Biography for
Maureen Stapleton More at IMDb Pro »

Date of Birth

21 June 1925, Troy, New York, USA

Date of Death

13 March 2006, Lenox, Massachusetts, USA (chronic pulmonary disease)

Birth Name

Lois Maureen Stapleton

Nickname

Mo

Height

5' 3" (1.60 m)

Spouse

David Rayfiel	(July 1963 - June 1966) (divorced)
Max Allentuck	(22 July 1949 - February 1959) (divorced) 2 children

Trivia

She did not travel by air or elevator. She traveled by rail across the country, and traveled by ship across the ocean, instead of by plane.

Received the Actors Studio Award in 1980 for her contributions to the theatre.

Inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame on April 5, 1981.

In 1981, Hudson Valley Community College in her hometown of Troy, New York, named their theatre after her.

Received a 1975 Grammy Award nomination in the Best Spoken Word category for her recording of "To Kill a Mockingbird".

Mother of two children by first husband, Max Allentuck: Daniel Allentuck and Katharine Bambery.

Took over the role of Rosa della Rosa because Anna Magnani (who was old enough to be her mother) didn't speak English well enough to essay the role on Broadway, so this young Irish Catholic from Troy played an Italian "Earth Mother" on Broadway to critical and popular acclaim!

In 1981, she became the tenth performer to win the Triple Crown of acting. Oscar: Best Supporting Actress, Reds (1981), Tony: Best Supporting Actress-Play, 'The Rose Tattoo' (1951), and Emmy: Best Actress-Drama, Among the Paths to Eden (1967) (TV).

She originated the role of Serafina in Tennessee Williams' "The Rose Tattoo" on Broadway in 1951 and Lady Torrance in Williams' "Orpheus Descending" in 1957. Both roles were played by Anna Magnani in the movie versions. Stapleton appeared in the film version of "Orpheus Descending", retitled The Fugitive Kind (1959), but in a supporting role.

Has won two Tony Awards: in 1951, as Best Supporting or Featured Actress (Dramatic) for "The Rose Tattoo," and in 1971, as Best Actress (Dramatic) for "The Gingerbread Lady." She has also been nominated four other times: as Best Actress (Dramatic), in 1959 for "The Cold Wind and the Warm," in 1960 for "Toys in the Attic," and in 1968 for "Plaza Suite;" and in 1981, as Best Actress (Featured Role - Play) for "The Little Foxes."

Is the fourth of four consecutive winners of the Best Supporting Actress Oscar to have the initials "M.S.". The others are: Maggie Smith (California Suite (1978)), Meryl Streep (Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)) and Mary Steenburgen (Melvin and Howard (1980)).

Had a self-admitted drinking problem (her Irish-born father was a heavy drinker) and confessed that she would head for the vodka right after the curtain went down. Liquor was a fixture in her dressing room but claims she never appeared on stage drunk.

Once joined the Actors Studio, whose members included Marlon Brando who sometimes crashed in her one-room NY apartment.

Following her second divorce, she had a long affair with legendary Broadway fixture George Abbott that began when she was 43 and he was 81. It ended 10 years later when the director cheated on her with a younger woman.

Contrary to popular belief, she was not related to "All in the Family" star Jean Stapleton.

Member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Actors Branch)

Received a special tribute as part of the Annual Memorial tribute at The 79th Annual Academy Awards (2007) (TV).

In 1959, she became the first actor to receive an Oscar, Emmy and Tony nomination in the same year (for Lonelyhearts, All the King's Men, and The Cold Wind and the Warm, respectively).

Personal Quotes

Moments after winning an Oscar, Ms. Stapleton was asked by the press how it felt to be recognized as one of the greatest actresses in the world; she replied, "Not nearly as exciting as it would be if I were acknowledged as one of the greatest lays in the world."

[on acting] "I do a job. I get paid. I go home."

"Watching 'Manhattan', it almost makes you forget all the dog poop on the streets."

"There are many roads to good acting. I've been asked repeatedly what the 'key' to acting is, and as far as I'm concerned, the main thing is to keep the audience awake."

Upon receiving her Oscar for REDS, Maureen thanked a few individuals and finished her acceptance by saying "I would like to thank everyone I've ever met".

"When the curtain went up or the camera rolled, I did the best I could...[I loved] the challenge and the opportunity to leave reality behind and become someone else."

"I was born old." -- MS, in reference to her matronly casting

"I was 17 years old, I weighted 180 pounds and I had a hundred bucks in my pocket. I was invincible." -- MS, referring to her move to New York

"I never had that problem. People looked at me on stage and said, 'Jesus, that broad better be able to act.'" -- MS, commenting on her beauty

"Yes, because I'm old and tired and I lost three times before." -- MS, when asked did she think she was going to win the Oscar for "Reds" in 1981

"Looking back, I don't feel I had a choice. For a fat, struggling kid like me, the only way out was to be someone else -- an actor."

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