# Colleen Dewhurst

> Canadian-American actress (1924-1991)

**Wikidata**: [Q253916](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q253916)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colleen_Dewhurst)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/colleen-dewhurst

## Summary
Colleen Dewhurst was a Canadian-American actress and theatrical director who lived from 1924 to 1991. She was a prominent figure in stage, film, and television, recognized for her extensive work in live performance and her leadership in mounting theatre productions. Her career spanned over three decades, earning her multiple prestigious awards including Tony Awards and Primetime Emmy Awards.

## Biography
- **Born**: June 3, 1924 (Place of birth not specified in source material)
- **Nationality**: Canada, United States
- **Education**: American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Milwaukee-Downer College
- **Known for**: Performing as a stage, film, television, and voice actor; serving as a theatrical director
- **Employer(s)**: American Academy of Arts and Sciences (member)
- **Field(s)**: Acting (Stage, Film, Television, Voice), Theatrical Direction

## Contributions
Colleen Dewhurst's primary contributions were her performances and direction in the performing arts. She worked as an actor in live theatre, films, television, and provided voice-overs for various media. As a theatrical director, she oversaw the mounting of theatre productions. Her work period began in 1957 and continued until her death in 1991. She was recognized for her quality supporting roles and leading roles in Broadway plays, as well as her work in miniseries, movies, and comedy series.

## FAQs
**What nationalities did Colleen Dewhurst hold?**
She held citizenship in both Canada and the United States, identifying as a Canadian-American.

**Where did Colleen Dewhurst receive her education?**
She attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and Milwaukee-Downer College, a former women's college in Milwaukee.

**What types of acting roles did Colleen Dewhurst perform?**
Her career encompassed stage acting, film acting, television acting, and voice acting for characters in films, animation, and video games.

**What awards did Colleen Dewhurst receive during her career?**
She received the Theatre World Award, two Tony Awards (Best Actress in a Play and Best Featured Actress in a Play), and two Primetime Emmy Awards (Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie and Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series).

**When was Colleen Dewhurst active in her profession?**
Her professional work period started in 1957 and continued until her death in 1991.

## Why They Matter
Colleen Dewhurst matters as a versatile performer who successfully bridged the gap between live theatre, film, and television during the mid-to-late 20th century. Her dual citizenship and extensive training at institutions like the American Academy of Dramatic Arts positioned her as a significant cultural figure in both North American nations. By winning multiple Tony and Emmy awards, she set a standard for excellence in both dramatic and comedic roles across different media formats. Her work as a theatrical director further expanded her impact, influencing how productions were mounted and presented to audiences. Without her contributions, the landscape of Canadian-American theatre and television during her era would lack a key figure known for her range and critical acclaim.

## Notable For
- Being a Canadian-American actress active from 1924 to 1991.
- Winning the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play.
- Winning the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play.
- Receiving the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie.
- Receiving the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series.
- Winning the Theatre World Award.
- Serving as a theatrical director overseeing theatre productions.
- Performing voice-over work for characters in films, animation, and video games.
- Being a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
- Attending the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
- Attending Milwaukee-Downer College.
- Having a career start date of 1957.
- Being recognized in 30 different Wikipedia sitelinks.

## Body

### Early Life and Education
Colleen Dewhurst was born on June 3, 1924. She held citizenship in both Canada and the United States. Her educational background included attendance at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, a drama school located in Manhattan, New York City. She also attended Milwaukee-Downer College, a former women's college in Milwaukee, which was founded in 1848.

### Professional Career and Roles
Dewhurst's professional work period began in 1957. She was a multifaceted performer who worked across several mediums. As a stage actor, she performed live before in-person audiences. She also appeared in films as a film actor and performed on television as a television actor. Additionally, she worked as a voice actor, providing voice-overs for characters in films, animation, video games, and other media. Beyond acting, she served as a theatrical director, a role that involved overseeing the mounting of theatre productions.

### Awards and Recognition
Her career was marked by significant recognition from the American theatre and television industries. She received the Theatre World Award, an American theatre award established in 1945. In the realm of Broadway, she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play and the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play, the latter specifically recognizing quality supporting roles. Her television work earned her two Primetime Emmy Awards: one for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie (established in 1975) and another for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series (established in 1986). She was also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, an honorary society and policy research center founded in 1780.

### Legacy and Identification
Colleen Dewhurst passed away on August 22, 1991. Her life and work are documented through numerous identifiers and authority files, including VIAF, Library of Congress, and various academic and biographical databases. She is the subject of a Wikipedia article and has a dedicated category on Wikimedia. Her aliases include "Colleen Rose Dewhurst." The breadth of her documentation is reflected in a sitelink count of 30 across Wikipedia. Her contributions to the arts are preserved in the records of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and Milwaukee-Downer College, institutions she attended.

## References

1. BnF authorities
2. [Notable Past Students](https://www.aada.edu/alumni/notable-alumni#decade:all/orderby:all/display:panel/perpage:All)
3. [Source](http://www.theatreworldawards.org/past-recipients.html)
4. Virtual International Authority File
5. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
6. Internet Broadway Database
7. Find a Grave
8. Discogs
9. FemBio database
10. GeneaStar
11. SNAC
12. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
13. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
14. Cinemathèque québécoise Linked Open Data
15. The Movie Database