaced Nancy Kelly after auditioning against over 200 candidates.[1] This appearance, which included a pioneering television broadcast of scenes on NBC's experimental W2XBS station, offered early exposure but required her to balance demanding radio schedules with evening rehearsals and performances, a common challenge for aspiring actresses juggling multiple gigs without agents.[7] By 1941, she achieved her first lead Broadway role as the title character Liberty Jones, a plucky factory worker in Philip Barry's wartime comedy Liberty Jones at the Shubert Theatre, which ran for 18 performances and highlighted her comedic timing amid the era's patriotic fervor.[8] Coleman's radio profile grew with guest spots on anthology series, including a starring turn in the April 13, 1943, episode "Fear Paints a Picture" on CBS's Suspense, where she portrayed an heiress tormented by a prophetic painting, showcasing her ability to convey psychological tension in the thriller format.[9] These early radio and stage efforts in the late 1930s and early 1940s established her as a reliable performer in New York, though the irregular pay and grueling rehearsal demands tested her resilience as a newcomer navigating the transition from amateur dramatics to paid professional work.[1]Film breakthrough and major roles
Coleman's success in radio and on stage opened doors to Hollywood, culminating in her signing a seven-year contract with Warner Bros. in 1941.[1] She made her film debut as Jane Greystone, a British intelligence agent, in the espionage thriller Dangerously They Live (1941), directed by Robert Florey and co-starring John Garfield.[10] Her breakthrough came with the role of Louise Gordon, the troubled daughter of a domineering surgeon, in the psychological drama Kings Row (1942), directed by Sam Wood and featuring Ronald Reagan as Drake McHugh and Ann Sheridan as Randy Monaghan; critics praised her poignant performance, which showcased her ability to convey emotional depth and vulnerability.[1][11] From 1941 to 1946, marking the peak of her film career, Coleman appeared in more than a dozen Warner Bros. productions, many infused with wartime themes that emphasized resilience and moral fortitude. Key roles included the defiant Norwegian resistance fighter Katja in the anti-Nazi drama Edge of Darkness (1943), opposite Errol Flynn and Ann Sheridan; the resilient Susie Gaylord in the family saga The Gay Sisters (1942), alongside Barbara Stanwyck; Janina Orwid, the embittered sister of a displaced Polish countess, in the romantic wartime story In Our Time (1944), with Ida Lupino and Paul Henreid; and the introspective Anne Brontë in the literary biopic Devotion (1946), co-starring Olivia de Havilland and Ida Lupino.[1][12][13] Throughout this era, Coleman was frequently typecast in supporting parts as strong-willed yet emotionally intense women, roles that capitalized on her poised delivery and expressive features but often confined her to dramatic intensity without leading status; reviewers noted her reliability in such characters, though she yearned for greater variety.[1]Television and later performances
Nancy Coleman transitioned to television in 1949, appearing in early anthology series such as Kraft Theatre.[14] Following the decline of her major film roles in the late 1940s, she found opportunities in the burgeoning medium of live anthology dramas and soap operas. She appeared in three episodes of the science fiction anthology Tales of Tomorrow between 1951 and 1953, playing characters such as Jean Burgess in "The Spider's Web," contributing to the show's pioneering live broadcasts of speculative stories. In 1955, she had a recurring role as Helen Emerson on the CBS daytime soap opera Valiant Lady from 1953 to 1954, portraying a central family matriarch in the serial's narrative of domestic and romantic entanglements.[15] The following year, Coleman featured in the NBC anthology The Kaiser Aluminum Hour episode "Mother" (1957), as Laura Thatcher, a supportive wife navigating her husband's professional ambitions. These roles highlighted her versatility in the fast-paced, live format that dominated early television.[16] Amid her television work, Coleman returned to Broadway for two notable productions. In 1952, she performed as Nurse Wayland in a revival of W. Somerset Maugham's The Sacred Flame at the President Theatre, a tense family drama that ran for 20 performances. Three years later, she took the role of Eleanor Hillard in Joseph Hayes's The Desperate Hours (1955), depicting a mother held hostage by escaped convicts; the thriller enjoyed a successful 212-performance run at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. Coleman's screen work became sporadic in the 1960s, reflecting the challenges of aging in Hollywood, where opportunities for leading women diminished, prompting a pivot to supporting character roles. She appeared as