Julie Harris
Birth Place: Grosse Point Park, MI, USA
Conversation With Jason Alexander is Coming to Chicago Shakespeare Theater (May 20, 2026)
Video: See Christopher Abbott in EAST OF EDEN Teaser Trailer (May 14, 2026)
THE NARROW LAND To Screen At Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater (May 4, 2026)
BIO
Julie Harris was an American actress known for her captivating performances on stage and screen. Born on December 2, 1925, in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, Harris began her acting career at the young age of 14 when she enrolled at the Yale Drama School.
Harris made her Broadway debut in 1945 in the play "It's a Gift" and went on to become one of the most celebrated actresses of her time. She received five Tony Awards throughout her career, including one for her performance in "I Am a Camera" in 1952 and another for "The Lark" in 1956. She also earned Tony nominations for her roles in "The Member of the Wedding," "Little Moon of Alban," and "Skyscraper."
Harris was known for her ability to bring complex characters to life on stage, and her performances were often praised for their emotional depth and authenticity. She was particularly adept at portraying troubled or conflicted women, and her performances in plays like "The Belle of Amherst" and "The Last of Mrs. Lincoln" are still remembered as some of the most powerful in Broadway history.
In addition to her work on stage, Harris also had a successful career in film and television. She made her film debut in 1952 in "The Member of the Wedding" and went on to appear in several other movies, including "East of Eden" and "Requiem for a Heavyweight." She also had a recurring role on the hit TV series "Knots Landing" in the 1980s.
Despite her success in Hollywood, Harris always considered the stage to be her true home. She continued to perform on Broadway well into her 70s, and her final performance was in the play "The Gin Game" in 1997.
Harris passed away on August 24, 2013, at the age of 87. She left behind a legacy as one of the greatest actresses of her generation, and her contributions to the world of theater will never be forgotten.
Photos
STAGE CREDITS
Awards and Nominations
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Julie Harris
Julie Harris, The Gin Game
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Julie Harris
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Julie HarrisLettice & Lovage
Julie HarrisLucifer's Child
Julie HarrisLucifer's Child
Julie Harris, Lucifer's Child
Julie HarrisDriving Miss Daisy
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Julie Harris, The Belle of Amherst
Julie Harris, The Belle of Amherst
Julie Harris , The Au Pair Man
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Julie Harris, The Last of Mrs. Lincoln
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Julie Harris, The Last of Mrs. Lincoln
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Julie Harris , The Last of Mrs. Lincoln
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Julie Harris, Forty Carats
Julie Harris, Skyscraper
Julie Harris, Marathon '33
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Julie Harris, The Lark
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Julie Harris
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Julie Harris, I Am a Camera
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Julie Harris, Sundown Beach
Videos
VIDEO: Betty Buckley Talks BETTY BUCKLEY SINGS STEPHEN SONDHEIM and More with Richard Ridge
by A.A. Cristi - 2022-03-11 17:31:31
Flashback Video: Christopher Plummer Talks THE SOUND OF MUSIC, Julie Andrews, and More
by Stephi Wild - 2021-02-06 19:07:04
VIDEO: Jason Alexander Talks MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG on LATE NIGHT
by Sarah Leiber - 2020-10-21 09:33:56
VIDEO: Audra McDonald Performs 'Somewhere' And 'Some Other Time' to Honor Michael Tilson Thomas
by Kaitlin Milligan - 2019-12-16 13:53:35
TV: The Actors Fund Helps Celebrate the 2019 Tony Awards in LA!
by Michael Sterling - 2019-06-13 11:59:30
TV: Shoshana Bean, Lorna Luft & More Party at the Actors Fund 22nd Annual Tony Awards Viewing Gala in LA!
