Rose Constance Gilchrist (July 17, 1895 – March 3, 1985)[1] was an American stage, film, and television actress. Among her screen credits are roles in the Hollywood productions Cry 'Havoc' (1943), A Letter to Three Wives (1949), Little Women (1949), Tripoli (1950), Houdini (1953), Some Came Running (1958), and Auntie Mame (1958).

Connie Gilchrist
Frame from trailer for Cry 'Havoc' (1943)
Born
Rose Constance Gilchrist

(1895-07-17)July 17, 1895[1][2][3]
DiedMarch 3, 1985(1985-03-03) (aged 89)
Resting placeSanta Fe National Cemetery
OccupationActress
Years active1917–1969
Spouse
Edwin O'Hanlon
(m. 1922; died 1983)
Children1

Early years

edit

Gilchrist was born in Brooklyn, New York and attended Assumption Academy. Her mother, Martha Daniels, was an actress.

Career

edit

Gilchrist made her stage debut in London at age 22 in 1917. She eventually made her way to Hollywood, where she was signed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to a 10-year contract in 1939.[4]

After playing Purity Pinker in the 1954 film Long John Silver, Gilchrist reprised her role, as did Robert Newton, in the television series The Adventures of Long John Silver. She is perhaps best known today for her role as Norah Muldoon in the 1958 film Auntie Mame, and her role in the 1949 film A Letter to Three Wives, in which she exclaims the iconic line "Bingo" while fainting. She was also seen on television's General Electric Theater.[5]

Gilchrist's Broadway credits include Ladies and Gentlemen, Work Is for Horses, Excursion, and Mulato.[6]

Personal life

edit

Gilchrist married Edward O'Hanlon[7] in 1922. Their daughter, Dorothy, was also an actress.[8]

She was involved in a lawsuit in 1961, charging that a hair dresser had permanently damaged her scalp when tinting her hair. A news report said, "She contended that she is now confined to grandmotherly roles because her scalp will stand no more dyeing."[9] She sought $50,000 in damages, but received $5,000 ($51,000 today) in a settlement.[9]

Gilchrist was of the Roman Catholic faith[10] and a lifelong Democrat who supported Adlai Stevenson's campaign during the 1952 presidential election.[11]

Death

edit

Connie Gilchrist died on March 3, 1985, aged 89, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Her husband died on December 13, 1983.[12] She is buried at Santa Fe National Cemetery in Santa Fe, New Mexico.[3]

Complete filmography

edit

Television credits

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Connie Gilchrist (1895–1985) • FamilySearch". FamilySearch.
  2. ^ Nissen, Axel (August 1, 2016). Accustomed to Her Face: Thirty-Five Character Actresses of Golden Age Hollywood. McFarland. ISBN 9781476626062 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ a b Wilson, Scott (August 22, 2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed. McFarland. ISBN 9780786479924 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ Hal Erickson. "Connie Gilchrist biography". Allmovie. Retrieved February 12, 2008.
  5. ^ "'Camel's Foot' Tonight Has Vera Miles, Connie Gilchrist". The Galveston Daily News. Texas, Galveston. The Galveston Daily News. October 23, 1960. p. 19. Retrieved March 22, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.  
  6. ^ ""Connie Gilcrist" search". Playbill. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
  7. ^ Hopper, Hedda (April 16, 1948). "Looking at Hollywood". Illinois, Chicago. Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 8. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
  8. ^ Hedda Hopper's Staff (June 12, 1947). "Looking at Hollywood". Illinois, Chicago. p. 32. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
  9. ^ a b "Hair Tinting Suit Settled for Cash". Hobbs Daily News-Sun. New Mexico, Hobbs. Hobbs Daily News-Sun. March 31, 1961. p. 4. Retrieved March 22, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.  
  10. ^ Morning News, January 10, 1948, Who Was Who in America (Vol. 2)
  11. ^ Motion Picture and Television Magazine, November 1952, page 33, Ideal Publishers
  12. ^ Connie Gilchrist at IMDb
  13. ^ "The Human Comedy". American Film Institute.
  14. ^ "Thousands Cheer". American Film Institute.
  15. ^ "See Here, Private Hargrove". American Film Institute.
edit