Nancy Kelly
Biography
Nancy Kelly was an American actress born in Lowell, Massachusetts on March 25, 1921. She passed away on January 2, 1995 at the age of 73. Active as a child actress and model, she was a repertory cast member of CBS Radio's The March of Time and appeared in several films in the late 1920s. She returned to the screen in the late 1930s as a leading lady while still in her teens, making two dozen movies between 1938 and 1946. Her film work included portraying Tyrone Power's love interest in Jesse James in 1939 and playing opposite Spencer Tracy in Stanley and Livingstone later that same year. She later turned to the stage in the late 1940s, achieving her greatest success in a character role as the distraught mother in The Bad Seed.
Career overview
Nancy Kelly was an American actress born in Lowell, Massachusetts on March 25, 1921. Beginning her career as a child actress and model, she served as a repertory cast member of CBS Radio's The March of Time and appeared in several films during the late 1920s.
Returning to the screen in the late 1930s while still in her teens, she established herself as a leading lady and made two dozen movies between 1938 and 1946. Among these roles, she portrayed Tyrone Power's love interest in the film Jesse James in 1939 and played opposite Spencer Tracy in Stanley and Livingstone later that same year.
After transitioning to the stage in the late 1940s, she achieved her greatest success in a character role as the distraught mother in The Bad Seed, an achievement that earned her a Tony Award. She passed away on January 2, 1995 at the age of 73.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
56 titles- The Sunday Drama (1977) as Susan Gibbs
- Murder at the World Series (1977) as Alice Dakso
- Bronk (1975)
- The Impostor (1975) as Victoria Kent
- Medical Center (1969)
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) as J.A. Williams / Vera Brandon
- Sam Benedict (1962)
- The Storm (1962) as Janet Willsom
- Thriller (1960) as Janet Willsom
- Circle of the Day (1957) as Barbara Millet
- The Bad Seed (1956) as Christine Penmark
- Crowded Paradise (1956) as Louise Heath
- Climax! (1954) as Irene Marshall
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Clare
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Sheila
- Suspense (1949)
- Studio One (1948)
- Studio One (1948) as Sister Mary Aquinas
- Studio One (1948) as Helen
- Studio One (1948) as Dorothea
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
- The Philco Television Playhouse (1948)
- Murder in the Music Hall (1946) as Rita Morgan
- Song of the Sarong (1945) as Sharon
- Betrayal from the East (1945) as Peggy Harrison
- Woman Who Came Back (1945) as Lorna Webster
- Follow That Woman (1945) as Nancy Boone
- Show Business (1944) as Nancy Gaye
- Double Exposure (1944) as Pat Marvin
- Gambler's Choice (1944) as Mary Hayes / Vi Parker
- Tarzan's Desert Mystery (1943) as Connie Bryce
- Women in Bondage (1943) as Toni Hall
- Tornado (1943) as Victory Kane
- To the Shores of Tripoli (1942) as Helene Hunt
- Fly By Night (1942) as Pat Lindsay
- Friendly Enemies (1942) as June Block
- Parachute Battalion (1941) as Kit Richards
- A Very Young Lady (1941) as Alice Carter
- Scotland Yard (1941) as Lady Sandra Lasher
- One Night in the Tropics (1940) as Cynthia Merrick
- He Married His Wife (1940) as Valerie
- Sailor's Lady (1940) as Sally Gilroy
- Private Affairs (1940) as Jane Bullerton
- Stanley and Livingstone (1939) as Eve Kingsley
- Jesse James (1939) as Zerelda "Zee" Cobb
- Frontier Marshal (1939) as Sarah Allen
- Tail Spin (1939) as Lois Allen
- Submarine Patrol (1938) as Susan Leeds
- Convention Girl (1935) as Betty, Singer-Call Girl
- Glorifying the American Girl (1929) as Child (uncredited)
- The Girl on the Barge (1929) as Superior McCadden
- Mismates (1926) as Jimsy
- The Great Gatsby (1926) as Pammy (uncredited)
- The Untamed Lady (1926)
- The Pig's Curly Tail (1926) as Little Girl
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Nancy Kelly best known for?
Nancy Kelly is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Cult (2007), Medical Center (1969), The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962), Sam Benedict (1962).
When and where was Nancy Kelly born?
Nancy Kelly was born on March 25, 1921 in Lowell, Massachusetts, USA. They passed away on January 2, 1995.
How many credits does Nancy Kelly have?
Nancy Kelly has accumulated over 56 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1926 to 1977.
What is Nancy Kelly's background in cinema and television?
Nancy Kelly was an American actress born in Lowell, Massachusetts on March 25, 1921. She passed away on January 2, 1995 at the age of 73. Active as a child actress and model, she was a repertory cast member of CBS Radio's The March of Time and appeared in several films in the late 1920s. She returned to the screen in t...
Nancy Kelly by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) as J.A. Williams / Vera Brandon — aged about 41
- The Bad Seed (1956) as Christine Penmark — aged about 35
- The Oscars (1953) as Self — aged about 32
- Bronk (1975) — aged about 54
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self — aged about 27
- Sam Benedict (1962) — aged about 41
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