Constance Cummings

CBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

(May 15, 1910 – November 23, 2005) was an American-British actress with a career spanning over 50 years.

Early life

Cummings was born in Seattle, Washington, the only daughter and younger child of Kate Logan (née Cummings), a concert soprano, and Dallas Vernon Halverstadt, a lawyer. Her mother was sister to Helen Cummings Bruce, whose daughter, Helen Bruce Baldwin, was the wife of famed 20th century journalist Hanson W. Baldwin. Cummings' parents separated when she was 10 years old, and she never saw her father again. She attended St. Nicholas Girls' School in Seattle.

Career

The San Diego Stock Company gave Cummings her initial acting opportunity in a "walk-on part" playing a prostitute in a 1926 production of ''Seventh Heaven.'' She debuted on Broadway as a chorus girl, a member of the ensemble in ''Treasure Girl'' (1928) by the age of 18. While appearing on Broadway, she was discovered by

Samuel Goldwyn Samuel Goldwyn (born Szmuel Gelbfisz; yi, שמואל געלבפֿיש; August 27, 1882 (claimed) January 31, 1974), also known as Samuel Goldfish, was a Polish-born American film producer. He was best known for being the founding contributor a ...

, who brought her to Hollywood in 1931. Between 1931 and 1934, Cummings appeared in more than 20 films, including ''

Movie Crazy ''Movie Crazy'' is a 1932 American Pre-Code comedy film starring Harold Lloyd in his third sound feature. The film's copyright was renewed in 1959. Plot Harold Hall, a young man with little or no acting ability, desperately wants to be in the ...

'' opposite

Harold Lloyd Harold Clayton Lloyd, Sr. (April 20, 1893 – March 8, 1971) was an American actor, comedian, and stunt performer who appeared in many silent comedy films.Obituary ''Variety'', March 10, 1971, page 55. One of the most influential film co ...

, and ''

American Madness ''American Madness'' is a 1932 American pre-Code film directed by Frank Capra and starring Walter Huston as a New York banker embroiled in scandal. Plot At the Union National Bank, the directors are concerned because they think that bank presi ...

'', directed by

Frank Capra Frank Russell Capra (born Francesco Rosario Capra; May 18, 1897 – September 3, 1991) was an Italian-born American film director, producer and writer who became the creative force behind some of the major award-winning films of the 1930s ...

. Cummings was married to the playwright and screenwriter

Benn Levy Benn Wolfe Levy (7 March 1900 – 7 December 1973) was a Labour Party Member of Parliament in the House of Commons (1945–1950), and a successful playwright. He was educated at Repton School and University College, Oxford and served in uniform ...

from July 3, 1933 until his death in 1973. As Levy was from the UK, Cummings moved there and continued acting in films and on the stage. Few of her films were hits in the U.S., but '' Blithe Spirit'', adapted from the

Noël Coward Sir Noël Peirce Coward (16 December 189926 March 1973) was an English playwright, composer, director, actor, and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what ''Time'' magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and ...

play, was popular. Levy wrote and directed films for Cummings, such as ''The Jealous God'' (1939); he also served in the UK Parliament from 1945 to 1950 as the

Labour Labour or labor may refer to: * Childbirth, the delivery of a baby * Labour (human activity), or work ** Manual labour, physical work ** Wage labour, a socioeconomic relationship between a worker and an employer ** Organized labour and the labour ...

MP for

Eton and Slough Eton and Slough was a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first-past-the-post voting system. History The House of Commons (Redi ...

. They had a son and a daughter. She played Mary Tyrone in the

Royal National Theatre The Royal National Theatre in London, commonly known as the National Theatre (NT), is one of the United Kingdom's three most prominent publicly funded performing arts venues, alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal Opera House. I ...

's production of

Eugene O'Neill Eugene Gladstone O'Neill (October 16, 1888 – November 27, 1953) was an American playwright and Nobel laureate in literature. His poetically titled plays were among the first to introduce into the U.S. the drama techniques of realism, earlier ...

's '' Long Day's Journey into Night'' opposite

Laurence Olivier Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier (; 22 May 1907 – 11 July 1989) was an English actor and director who, along with his contemporaries Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud, was one of a trio of male actors who dominated the Theatre of the U ...

and later recreated the role for television. She also originated the role of Martha in

Edward Albee Edward Franklin Albee III ( ; March 12, 1928 – September 16, 2016) was an American playwright known for works such as ''The Zoo Story'' (1958), '' The Sandbox'' (1959), ''Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?'' (1962), '' A Delicate Balance'' (1966) ...

