Joan Lorring (born Madeline Ellis; April 17, 1926 – May 30, 2014) was an American actress and singer known for her work in film and theatre. For her role as Bessy Watty in The Corn Is Green (1945), Lorring was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Lorring also originated the role of Marie Buckholder in Come Back, Little Sheba on Broadway in 1950, for which she won a Donaldson Award (an early version of the Tony Award).

Early years Lorring was born in Hong Kong. Her family fled Hong Kong in 1941 following the Japanese invasion, traveling by boat to Honolulu, and then landing in San Francisco. Soon after, they moved to Los Angeles and Madeleine (known by her nickname "Dellie") began working as a child actress in radio and film – she was credited as "Dellie Ellis" when she played the title role in the radio program A Date With Judy (1942). She eventually adopted Joan Lorring as her stage name.

Radio Lorring began her career as a child actress on the radio. Her performances include Alma Horrell in the Suspense episode "The Great Horrell", aired on August 22, 1946, and "The Farmer Takes a Wife".

Theatre Lorring made her Broadway debut in 1950, originating the role of Marie Buckholder opposite Shirley Booth in Come Back Little Sheba. Terry Moore later played Marie in the 1952 film version. For this role, Lorring won a Donaldson Award for Most Outstanding Female Debut in the 1949–1950 Broadway season. This success led to her performing in the 1951 Broadway production of the Lillian Hellman play The Autumn Garden. In 1954, she performed in the play Dead Pidgeons, and her last Broadway appearance was in 1957, originating the role of The Young Woman, opposite Kim Stanley as The Woman, in A Clearing in the Woods by Arthur Laurents.

In 1970, Lorring performed in an Off-Broadway production of Awake and Sing! as Bessie Berger.

Film and television

Lorring made her film debut at age 18 in Song of Russia (1944). Her second film was the Oscar-nominated drama The Bridge of San Luis Rey.

For her third film role as Bessy Watty in 1945's The Corn Is Green opposite Bette Davis as Miss Moffat, Lorring (at age 19) was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Thelma Schnee had originated the role of Bessy on Broadway opposite Ethel Barrymore in 1940.

Lorring next had supporting roles in the 1946 dramas Three Strangers and The Verdict, in which she plays Lottie Rawson and performs the song "Give Me a Little Bit". In 1947, she appeared in The Other Love, a drama that stars Barbara Stanwyck, and in The Lost Moment which stars Susan Hayward. In 1948, she played a supporting role in Good Sam, which stars Gary Cooper and was directed by Leo McCarey.

In the early 1950s, Lorring began appearing often on television. In 1955, she performed in 13 episodes of the television series Norby as Helen Norby. The show lasted one season. Also in 1956, she reprised her award-winning role as Bessy in The Corn is Green on television opposite Eva Le Gallienne as Miss Moffat. She appeared on one episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, (The Older Sister, 1956) about Lizzie Borden, in which she portrayed her sister Emma.

Lorring performed infrequently in the 1960s and 1970s focusing on her family life. Her last film role came in 1974 with The Midnight Man, and her later television roles were guest-starring for several episodes as Anna Pavel in Ryan's Hope and a 1980 episode of The Love Boat.

Personal life Loring was married to cancer researcher and Professor of Medicine and Professor of Biochemistry at Cornell Medical School, and Chief of Endocrinology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Martin Sonenberg. The couple had two daughters, Santha and Andrea.

Retirement and death Lorring enjoyed a quiet retirement through the 1980s and 1990s. She lived until May 30, 2014, when she died in Sleepy Hollow, New York at age 88 from natural causes. She was not included in the In-Memoriam segment at the 87th Academy Awards.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1944 Song of Russia Sonia The Bridge of San Luis Rey Pepita 1945 The Corn Is Green Bessie Watty Nominated - Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress1946 Three Strangers Icey Crane The Verdict Lottie Rawson1947 The Other Love Celestine Miller The Lost Moment Amelia The Gangster Dorothy 1948 Good Sam Shirley Mae 1951 The Big Night Marion Rostina 1952 Imbarco a mezzanotte Angela English title: Stranger on the Prowl 1974 The Midnight Man Judy Television Year Title Role Notes 1950–1956 Robert Montgomery Presents 5 episodes1952 The Philco Television Playhouse Episode: The Thin Air The Doctor Episode: No Story Assignment1954 The Motorola Television Hour Episode: A Dash of Bitters Love Story Episode: For All We Know Danger Episode: The Big Man Suspense Episode: The Last Stand Center Stage Terry Clayborn Episode: The Day Before Atlanta 1953, 1955 Goodyear Television Playhouse Episode: The RumorEpisode: The Prizewinner1954–1955 Valiant Lady Bonnie Withers #1 Westinghouse Studio One BlairTerry Episode: Castle in SpainEpisode: Millions of Georges1955 Norby Helen Norby The Elgin Hour Maggie Episode: Black Eagle Pass Kraft Television Theatre Episode: Coquette Appointment with Adventure Episode: Return of the Stranger1956 Star Stage Episode: Of Missing Persons Alfred Hitchcock Presents Emma Borden Season 1 Episode 17: "The Older Sister" General Electric Theater Episode: The Shunning1965 The Nurses Jean Bower Episode: Act of Violence For the People Jean Bow Episode: Act of Violence (2) 1966 The Star Wagon Martha PBS TV-Movie 1979–1980 Ryan's Hope Anna Pavel 1980 The Love Boat Mrs. Cummings Episode: Tell Her She's Great..., (final appearance)

Radio appearances Date Program Episode/source Role Notes June 23 to September 15, 1942 (second season) A Date with Judy Entire season Judy Credited as "Dellie Ellis". Sponsored by PepsodentAugust 2, 1945Suspense"A Man in the House"Emily BarrettAugust 22, 1946Suspense"The Great Horrell"Alma Horrell 1953 Best Plays "The Farmer Takes a Wife"December 3, 1961Suspense"Luck of the Tiger Eye"June 2, 1965 ABC's Theatre-Five"Noose of Pearls" MaudeJuly 27, 1965 ABC's Theatre-Five"I Spy Sister Sairey" Amy and Sairey Dual role as "split personalities."January 12, 1974CBS Radio Mystery Theater"I Warn You Three Times"January 15, 1974CBS Radio Mystery Theater"The Resident"January 28, 1974CBS Radio Mystery Theater"Three Women"February 4, 1974CBS Radio Mystery Theater"The Lady Was a Tiger"March 7, 1974CBS Radio Mystery Theater"The Creature from the Swamp"March 20, 1974 to January 19, 1976CBS Radio Mystery TheaterNumerous appearances

References Joan Lorring profile, The New York Times; accessed March 11, 2014.

External links