by Michael Sterling - 2018-06-15 08:35:04
The Neon Lights Are Bright on Audra McDonald Way! Broadway Star Honored by the City of Fresno
by A.A. Cristi - 2018-05-25 18:53:58
VIDEO: Audra McDonald Chats THE GOOD FIGHT, Working with Christine Baranksi, & More on THE TALK
by Macon Prickett - 2018-05-22 08:13:52
VIDEO: Audra McDonald Talks Her First Broadway Show and More on The Late Late Show
by Stephi Wild - 2018-05-22 05:45:30
VIDEO: Audra McDonald, Dan Stevens, and James Corden Turn Movies into Inappropriate Musicals
by Stephi Wild - 2018-05-22 05:40:24
TV: Actors Fund of Los Angeles Raises $225K at 21st Annual Tony Awards Viewing Party!
by Michael Sterling - 2017-06-19 10:48:44
STAGE TUBE: Rick McKay Releases Unseen Footage from Acclaimed Documentary GREENWICH VILLAGE: A WORLD APART
by A.A. Cristi - 2016-11-04 20:21:08
TV: First Look at The Actors Fund's 20th Anniversary Tony Awards Viewing Party in Los Angeles
by Christina Mancuso - 2016-06-21 13:51:42
VIDEO: Audra McDonald Gets Her Own JEOPARDY Category; Shares Dream Role
by Caryn Robbins - 2016-03-26 08:14:43
VIDEO: Audra McDonald Talks SHUFFLE ALONG, 6 Tonys & More on COLBERT
by Caryn Robbins - 2016-03-14 11:21:48
VIDEO: Audra McDonald Talks SHUFFLE ALONG; Sings Yahoo Answers on 'Tonight'
by Caryn Robbins - 2016-02-23 07:41:38
STAGE TUBE: First Look at New Trailer for HARVEY at Theatre Royal Haymarket
by Christina Mancuso - 2015-02-26 08:01:57
News
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 20, 2026
Chicago Shakespeare Theater will present the return of Jason Alexander for a special event, As Long As You’re Asking: A Conversation with Jason Alexander.
by Josh Sharpe - May 14, 2026
We have our first look at East of Eden, Netflix's new series adaptation of John Steinbeck's epic novel, starring current Tony Award nominee Christopher Abbott. Watch the new teaser for the series.
by A.A. Cristi - May 4, 2026
Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater will screen THE NARROW LAND, a film by Cape Cod filmmaker Jaiden van Bork examining over-tourism and the housing crisis facing coastal communities, with a Q&A following one screening.
by Stephi Wild - Apr 30, 2026
The Tony Awards Administration Committee announced that André Bishop, Jules Fisher, and James Lapine will each receive the 2026 Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre.
by Nicole Rosky - Apr 24, 2026
Tony Award–winning stage and screen icon Betty Buckley releases her new single, “Enough,” written by GRAMMY® Award-winning singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles. Watch in this video as she explains more about what fans can expect from the album.
by Stephi Wild - Apr 21, 2026
Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater will present SECOND ACT: STORIES OF RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE, a free afternoon of original monologues crafted by participants in a community-based recovery program using theater to support those healing from substance use disorders.
by Alex Freeman - Apr 20, 2026
From Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater suspending operations and Central Works announcing its closure after 36 years, to Duluth Playhouse navigating a leadership transition, regional companies across the U.S. are grappling with the pressures of rising costs and uncertain funding. Across the Atlantic, the UK theatre sector is meeting similar headwinds head-on, with the government distributing £127.8 million to 130 cultural organizations, Stagetext securing funds to expand captioning access nationwide, and SOLT and UK Theatre sounding the alarm over strains on the touring ecosystem.
by Stephi Wild - Apr 16, 2026
The Elliot Norton Awards announced its prize winner and nominations, recognizing outstanding achievements in Boston theater. See the full list of nominees and this year's Norton Prize recipient.
by - Apr 16, 2026
Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is April 16, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
by Joshua Wright - Apr 15, 2026
Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater (WHAT) has cancelled its 2026 season and will suspend regular operations on June 1, 2026, as leadership works to develop a path forward for the 42-year-old professional nonprofit and its home, The Julie Harris Stage.
