Barbara Bel Geddes

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Birthday:

31 October 1922, New York City, New York, USA

Height:

159 cm

Arguably best remembered for her role as Miss Ellie, the Ewing family matriarch on the long-running TV series Dallas (1978), Barbara Bel Geddes had earlier scored success on stage and screen long before gaining more lasting fame on television. Born in New York City on Halloween Day 1922, the daughter of noted theatrical and industrial designer Norman Bel Geddes, who staged more than 200 plays. After growing up amidst the theatre, Bel Geddes began acting on stage at age 18 and soon moved on to Broadway. The silver screen also beckoned, making her film debut in The Long Night (1947). She was quickly labeled a star, gracing the cover of Life magazine on April 12, 1948. Her third motion picture, I Remember Mama (1948), garnered Bel Geddes an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress. Other notable films include Panic in the Streets (1950) directed by Elia Kazan; Alfred Hitchcock's classic mystery-thriller Vertigo (1958) with James Stewart and Kim Novak; and The Five Pennies (1959) opposite Danny Kaye. Though she achieved immediate success in films, Bel Geddes also continued to tread the boards on Broadway, since theatre was her first love. In 1952, she received the prestigious Woman of the Year Award by Hasty Pudding Theatricals USA, America's oldest theater company. She was nominated for Tony Awards as best dramatic actress for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof in 1956 and for the lead in Mary, Mary in 1961. Bel Geddes made several TV appearances on Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) and other programs in the mid-50s, but her greatest television role came as Miss Ellie Ewing Farlow on Dallas (1978), which enjoyed a run of 13 years (1978-1991). She won the Emmy Award for best actress in 1980 and was nominated in the same category in 1979 and 1981. Bel Geddes left the show for health reasons during the 1984-85 season, with Donna Reed taking over the role of Miss Ellie. Bel Geddes returned for the 1985-86 season and continued on Dallas (1978) until 1990, when she effectively retired from acting. She did not appear in either of the two Dallas TV reunion movies. On August 8, 2005, she died following a long illness. Show less «

I'm not very well-bred and I'm not much of a lady.

I'm a dull girl, I guess, because I like to do mundane things. I like to putter things around the house, draw, raise geraniums and I can't l...Show more »

I'm a dull girl, I guess, because I like to do mundane things. I like to putter things around the house, draw, raise geraniums and I can't let an avocado pit go into the garbage. I have to try to make it grow into a tree. Show less «

[on the Mastectomy storyline]: When the producer asked me if I would mind having Ellie discover a malignant lump on her breast, I thought, '...Show more »

[on the Mastectomy storyline]: When the producer asked me if I would mind having Ellie discover a malignant lump on her breast, I thought, 'No, this time, I won't mind.' Show less «

[In 1979]: You learn to live with it. That's how I like to help, if I can, by talking about it - to say there's hope and not to give up. You...Show more »

[In 1979]: You learn to live with it. That's how I like to help, if I can, by talking about it - to say there's hope and not to give up. You do get well. You are able to laugh about it and make jokes about it. Show less «

[In 1986]: That quote got under my skin. If you fret about tomorrow so much that you dare not live today, then, how wise are you?

[When she learned of Donna Reed's firing from Dallas (1978)]: I certainly wouldn't do anything to harm Donna. I think she's a lovely lady an...Show more »

[When she learned of Donna Reed's firing from Dallas (1978)]: I certainly wouldn't do anything to harm Donna. I think she's a lovely lady and a wonderful actress, and everyone was grateful when she stepped in. And, as an actress, I would not appreciate being told I was being replaced the way she was. Show less «

[Who was aware of her deceased TV star (Jim Davis), who encouraged her to stay on Dallas (1978) for the entire run]: I miss Jim terribly. Wh...Show more »

[Who was aware of her deceased TV star (Jim Davis), who encouraged her to stay on Dallas (1978) for the entire run]: I miss Jim terribly. When I became ill, I started to consider whether I would ever return to the show. Show less «

Mother Teresa is one of my heroines.

[In 1951]: I think that was cute of R.K.O.

[In 1966]: I was never the Jane Russell type, although no one claimed my Maggie the Cat in 'Cat on a Hat Tin Roof,' lacked sex appeal.

[In 1985]: I haven't seen it for a couple of months, so they are sending me a load of tapes, so I can catch up with all the action. I'm afra...Show more »

[In 1985]: I haven't seen it for a couple of months, so they are sending me a load of tapes, so I can catch up with all the action. I'm afraid all I've been doing for the past few weeks is enjoying myself, puttering about doing things like painting the house and watching my goose, who's about to hatch her eggs any day now? Show less «

[Who said in 1989 about her deceased co-star (Jim Davis) as to how he would encourage her to stay on Dallas (1978), if he was around]: Just ...Show more »

[Who said in 1989 about her deceased co-star (Jim Davis) as to how he would encourage her to stay on Dallas (1978), if he was around]: Just as I was pondering the future, I heard his voice saying, 'Stick with the show; the others need you.' I looked across the room and saw Jim's face reflected in the glass. He was telling me what to do - guiding me down the right path as he had in life. Show less «

[Who shuddered after hearing about one of the Dallas (1978) reunion movies]: They'll make it without me, I'm not going through that again!

I sometimes wonder if whoever invented the boomerang also invented the credit card.

[With the encouragement of her doctors, she stopped smoking]: I have to do something with my hands.