Elizabeth McGrath in the CBS soap The Edge of Night in 1967, a brief but recurring part in the long-running serial. Her return to film came with the role of Mrs. Stillwell in the 1969 drama Slaves, directed by Herbert J. Biberman, where she portrayed a plantation owner's wife amid themes of abolitionism and revolt, starring alongside Ossie Davis and Dionne Warwick. Through the 1970s and into the 1980s, Coleman continued with minor television parts, often in soaps and historical miniseries, maintaining a presence despite reduced visibility. She played Sister Mary Joel in six episodes of the ABC soap Ryan's Hope in 1976, embodying a wise nun offering guidance to the Ryan family. That same year, she portrayed Abigail Adams in the PBS miniseries The Adams Chronicles, contributing to its educational depiction of American history.[1] Her final credited role was in the 1985 horror film Where Evil Dwells, marking the end of a career that spanned from 1938 to 1985, with major opportunities tapering off after the 1950s as she adapted to character work in an industry favoring youth.Personal life
Marriage and family
Nancy Coleman married Whitney Bolton, a Warner Brothers publicist and former drama critic, on September 16, 1943, in Los Angeles.[1][17] The couple, who met while she was under contract at the studio, began their family life amid her ascent in Hollywood films during the early 1940s.[18] On July 14, 1944, Coleman gave birth to identical twin daughters, Charla Elizabeth and Grania Theresa, in Burbank, California.[1][19] The pregnancy had placed her on temporary studio suspension, and the arrival of the twins marked a shift as she navigated motherhood alongside her acting commitments.[1] Initially based in California, the family enjoyed a supportive home environment where Bolton's industry background aided in managing her schedule. As Bolton advanced in his career, transitioning from publicist to drama critic for the New York Morning Telegraph, the family relocated in 1949 to Sea Cliff, Long Island.[1] In New York, Coleman balanced raising her young daughters with selective acting opportunities in theater and early television, often prioritizing family stability over demanding roles. This period reflected her deliberate choices to scale back professional engagements following childbirth, allowing more focus on domestic life while maintaining ties to the performing arts.[3]Later years and death
Following the death of her husband, Whitney Bolton, on November 4, 1969,[1][3][20] Coleman sold their family home in Sea Cliff, Long Island, and relocated to a smaller apartment in Manhattan's theater district.[1][3] This move marked a period of transition, as she resumed acting with guest appearances on television shows through the mid-1970s, including a notable role as Sister Mary Joel on the soap opera Ryan's Hope in 1976.[2] However, as she entered semi-retirement in the late 1970s, Coleman faced challenges with memorizing lines, leading her to step back from professional performances while maintaining a low-profile life in New York City.[1] In her later years, Coleman occasionally considered returning to her hometown of Everett, Washington, but chose to remain in New York due to her established connections there.[1] She reflected on the demands of a long career in acting, noting in an interview that "the minute one is off the screen, or not on the New York stage, people assume your career is over... Work is the answer," underscoring her satisfaction with a profession that allowed her to balance artistic pursuits with family life.[1] Coleman died on January 18, 2000, at the age of 87 in Brockport, New York.[1] She was buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Brockport.[2] Posthumously, her legacy as a versatile actress spanning radio, stage, film, and television was honored through local historical projects in Snohomish County, Washington, which highlighted her contributions despite her passing going unnoticed in hometown newspapers at the time.[3]Filmography
Feature films
Nancy Coleman appeared in approximately 12 feature films over her career, primarily with Warner Bros. during her peak in the 1940s.[16] The following table lists her major feature film roles in chronological order, with brief descriptions of her characters and the films' genres.| Year | Title | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1941 | Dangerously They Live | Jane Graystone | Undercover agent suffering amnesia in this spy thriller involving espionage and counterfeiters.[21] |
| 1942 | Kings Row | Louise Gordon | The troubled daughter of a secretive doctor in this psychological drama exploring small-town scandals and mental health.[22] |
| 1942 | Desperate Journey | Kaethe Brahms | A brave German woman aiding Allied airmen in escape during World War II in this action-adventure war film.[22] |
