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Virginia Gilmore (born Sherman Virginia Poole, July 26, 1919 – March 28, 1986) was an American film, stage, and television actress.
''The New York Times'' – Virginia Gilmore
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gilmore, Virginia 1919 births 1986 deaths 20th-century American actresses Actresses from Los Angeles American film actresses American stage actresses American television actresses Deaths from emphysema People from El Monte, California
Virginia Gilmore (born Sherman Virginia Poole, July 26, 1919 – March 28, 1986) was an American film, stage, and television actress.
Early years
Virginia Gilmore was born on July 26, 1919, inEl Monte, California
}
El Monte (Spanish for "The Mountain") is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The city lies in the San Gabriel Valley, east of the city of Los Angeles.
El Monte's slogan is "Welcome to Friendly El Monte" and is historically ...
. Her father was a retired officer of the British Army
The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...
.
Career
Gilmore began her stage career inSan Francisco
San Francisco (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Francis of Assisi, Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the List of Ca ...
at the age of 15, but moved to Los Angeles in 1939 to pursue work in films. When her movie career was not progressing, Gilmore mustered the nerve to approach 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 ...
at his home. As a result of their meeting, he promised her a screen test. She soon landed some small movie roles. Her better known film appearances both occurred in 1941: ''Western Union
The Western Union Company is an American multinational financial services company, headquartered in Denver, Colorado.
Founded in 1851 as the New York and Mississippi Valley Printing Telegraph Company in Rochester, New York, the company chang ...
'', directed by Fritz Lang
Friedrich Christian Anton Lang (; December 5, 1890 – August 2, 1976), known as Fritz Lang, was an Austrian film director, screenwriter, and producer who worked in Germany and later the United States.Obituary ''Variety'', August 4, 1976, p. 6 ...
, and '' Swamp Water'' directed by Jean Renoir
Jean Renoir (; 15 September 1894 – 12 February 1979) was a French film director, screenwriter, actor, producer and author. As a film director and actor, he made more than forty films from the silent film, silent era to the end of the 1960s. ...
.
Later years
When her movie role options began to dwindle, Gilmore left Los Angeles for New York City and started working on Broadway, where she had appeared in ''A Successful Calamity'' in 1934. In 1943, she played in ''Those Endearing Young Charms'' and ''The World's Full of Girls''. In 1944, she played the title role in ''Dear Ruth'', which was directed byMoss Hart
Moss Hart (October 24, 1904 – December 20, 1961) was an American playwright, librettist, and theater director.
Early years
Hart was born in New York City, the son of Lillian (Solomon) and Barnett Hart, a cigar maker. He had a younger brother ...
. Her other Broadway credits include ''Truckline Cafe'' (1946), ''The Grey-eyed People'' (1952), and ''Critics Choice'' (1960).
Starting in the late 1940s, Gilmore had many television roles. In 1949, she and her husband, Yul Brynner
Yuliy Borisovich Briner (russian: link=no, Юлий Борисович Бринер; July 11, 1920 – October 10, 1985), known professionally as Yul Brynner, was a Russian-born actor. He was best known for his portrayal of King Mongkut in the ...
, were featured on ''We're On'', an NBC television series. Between 1966 and 1968, she taught drama at Yale University
Yale University is a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and among the most prestigious in the wo ...
. In her later years, Gilmore was a leader in Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is an international mutual aid fellowship of alcoholics dedicated to abstinence-based recovery from alcoholism through its spiritually-inclined Twelve Step program. Following its Twelve Traditions, AA is non-professi ...
(AA).
Personal life
In 1944, she married Yul Brynner. The couple had one son, Yul "Rock" Brynner, before divorcing in 1960.Death
On March 28, 1986, Gilmore died fromchronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a type of progressive lung disease characterized by long-term respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation. The main symptoms include shortness of breath and a cough, which may or may not produce ...
(COPD) at her home in Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara ( es, Santa Bárbara, meaning "Saint Barbara") is a coastal city in Santa Barbara County, California, of which it is also the county seat. Situated on a south-facing section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coas ...
, aged 66. Upon her death, she was cremated by the Neptune Society
The Neptune Society, Inc. is a US provider of cremation services. Its was founded in Plantation, Florida.
History
The Neptune Society was established in 1973 and was incorporated in 1985.
In 1999, the Neptune Society announced its completion ...
and her ashes scattered at sea.
Filmography
Stage performances
* ''Those Endearing Young Charms'' (1943) * ''The World's Full of Girls'' (1943) * ''Dear Ruth'' (1944) * ''Truckline Cafe'' (withMarlon Brando
Marlon Brando Jr. (April 3, 1924 – July 1, 2004) was an American actor. Considered one of the most influential actors of the 20th century, he received numerous accolades throughout his career, which spanned six decades, including two Academ ...
) (1946)
* ''The Grey-Eyed People'' (1952)
* '' Critic's Choice'' (with Henry Fonda
Henry Jaynes Fonda (May 16, 1905 – August 12, 1982) was an American actor. He had a career that spanned five decades on Broadway and in Hollywood. He cultivated an everyman screen image in several films considered to be classics.
Born and rai ...
) (1960)
References
External links
* *''The New York Times'' – Virginia Gilmore
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gilmore, Virginia 1919 births 1986 deaths 20th-century American actresses Actresses from Los Angeles American film actresses American stage actresses American television actresses Deaths from emphysema People from El Monte, California