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 26, 2026
The Beverly Hills Theatre Guild is now accepting entries for the 49th annual Julie Harris Playwriting Competition, offering cash prizes for the best unproduced full-length plays.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 16, 2026
U.S. Cultural Ambassador Ronald Rand will be bringing Harold Clurman, the 'Elder Statesman of the American Theatre' alive in the South Caroilna premiere of his solo play, Let It Be Art! at the Bluebird Theatre in Orangeburg.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 27, 2026
Betty Buckley will return for her yearly residency at Joe’s Pub for six intimate performances.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 23, 2026
Registration is now open for Schreiber Studio's online Song & Monologue Workshop taught by Tony Award-winner, Theatre Hall of Fame Honoree, and legendary Broadway star, Betty Buckley.
by Josh Sharpe - Jan 7, 2026
BroadwayWorld is saddened to report that Tony Award-nominee Marcia Rodd, who originated the role of Bobbi in Neil Simon's Last of the Red Hot Lovers, passed away on December 27, 2025, at the age of 87.
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Nov 23, 2025
While the large majority of plays that make it to Broadway were written in English, a small fraction of plays were originally penned in a different language and translated.
by Stephi Wild - Nov 7, 2025
The Colony Theatre has announced casting for the second installment of its Scripts & Sips playreading series, What Doesn't Kill You Hurts You Longer by Steve Apostolina, directed by 10-time Artios Award-winner Michael Donovan.
by Stephi Wild - Oct 6, 2025
The Colony Theatre in Burbank has announced the second installment of its Scripts & Sips playreading series, What Doesn't Kill You Hurts You Longer by Steve Apostolina, directed by 10-time Artios Award-winner Michael Donovan.
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 7, 2025
Theater for the New City’s Dream Up Festival will present the New York premiere of Bill Rogers’ Breaking the Trust September 2–7, directed by Gerald vanHeerden. The dark comedy follows four sisters whose family secrets erupt after their brother’s unexpected $4 million estate divides them.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 5, 2025
Savage Wonder will continue its unpredictable and intimate programming with The Actor's Nightmare and Other 10-Minute Plays—featuring Christopher Durang's classic one-act The Actor's Nightmare and more.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Julie Harris has appeared on Broadway in 33 shows.
Julie Harris has not appeared in the West End
Julie Harris has been nominated for several awards throughout her career. She received a Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre at the Tony Awards. She was also nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play for "The Gin Game" and "Lucifer's Child" at the Tony Awards. Additionally, she received nominations for The American Express Tribute at the Helen Hayes Awards, Outstanding Lead Actress, Non-Resident Production for "Lettice & Lovage," "Lucifer's Child," and "Driving Miss Daisy" at the Helen Hayes Awards. Harris was also nominated for Best Actress - Play for "Lucifer's Child" at the Outer Critics Circle Awards. She received nominations for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play for "The Belle of Amherst," "The Au Pair Man," "The Last of Mrs. Lincoln," "Forty Carats," "Marathon '33," and "The Lark" at the Tony Awards. She won the Unique Theatrical Experience award for "The Belle of Amherst" at the Drama Desk Awards. Harris also received the Outstanding Performance award for "The Last of Mrs. Lincoln" at the Drama Desk Awards and the Oustanding Actress in a Play award for the same production at the Outer Critics Circle Awards. Furthermore, she received the Distinguished Performance Award at the Drama League Awards. Lastly, Harris was nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play for "I Am a Camera" and received a Performance award at the Theatre World Awards for "Sundown Beach."
Julie Harris has won several awards throughout her career. She received the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre at the Tony Awards. She also received the American Express Tribute at the Helen Hayes Awards. Additionally, she won the Outstanding Lead Actress, Non-Resident Production award at the Helen Hayes Awards for her role in Lettice & Lovage. Harris won the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play Tony Award for her performance in The Belle of Amherst. She also received the Outstanding Performance award at the Drama Desk Awards for The Last of Mrs. Lincoln. Furthermore, she won the Outstanding Actress in a Play award at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for the same production. Harris won the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play Tony Award for The Last of Mrs. Lincoln. She also won the same award for Forty Carats and The Lark. She received the Distinguished Performance Award at the Drama League Awards. Additionally, she won the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play Tony Award for I Am a Camera. Finally, Harris received the Performance award at the Theatre World Awards for Sundown Beach. These are the various awards that Julie Harris has won throughout her illustrious career.
Videos
