Evelyn Rudie (born March 28, 1949) is an American playwright, director, songwriter, film and television actress, and teacher. Since 1973, she has been the co-artistic director of the Santa Monica Playhouse. As a costume designer, she uses the pseudonym Ashley Hayes.

Radio and television

Born in Los Angeles, California, Rudie became an overnight star, in 1956, with her performance in the title role of the episode "Eloise" on television's ''

Playhouse 90 ''Playhouse 90'' was an American television anthology series, anthology drama series that aired on CBS from 1956 to 1960 for a total of 133 episodes. The show was produced at CBS Television City in Los Angeles, California. Since live anthology dr ...

''. It brought her critical acclaim, much press coverage, and an Emmy nomination at age six—the first time a child actress was so honored. She returned to ''Playhouse 90'' the following year, portraying the young Perle Mesta in ''The Hostess with the Mostest''. The television "Eloise" was an adaptation of the popular book by Kay Thompson, which owed much to the delicate line illustrations of Hilary Knight. The marketing of "Eloise" and the subsequent book sequels practically always featured the illustrations of Knight, and numerous photographs were published in the 1950s of Rudie in the role. Her popularity as a child star led to the merchandising of at least one product which did not associate her with the character of Eloise, ''Evelyn Rudie Paper Dolls'' ( Saalfield, 1958). During the late 1950s, she also appeared on ''

Alfred Hitchcock Presents ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, aired on CBS and NBC between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers and mysteries. Between 1962 and 1965 it was ren ...

'', '' General Electric Theater'', '' Lawman'', '' The Red Skelton Show'', and '' Wagon Train'', along with seven appearances on '' The Tonight Show'' with

Jack Paar Jack Harold Paar (May 1, 1918 – January 27, 2004) was an American talk show host, author, radio and television comedian, and film actor. He was the second host of ''The Tonight Show'' from 1957 to 1962. ''Time'' magazine's obituary of Paar repo ...

. During this period, she also was an actress on radio programs, including ''

Suspense Suspense is a state of mental uncertainty, anxiety, being undecided, or being doubtful. In a dramatic work, suspense is the anticipation of the outcome of a plot or of the solution to an uncertainty, puzzle, or mystery, particularly as it aff ...

''. Nine-year-old Evelyn Rudie appeared as a contestant on the October 29, 1959, episode of the TV quiz program '' You Bet Your Life'', hosted by

Groucho Marx Julius Henry "Groucho" Marx (; October 2, 1890 – August 19, 1977) was an American comedian, actor, writer, stage, film, radio, singer, television star and vaudeville performer. He is generally considered to have been a master of quick wit an ...

. Rudie danced a waltz with her fellow contestant and told a joke in the German language. The pair earned $500. After appearing uncredited in director George Sidney's '' Bye Bye Birdie'' (1963), she focused on education. She graduated from Hollywood High with honors and then studied film production at UCLA. Over a 36-year span, she has given more than 10,000 stage performances in 350 plays. Rudie's star 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 ...

is located at the corner of

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood, ...

and Highland.

Select filmography

Films

*''

Daddy Long Legs A father is the male parent of a child. Besides the paternal bonds of a father to his children, the father may have a parental, legal, and social relationship with the child that carries with it certain rights and obligations. An adoptive fathe ...

'' (uncredited, 1955) *'' The View from Pompey's Head'' (1955) *'' Hot Shots'' (1956) *''

: Eloise'' (credited as "Eloise as Herself") *'' The Wings of Eagles'' (uncredited, 1957) *''

The Restless Breed ''The Restless Breed'' is a 1957 Western film, directed by Allan Dwan and starring Scott Brady and Anne Bancroft. Plot 1865: Lawyer Mitch Baker is called into an office of the United States Secret Service to be told that his father was murde ...

'' (1957) *''

The Gift of Love ''The Gift of Love'' is a 1958 American CinemaScope drama romance film directed by Jean Negulesco and starring Lauren Bacall and Robert Stack. The film's screenplay was based on the short story "The Little Horse" by Nelia Gardner White, origi ...

'' (1958) *'' Bye Bye Birdie'' (uncredited, 1963)

Television

* ""

""("A Man Most Beloved"; Season 02 Episode 33; 1957) as Hildegarde * '' Wagon Train'' ("The Millie Davis Story"; 1958) as Penny * ''

G.E. Theater ''General Electric Theater'' was an American anthology series hosted by Ronald Reagan that was broadcast on CBS radio and television. The series was sponsored by General Electric's Department of Public Relations. Radio After an audition show ...

'' Episode "Nobody's Child" 1959, with Ronald Reagan and Diane Brewster * '' 77 Sunset Strip'' (1960) as Angel

Personal life

Rudie has been married to Chris DeCarlo since August 24, 1970. She was previously married to actor Tim O'Kelly.

References

External links

*
Eloise on TV
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rudie, Evelyn 1949 births Living people American child actresses American film actresses American television actresses People from Greater Los Angeles 21st-century American women