| 1942 | The Gay Sisters | Susanna Gaylord | The idealistic middle sister navigating family inheritance disputes in this melodramatic family drama.[16] |
| 1943 | Edge of Darkness | Katja | A resilient Norwegian villager joining the resistance against Nazi occupiers in this wartime drama.[22][16] |
| 1944 | In Our Time | Janina Orwid | A Polish noblewoman entangled in romance and political intrigue in pre-World War II Europe in this romantic drama.[23] |
| 1946 | Devotion | Anne Brontë | The reserved and artistic youngest Brontë sister in this biographical drama about the famous literary family.[16] |
| 1946 | Her Sister's Secret | Antoinette "Toni" DuBois | A devoted mother concealing her out-of-wedlock pregnancy in this emotional family melodrama.[22][16] |
| 1947 | Violence | Ann Dwire | An undercover reporter exposing a violent fascist group in this film noir thriller.[23] |
| 1947 | Mourning Becomes Electra | Hazel Niles | A sympathetic family friend caught in a web of tragedy and psychological turmoil in this dramatic adaptation of Eugene O'Neill's play.[16][23] |
| 1953 | That Man from Tangier | Mary Ellen Sanders | A resourceful woman involved in international intrigue and smuggling in this spy adventure film.[24] |
| 1969 | Slaves | Mrs. Stillwell | The wife of a plantation owner confronting moral dilemmas amid slavery in this historical drama set during the Civil War era.[24] |
Television and radio appearances
Coleman began her broadcasting career on radio in the mid-1930s, building experience through roles in daytime serials and dramatic anthologies that highlighted her versatility in portraying strong, relatable female characters. Her early radio work included the lead ingénue role in the soap opera Hawthorne House (1938), where she set a record for the most lines spoken by a single performer in a two-week period.[3] She also appeared in other serials such as One Man's Family, Winning the West, Death Valley Days, and Tales of California.[1] A key recurring role was as Alice Hughes, the daughter of the central doctor family, in the long-running soap opera Young Doctor Malone from 1938 through the 1940s.[4] In anthology programming, she starred in the thriller "Fear Paints a Picture" on Suspense (April 13, 1943).[6] Additional guest appearances encompassed dramatic sketches on Grand Central Station (1940s), Crime Does Not Pay (1940s), Lux Radio Theatre ("The Farmer's Daughter," January 5, 1948), Screen Directors Playhouse ("The Gay Sisters," August 17, 1951), Hollywood Star Playhouse ("The Runaway Daughter," October 26, 1952), and Favorite Story ("The Model Wife," February 10, 1952).[6] Transitioning to television in the late 1940s and 1950s, Coleman specialized in soap operas and anthology series, often embodying maternal or resilient figures amid dramatic family narratives. She originated the role of Helen Emerson, a devoted wife and mother navigating personal crises, on the CBS daytime soap Valiant Lady (1953–1954), appearing in over 270 episodes during its run.[16] Her anthology work included episodes of Tales of Tomorrow (1951–1953), where she played characters such as Jean Burgess and Susan in science fiction stories; Lux Video Theatre ("Mrs. Aldridge," 1952); and Producers' Showcase ("The Barretts of Wimpole Street," 1956), portraying a supporting role in the adapted Rudolf Besier play. Later soap roles featured Elizabeth McGrath on The Edge of Night (1967) and Sister Mary Joel on Ryan's Hope (1975–1976), emphasizing her niche in serialized emotional depth. She also guest-starred in historical miniseries like The Adams Chronicles (1976) as Abigail Adams.[1]| Year(s) | Medium | Show | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | Radio | Hawthorne House | Ingénue lead | Record-setting performance for lines spoken.[3] |
| 1938–1940s | Radio | Young Doctor Malone | Alice Hughes | Recurring in family-centered soap.[4] |
| 1943 | Radio | Suspense | Lead in "Fear Paints a Picture" | Thriller anthology episode.[25] |
| 1940s | Radio | Grand Central Station | Guest roles | Dramatic vignettes.[6] |
| 1940s | Radio | Crime Does Not Pay | Guest appearance | Crime drama anthology.[6] |
| 1948 | Radio | Lux Radio Theatre | Lead in "The Farmer's Daughter" | Hollywood film adaptation.[6] |
| 1951–1953 | Television | Tales of Tomorrow | Jean Burgess / Susan | Sci-fi anthology episodes. |
| 1952 | Television | Lux Video Theatre | Mrs. Aldridge | Single episode in drama series.[26] |
| 1953–1954 | Television | Valiant Lady | Helen Emerson | Originating soap role in family saga. |
| 1956 | Television | Producers' Showcase | Supporting in "The Barretts of Wimpole Street" | Live dramatic adaptation.[27] |
| 1967 | Television | The Edge of Night | Elizabeth McGrath | Recurring in legal/family soap. |
| 1975–1976 | Television | Ryan's Hope | Sister Mary Joel | Guest in urban soap opera. |
| 1976 | Television | The Adams Chronicles | Abigail Adams | Historical miniseries role.[1] |