Lee Remick

About Lee Remick

Radiant, honey-haired beauty who combined sensuality with gentility in performances of surprising depth. Once billed as "America's answer to Brigitte Bardot," Remick made her screen debut as the nubile majorette who seduces country TV star Andy Griffith in Elia Kazan's powerful drama, "A Face in the Crowd" (1957). She played manipulators in "The Long Hot Summer" (1957) and "Anatomy of a Murder" (1959), and pathetic or victimized women in "Sanctuary" (1961) and "Days of Wine and Roses" (1962). Remick also demonstrated a flair for comedy in "A Severed Head" and "Loot" (both 1970).

Remick began her career on stage and TV in the 1950s and continued to appear in both media through the late 1980s. She received a Tony nomination for her most famous Broadway role, as the blind woman menaced by three criminals in Frederick Knott's 1966 thriller "Wait Until Dark". Her sophisticated elegance made her well suited for Stephen Sondheim musicals: she starred on Broadway in his short-lived "Anyone Can Whistle" (1964); as the sassy former showgirl Phyllis in a concert version of "Follies" (PBS, 1986); and as the glamorous actress Desiree in a 1991 Los Angeles production of his "A Little Night Music", from which she withdrew due to a relapse of cancer.

Beginning in the 70s, Remick worked increasingly in TV, becoming the queen of reality-based TV-movies and miniseries. She gave memorable performances as Jennie Jerome in "Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill" (1975); as Kay Summersby in "Ike: The War Years" (1979); as Margaret Sullavan in "Haywire" (1980); and as the scheming socialite Frances Bradshaw Schreuder in "Nutcracker: Money, Madness, and Murder" (1987).

Partners

Husband

William A Collaran. married on August 3, 1957; divorced in 1969; born c. 1930

Husband

William Rory Gowans. British; married on December 18, 1970; Remick was cited as the "other woman" in Gowans' first wife Valerie's divorce action

Education

Miss Hewitt's School, New York , New York

Swaboda School of Dance, New York , New York

Barnard College, New York , New York

Career Milestones

Appeared in TV miniseries and movies including "Ike" (1979) "Toughlove" (1985) and "Nutcracker - Money, Madness and Murder" (1987)

Moved to NYC at age seven

1951

Began career as a chorus dancer in summer stock productions at the Music Circus Tent

1953

Broadway debut in "Be Your Age" at age 16

1953

TV debut in "Double Ivory" on "Kraft Television Theater"

1956

Film acting debut in "A Face in the Crowd"

1960

Acted in TV special "The Tempest"

1973

TV-movie debut, "The Blue Knight"

1985

Performed in "Follies in Concert" at Avery Fisher Hall (broadcast on PBS's "Great Performances" in 1986)

1988

Joined Garner/Duchow Productions to form Garner/Duchow/Remick Productions (with James Garner and Peter Duchow)

1990

Made final stage appearance opposite Tom Skeritt in "Love Letters" in Los Angeles (June)

1991

Star was dedicated in her honor on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (April)