's ''

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf ''Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?'' is a play by Edward Albee first staged in October 1962. It examines the complexities of the marriage of a middle-aged couple, Martha and George. Late one evening, after a university faculty party, they receiv ...

'' in its London debut.

Recognition

In 1979, Cummings won the

Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual cer ...

for Best Actress in a Play for her performance as Emily Stilson in the drama ''Wings'' (1978–1979) (written by

Arthur Kopit Arthur Lee Kopit (' Koenig; May 10, 1937 – April 2, 2021) was an American playwright. He was a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist for '' Indians'' and '' Wings''. He was also nominated for three Tony Awards: Best Play for ''Indians'' (1970) a ...

), a play about a former aviator (Stilson) who has suffered a stroke, from which she struggles to recover. This role also brought her Obie and Drama Desk awards and an Olivier nomination. In 1982, she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play for her work in ''The Chalk Garden''. She received an ''Evening Standard'' Best Actress Award for her performance in ''Long Day's Journey into Night''. On January 1, 1974, Cummings, who resided in Britain for many decades until her death, was made a Commander of the

Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...

(CBE) for her contributions to the British entertainment industry. She was a committee member of the

Royal Court Theatre The Royal Court Theatre, at different times known as the Court Theatre, the New Chelsea Theatre, and the Belgravia Theatre, is a non-commercial West End theatre in Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, Englan ...

and the Arts Council. She has a star in the Motion Pictures section on the

Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark which consists of more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, Californ ...

at 6201 Hollywood Boulevard. It was dedicated on February 8, 1960.

Death

Constance Cummings Levy died in Wardington, Oxfordshire, England on November 23, 2005, aged 95, from natural causes.

Filmography

* ''

The Criminal Code ''The Criminal Code'' is a 1931 American pre-Code romantic crime drama film directed by Howard Hawks and starring Walter Huston and Phillips Holmes. The screenplay, based on a 1929 play of the same name by Martin Flavin, was written by Fred Ni ...

'' (1931) as Mary Brady * '' The Last Parade'' (1931) as Molly Pearson * '' Lover Come Back'' (1931) as Connie Lee * ''

Traveling Husbands ''Traveling Husbands'' is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film directed by Paul Sloane based on a screenplay by Humphrey Pearson. The film stars Constance Cummings, Frank Albertson, Evelyn Brent, Dorothy Peterson and Hugh Herbert. Hugh Herbe ...

'' (1931) as Ellen Wilson * ''

The Guilty Generation ''The Guilty Generation'' is a 1931 American pre-code crime film directed by Rowland V. Lee and starring Leo Carrillo, Constance Cummings and Robert Young. Plot The children of feuding gangsters fall in love and fight to escape their parents' ...

'' (1931) as Maria Palmero * '' Behind the Mask'' (1932) as Julie Arnold * ''

The Big Timer ''The Big Timer'' is a 1932 American Pre-Code sports drama film directed by Edward Buzzell and starring Ben Lyon, Constance Cummings and Thelma Todd.Scott p.42 Produced and distributed by Columbia Pictures, it is about a boxer whose success goe ...

'' (1932) as Honey Baldwin * '' Attorney for the Defense'' (1932) as Ruth Barry * ''

'' (1932) as Helen * ''

'' (1932) as Mary Sears * ''

The Last Man ''The Last Man'' is an apocalyptic, dystopian science fiction novel by Mary Shelley, first published in 1826. The narrative concerns Europe in the late 21st century, ravaged by a mysterious plague pandemic that rapidly sweeps across the entire ...

'' (1932) as Marian * '' Washington Merry-Go-Round'' (1932) as Alice * '' Night After Night'' (1932) as Miss Jerry Healy * ''

The Billion Dollar Scandal ''The Billion Dollar Scandal'' is a 1933 American pre-Code drama film directed by Harry Joe Brown and written by Beatrice Banyard, Willard Mack and Gene Towne. The film stars Robert Armstrong, Constance Cummings, Olga Baclanova, Frank Morgan, ...

'' (1933) as Doris Masterson * ''

The Mind Reader ''The Mind Reader'' is a 1933 American pre-Code drama film directed by Roy Del Ruth and written by Robert Lord and Wilson Mizner. The film stars Warren William, Constance Cummings, Allen Jenkins, Natalie Moorhead, Mayo Methot and Clarence Mus ...

