Mary Nash (born Mary Honora Ryan; August 15, 1884 – December 3, 1976) was an American actress.
Early life Mary and her younger sister, author/actress Florence, were born to James H. Ryan, a lawyer, and his wife, Ellen Frances (née McNamara).Great Stars of the American Stage by Daniel C. Blum Profile #103 c. 1952 (this second edition c. 1954) The sisters adopted the surname of their stepfather, Philip F. Nash, a vaudeville booking executive, who married their mother after the death of their father. Fortuitously, the name change would avoid conflict with actress Mary Ryan, who achieved Broadway popularity before Nash. Nash attended the Convent of St. Anne in Montreal and trained for acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Stage and film career She was a stage actress in New York and London, and vaudeville. After brief appearances as a dancer at the Herald Square Theatre in 1904, she made her off-Broadway debut on Christmas Day 1905 as Leonora Dunbar in J. M. Barrie's Alice Sit-by-the-Fire, which starred Ethel Barrymore. She remained with Barrymore for two years, acting together in Captain Jinks and The Silver Box. Her last Broadway appearance was a production of Uncle Tom's Cabin in 1933 as Cassie, which starred Otis Skinner and Fay Bainter. She was acclaimed on the London stage. She started her Hollywood career in 1936, appearing in 18 films.
She moved to Hollywood in 1934, where she acted in films until 1946. According to Allmovie: "Nash was often cast as seemingly mild-mannered women who turned vicious when challenged, as witness her work in College Scandal (1936) and Charlie Chan in Panama (1940)...Mary Nash's most sympathetic role was as the long-suffering wife of blustering capitalist J.B. Ball in Easy Living (1937)."Hal Erickson, Allmovie, 2006 In the 1940 film Gold Rush Maisie, she played the patient, forbearing wife and mother of a family - forced by the Dust Bowl and Depression to abandon their farm in Arkansas - who spent five years traveling through the country in search of seasonal work.
Nash may be best known for playing villains in two Shirley Temple films, first as Fraulein Rottenmeier in Heidi (1937) and then as Miss Minchin in The Little Princess (1939). She played Katharine Hepburn's socialite mother in the movie version of The Philadelphia Story (1940). She played a supporting role in the 1936 Academy Award-winning film Come and Get It and had a featured role in the 1944 film In the Meantime, Darling.
Personal life On October 19, 1918, she wed the French-born actor and director José Ruben (1884–1969).New York, U.S., State and Federal Naturlization Records, 1794-1943 for Jose Ruben, Southern District, New York, (Roll 0162), Petition No. 22314, retrieved from Ancestry.com They divorced sometime after 1923, when they were still living together with Florence Nash.
Death Nash died in her sleep at her Brentwood, California home on December 3, 1976. She was 92. She is interred at St. Agnes Cemetery in Menands, NY.
Filmography Year Film Role Director Notes 1915 The Unbroken Road Constance Turner Tides of Time Mary Martin (in the Five Ages of Woman) Short 1916 Arms and the Woman Rozika George Fitzmaurice 1934 Uncertain Lady Edith Hayes Karl Freund 1935 College Scandal Mrs. Fresnel Elliott Nugent 1936 Come and Get It Emma Louise William Wyler 1937 The King and the Chorus Girl Duchess Anna of Elberfield Mervyn LeRoy Easy Living Mrs. Ball Mitchell Leisen Heidi Fraulein Rottenmeier Allan Dwan Wells Fargo Mrs. Pryor Frank Lloyd 1939 The Little Princess Amanda Minchin Walter Lang The Rains Came Miss Mac Daid Clarence Brown 1940 Charlie Chan in Panama Miss Jennie Finch Norman Foster Sailor's Lady Miss Purvis Allan Dwan Gold Rush Maisie Sarah Davis Norman Taurog The Philadelphia Story Margaret Lord George Cukor 1941 Men of Boys Town Mrs. Maitland Norman Taurog 1942 Calling Dr. Gillespie Emma Hope Harold S. Bucquet 1943 The Human Comedy Miss Hicks Clarence Brown 1944 The Lady and the Monster Mrs. Fame - the housekeeper George Sherman Cobra Woman Queen Robert Siodmak In the Meantime, Darling Mrs. Vera Preston Otto Preminger 1945 Yolanda and the Thief Duenna Vincente Minnelli 1946 Monsieur Beaucaire The Duenna George Marshall Till the Clouds Roll By Mrs. Muller Richard Whorf Swell Guy Sarah Duncan Frank Tuttle Final film role
References
External links
Mary Nash at KinoTV.com Mary Nash at Aveleyman.com Mary and Florence Nash papers, 1893-1974, held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts Images: Photograph by James Abbe, Captain Applejack, 1921 Portrait by Ben Solowey, Diana, 1929 Portrait by Ben Solowey, A Strong Man's House, 1929 Photograph, Cobra Woman, 1944 Photograph, 1944 Mary Nash, held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts Mary Nash in Vanity Fair October 1920 taken by Dorothy Wilding Mary Nash in Vanity Fair March 1924 wearing large plumed headdress taken by Edward Steichen