Ruth Matteson (December 10, 1910 – February 5, 1975) was an American actress. She appeared in more than 20
Broadway
Broadway may refer to:
Theatre
* Broadway Theatre (disambiguation)
* Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
** Broadway (Manhattan), the street
**Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...
plays and had a variety of television roles.
Career
Matteson began her acting career in San Francisco with the Henry Duffy Players. Her first Broadway role was in ''
Geraniums in My Window'' in 1934. In 1936 she replaced
Doris Nolan as the lead in ''
Night of January 16th
''Night of January 16th'' (sometimes advertised as ''The Night of January 16th'') is a theatrical play by Russian-American author Ayn Rand, inspired by the death of the "Match King", Ivar Kreuger. Set in a courtroom during a murder trial, an ...
''. Her role in
George Abbott
George Francis Abbott (June 25, 1887 – January 31, 1995) was an American theatre producer, director, playwright, screenwriter, film director and producer whose career spanned eight decades.
Early years
Abbott was born in Forestville, New Yo ...
's production of the comedy ''
What a Life'' led to a regular spot on ''
The Aldrich Family
''The Aldrich Family'', a popular radio teenage situation comedy (July 2, 1939 – April 19, 1953), was also presented in films, television and comic books. In the radio series' opening exchange, awkward teen Henry's mother called, "Hen-''reeeee ...
'', a radio program based on the play. In 1940 she took the main female role in ''
The Male Animal
''The Male Animal'' is a 1942 American comedy-drama film produced by Warner Bros., starring Henry Fonda, Olivia de Havilland and Joan Leslie.
The film was based on a hit 1940 Broadway play of the same name written by James Thurber and Elliott ...
''.
Her only feature film role was in 1938's ''
The Birth of a Baby'', directed by
Al Christie. In 1948 she began acting on television, appearing on such shows as ''
Actors Studio'' and ''
Kraft Television Theatre'', while continuing to work in Broadway productions. Her final television role was on ''
The Edge of Night
''The Edge of Night'' is an American television mystery crime drama series and soap opera, created by Irving Vendig and produced by Procter & Gamble Productions.
It debuted on CBS on April 2, 1956, and ran as a live broadcast on that netwo ...
'' from 1962 to 1963, and her last Broadway appearance was in
Neil Simon
Marvin Neil Simon (July 4, 1927 – August 26, 2018) was an American playwright, screenwriter and author. He wrote more than 30 plays and nearly the same number of movie screenplays, mostly film adaptations of his plays. He has received mo ...
's ''
Barefoot in the Park
''Barefoot in the Park'' is a romantic comedy by Neil Simon. The play premiered on Broadway in 1963, starring Robert Redford and Elizabeth Ashley. It was made into a film in 1967, which starred Redford and Jane Fonda.
Productions
''Barefoot ...
'' in 1965.
Personal life
Matteson was born on December 10, 1910, in San Jose, California. She married fellow actor
Arthur Pierson in 1937. They later divorced and she married Curt Peterson, an executive with the
McCann Erickson
McCann, formerly McCann Erickson, is an American global advertising agency network, with offices in 120 countries. McCann is part of McCann Worldgroup, along with several other agencies, including direct digital marketing agency MRM//McCann, expe ...
advertising agency. She and Peterson lived in Westport, Connecticut, where she died on February 5, 1975.
Credits
Broadway
*''Geraniums in My Window'' (1934)
*''Symphony'' (1935)
*''Parnell'' (1935)
*''Triumph'' (1935)
*''
Night of January 16th
''Night of January 16th'' (sometimes advertised as ''The Night of January 16th'') is a theatrical play by Russian-American author Ayn Rand, inspired by the death of the "Match King", Ivar Kreuger. Set in a courtroom during a murder trial, an ...
'' (1936)
*''
The Wingless Victory'' (1936)
*''Spring Dance'' (1936)
*''Barchester Towers'' (193)
*''What a Life'' (1938)
*''One For the Money'' (1939)
*''The Male Animal'' (1940)
*''The Merry Widow'' (1943)
*''Tomorrow the World'' (1943)
*''In Bed We Cry'' (1944)
*''Mr. Strauss Goes to Boston'' (1945)
*''
Antigone
In Greek mythology, Antigone ( ; Ancient Greek: Ἀντιγόνη) is the daughter of Oedipus and either his mother Jocasta or, in another variation of the myth, Euryganeia. She is a sister of Polynices, Eteocles, and Ismene.Roman, L., & R ...
'' (1946)
*''Park Avenue'' (1946)
*''Clutterbuck'' (1949)
*''The Relapse'' (1950)
*''Dragon's Mouth'' (1955)
*''The Happiest Millionaire'' (1956)
*''There Was a Little Girl'' (1960)
*''Barefoot in the Park'' (1965)
Film
*''
The Birth of a Baby'' (1938)
Television
*''
Actors Studio'' (1948-1949)
*''
The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse'' (1949-1950)
*''
Kraft Theatre
''Kraft Television Theatre'' is an American anthology drama television series running from 1947 to 1958. It began May 7, 1947 on NBC, airing at 7:30pm on Wednesday evenings until December of that year. It first promoted MacLaren's Imperial Cheese ...
'' (1949-1954)
*''
Armstrong Circle Theatre
''Armstrong Circle Theatre'' is an American anthology drama television series which ran from June 6, 1950, to June 25, 1957, on NBC, and from October 2, 1957, to August 28, 1963, on CBS. It alternated weekly with '' The U.S. Steel Hour''. It fi ...
'' (1950-1951)
*''
Musical Comedy Time'' (1951)
*''
Fairmeadows, U.S.A.'' (1951-1952)
*''
Look Up and Live
''Look Up and Live'' was a 30-minute television anthology series. The series was produced in cooperation with the National Council of Churches and aired on CBS from January 3, 1954 to January 21, 1979. It was a non-denominational Sunday mornin ...
'' (1954)
*''
Ponds Theater'' (1955)
*''
The Ed Sullivan Show
''The Ed Sullivan Show'' is an American television variety show that ran on CBS from June 20, 1948, to March 28, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan. It was replaced in September 1971 by the '' CBS Sunday Night M ...
'' (1957)
*''
The Edge of Night
''The Edge of Night'' is an American television mystery crime drama series and soap opera, created by Irving Vendig and produced by Procter & Gamble Productions.
It debuted on CBS on April 2, 1956, and ran as a live broadcast on that netwo ...
'' (1962-1963)
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Matteson, Ruth
1910 births
1975 deaths
20th-century American actresses
Actresses from San Jose, California
American film actresses
American stage actresses
American television actresses