'' (1933) as Sylvia * ''

Heads We Go ''Heads We Go'' (U.S. title: ''The Charming Deceiver'') is a 1933 British comedy film directed by Monty Banks and starring Constance Cummings, Frank Lawton and Binnie Barnes. It was made at Elstree Studios (Shenley Road), Elstree Studios by Briti ...

'' (1933) as Betty Smith / Dorothy Kay * '' Channel Crossing'' (1933) as Marion Slade * ''

Broadway Through a Keyhole ''Broadway Through a Keyhole'', also billed as ''Broadway Thru a Keyhole'', is a 1933 American pre-Code musical film produced by Twentieth Century Pictures and released by United Artists. New York City speakeasy proprietress Texas Guinan appea ...

'' (1933) as Joan Whelan * '' Looking for Trouble'' (1934) as Ethel Greenwood * '' Glamour'' (1934) as Linda Fayne * '' This Man Is Mine'' (1934) as Francesca Harper * '' Remember Last Night?'' (1935) as Carlotta Milburn * '' Seven Sinners'' (1936) as Caryl Fenton * ''

Strangers on Honeymoon ''Strangers on Honeymoon'' is a 1936 British comedy film directed by Albert de Courville and starring Constance Cummings, Hugh Sinclair and Noah Beery, based on the 1926 novel '' The Northing Tramp'' by Edgar Wallace. Much of the film takes place ...

'' (1936) as October * ''Cyrano de Bergerac'' (1938, TV movie) as Roxane * ''

Busman's Honeymoon ''Busman's Honeymoon'' is a 1937 novel by Dorothy L. Sayers, her eleventh and last featuring Lord Peter Wimsey, and her fourth and last to feature Harriet Vane. Plot introduction Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane marry and go to spend thei ...

'' (1940) as Harriet Vane * '' This England'' (1941) as Ann * ''

The Foreman Went to France ''The Foreman Went to France'' (released in the USA as ''Somewhere in France'' ) is a 1942 British Second World War war film starring Clifford Evans, Tommy Trinder, Constance Cummings and Gordon Jackson. It was based on the real-life wartime ex ...

'' (1942) as Anne Stafford, the American girl * '' Blithe Spirit'' (1945) as Ruth Condomine * '' Into the Blue'' (1950) as Mrs. Kate Fergusson * ''Trial and Error'' (1953, TV movie) as Andrea * ''

John and Julie ''John and Julie'' (1955) is a British comedy film, starring Colin Gibson, Lesley Dudley, Noelle Middleton and Moira Lister, and featuring Peter Sellers and Sid James in early screen roles. Plot The film is set in 1953 in the week leading up t ...

'' (1955) as Mrs. Davidson * '' The Intimate Stranger'' (1956) as Kay Wallace * ''The Trial of Mary Dugan'' (1957, TV movie) as Mary Dugan, known as Mona Tree * ''Craig's Wife'' (1957, TV movie) as Harriet Craig * '' The Battle of the Sexes'' (1960) as Angela Barrows * ''

Sammy Going South ''Sammy Going South'' (retitled ''A Boy Ten Feet Tall'' for its later US release) is a 1963 British adventure film directed by Alexander Mackendrick, photographed by Erwin Hillier and starring Edward G. Robinson, Fergus McClelland and Constan ...

'' (1963) as Gloria van Imhoff * ''

In the Cool of the Day ''In the Cool of the Day'' is a 1963 British-American romantic drama film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in Metrocolor and Panavision. The film is directed by Robert Stevens and starring Peter Finch, Jane Fonda, Angela Lansbury, Arthur Hill, a ...

'' (1963) as Mrs. Nina Gellert * ''Love Song'' (1985, TV movie) as Dame Philippa Hatchard * ''

Dead Man's Folly ''Dead Man's Folly'' is a work of detective fiction by Agatha Christie, first published in the US by Dodd, Mead and Company in October 1956 and in the UK by the Collins Crime Club on 5 November of the same year. The US edition retailed at $2.9 ...

'' (1986, TV movie) as Amy Folliat * ''The Understanding'' (1986, TV movie) as Acton (final film role)

Theatre

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Cummings, Constance 1910 births 2005 deaths 20th-century American actresses 20th-century English actresses Actresses from Seattle American film actresses American stage actresses American television actresses American emigrants to the United Kingdom Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Drama Desk Award winners English film actresses English stage actresses English television actresses Tony Award winners Naturalised citizens of the United Kingdom WAMPAS Baby Stars 20th-century British businesspeople 21st-century American women