[Who talked about training]: You have to treat yourself like an athlete. You're always in training. You have to save yourself for those hour...Show more »

[Who talked about training]: You have to treat yourself like an athlete. You're always in training. You have to save yourself for those hours on the stage or before the cameras, when you'll need every bit of energy you possess. Show less «

[In 1959]: When I first started, I thought it would be all fun - like appearing in a high school play. I didn't realize the discipline invol...Show more »

[In 1959]: When I first started, I thought it would be all fun - like appearing in a high school play. I didn't realize the discipline involved. Show less «

[In 1980]: Self-examination was a term I never even heard of, even after I realized I had the lump. I ignored it until it just became too pa...Show more »

[In 1980]: Self-examination was a term I never even heard of, even after I realized I had the lump. I ignored it until it just became too painful. Show less «

[In 1982]: We must not ignore the wild animals. I'll do anything I can to help.

[on her popularity while playing the sixty-something Miss Ellie Ewing Farlow on Dallas]: It's absolutely ridiculous. Ellie is no lush and th...Show more »

[on her popularity while playing the sixty-something Miss Ellie Ewing Farlow on Dallas]: It's absolutely ridiculous. Ellie is no lush and the viewers would never believe that she could become one. Show less «

[In doing a scene with Jim Davis sitting down]: I'm so sorry, I thought I had that line off pat.

[In 1998]: I know all about the human soul, and this is what good for mine. That's why I'm here.

[Who said in 1996 when she had no choice other than to sell her 200-year-old farmhouse near New York City, where he deceased husband lived]:...Show more »

[Who said in 1996 when she had no choice other than to sell her 200-year-old farmhouse near New York City, where he deceased husband lived]: I'll be happy to live here until I die. Show less «

I plan to go back to my farm in upstate New York where I've lived for 35 years. It's a typical 'Back East' country house and I have some far...Show more »

I plan to go back to my farm in upstate New York where I've lived for 35 years. It's a typical 'Back East' country house and I have some farm animals like ducks and geese. Show less «

[Where the ghost came to her dressing room about Jim Davis]: I told him, 'Jim, rest easy - our kids are doing just fine and I am, too.' Then...Show more »

[Where the ghost came to her dressing room about Jim Davis]: I told him, 'Jim, rest easy - our kids are doing just fine and I am, too.' Then, he faded away. Show less «

I'll be harrowing, but it's worth it. I'll have to commute - I hate to be away from here.

[Who said in 1988 of her second husband (Windsor Lewis) dying of cancer, 16 years earlier]: I knew he was dying, but he didn't. I was too co...Show more »

[Who said in 1988 of her second husband (Windsor Lewis) dying of cancer, 16 years earlier]: I knew he was dying, but he didn't. I was too concerned about him to think about my lump. I thought my surgery was for a biopsy, but when I came around, the doctor said: 'I had to play a mean trick on you ...' I said: 'I know - my breast is gone. A serious illness like this opens your mind to what's important in life - and it isn't riches and fames. Show less «

[Who refused scriptwriters' ideas to have her Miss Ellie cheating on her husband, scheming with her own sons or even turning to demonic drin...Show more »

[Who refused scriptwriters' ideas to have her Miss Ellie cheating on her husband, scheming with her own sons or even turning to demonic drinking]: Dallas' fans around the world have come to accept Miss Ellie as a caring, loving wife and mother and that's the way I want her to stay. Show less «

I'm ready to leave and just play for a while.

[Who said in 1983 prior to recovering from her major heart operation]: There was a time when I didn't think I would be back on the show.

I loved the entertainment industry, but that's in the past and I don't miss it at all.

[Who said in 1987, in one of her movies, she remembered the late Howard Hughes sacked her, who also told her she wasn't sexy enough]: It was...Show more »

[Who said in 1987, in one of her movies, she remembered the late Howard Hughes sacked her, who also told her she wasn't sexy enough]: It was a crushing blow. Who wants to be told that? Show less «

[on the death of Jim Davis]: One evening I was alone in my dressing room when I felt a draft and turned to see Jim's ghostly figure passing ...Show more »

[on the death of Jim Davis]: One evening I was alone in my dressing room when I felt a draft and turned to see Jim's ghostly figure passing through the closed door. He smiled reassuringly and then disappeared. Show less «

I want to quit and just play, which I have never been able to do my whole life. I've just worked. Now I want to read and bird-watch and do m...Show more »

I want to quit and just play, which I have never been able to do my whole life. I've just worked. Now I want to read and bird-watch and do my drawing. Show less «

[As to why she retired from her roles on television, esp. Dallas (1978), when Larry Hagman drove her away from the show]: Larry has stabbed ...Show more »

[As to why she retired from her roles on television, esp. Dallas (1978), when Larry Hagman drove her away from the show]: Larry has stabbed me in the back. I've been betrayed by the person I thought was my best friend. He's as devious and cruel as when he plays J.R. I'm sure he's only doing it to save money. Show less «

[In 1990 of the success of Dallas (1978)]: I never believed Dallas would become the hit it was. While I'm happy it was a success financially...Show more »

[In 1990 of the success of Dallas (1978)]: I never believed Dallas would become the hit it was. While I'm happy it was a success financially and career-wise for the young actors, I was hopelessly typecast from then on, which really put an end to my career outside the show. Show less «

[on her Dallas (1978) character]: Miss Ellie loved her boys. Bobby (Patrick Duffy) was special to her, a favourite, with Gary Ewing the blac...Show more »

[on her Dallas (1978) character]: Miss Ellie loved her boys. Bobby (Patrick Duffy) was special to her, a favourite, with Gary Ewing the black sheep and the wonderfully ruthless and so very often heartless JR her mainstay, but who gave Miss Ellie the most sleepless nights. Show less «