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Claudette Colbert

Date of Death: July 30, 1996 (92)

Birth Place: Paris, FRANCE

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BIO

Claudette Colbert was a French-American actress who was born on September 13, 1903, in Saint-Mandé, France. She began her career in the 1920s and quickly rose to fame in Hollywood, becoming one of the most successful actresses of her time.
Colbert made her Broadway debut in 1923 in the play "The Wild Westcotts." She went on to appear in several other Broadway productions, including "The Barker" (1927), "The Waning Sex" (1926), and "Tin Pan Alley" (1928). Her success on Broadway led to her being offered a contract with Paramount Pictures in 1928.
Colbert's first major film role was in the 1929 film "The Lady Lies." She went on to star in several other successful films in the 1930s, including "It Happened One Night" (1934), for which she won an Academy Award for Best Actress, "Cleopatra" (1934), "The Gilded Lily" (1935), and "Midnight" (1939).
During World War II, Colbert took a break from acting and worked for the American Red Cross. She returned to Hollywood in the late 1940s and continued to act in films throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Some of her notable films from this period include "The Secret Heart" (1946), "The Egg and I" (1947), "Three Came Home" (1950), and "Parrish" (1961).
In addition to her film work, Colbert also appeared on television in the 1950s and 1960s. She made guest appearances on several popular shows, including "The Jack Benny Program," "The Ed Sullivan Show," and "The Red Skelton Hour."
Colbert continued to act in films and on television throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Her final film role was in the 1987 film "The Two Mrs. Grenvilles." She passed away on July 30, 1996, at the age of 92.

STAGE CREDITS

[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 1985
Lady Frinton

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1981
Anne Royce McClain

[Broadway]
1978
Evelyn

[Broadway]
1963
Hedda Rankin

[Broadway]
1961
Julia Ryan

[Broadway]
1958
Content Lowell, Ph.D.,D.Litt.,M.F.A., Soc.Sc., Dean of Women

[Broadway]
1955
Jessica [Replacement]

[Broadway]
1929
Nanette Dodge Kosoff

[Broadway]
1929
Ada Fife

[Broadway]
1928
Jill O'Dare

[Broadway]
1928
Patricia Mason

[Broadway]
1928
Agnes Lynch

[Broadway]
1928
Carlota D'Astradente

[Broadway]
1927
Sylvia Bainbridge

[Broadway]
1927
Lou

[Broadway]
1926
Pilgrim

[Broadway]
1926
Peggy Murdock

[Broadway]
1925
Ginette

[Broadway]
1923
Sybil Blake


Awards and Nominations


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 1985 - Special Awards

Claudette Colbert

Tony Awards - 1959 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

Claudette Colbert, The Marriage-Go-Round

News


Theatre Forty's Monday Night Theatre Appreciation Seminars to Return This Month

Theatre Forty's popular series of Monday Night Theatre Appreciation Seminars is resuming. Learn more about the series!
Photos: Charles Busch Celebrates New Memoir With a Release Party

Theatre icon Charles Busch has released his new memoir! 'Leading Lady: A Memoir of a Most Unusual Boy' was released on August 29, 2023. To celebrate the release, Busch held a party at Michael’s New York. Check out photos here!
21 Theater Books for Your Fall 2023 Reading List

We're falling into fall with a great Broadway read! This season, Broadway's best have put pen to paper to turn out theatre page-turners of every kind. From theatre biographies to theatre fiction; theatre books for kids to theatre history; check out our collection of 21 new Broadway books for every theatre lover's fall reading list.
Lynn Nottage and John Legend Are Developing IMITATION OF LIFE Musical, Directed by Liesl Tommy

Universal Theatrical Group (UTG), Universal Pictures’ live theater division, announced development of the musical IMITATION OF LIFE, based on the novel by Fannie Hurst and the Universal Pictures films, with book by Lynn Nottage, music and lyrics by John Legend, and directed by Liesl Tommy.
27 Theater Books for Your Summer 2023 Reading List

From theatre biographies to theatre fiction; theatre books for kids to theatre history; check out our collection of 27 new Broadway books for every theatre lover's Summer reading list.
Charles Busch's Memoir, 'Leading Lady: A Memoir of a Most Unusual Boy' Is Now Available for Pre-Order

'Leading Lady: A Memoir of a Most Unusual Boy' is described as a poignant, deliciously anecdotal account of a talented artist’s Oz-like journey in the worlds of Off-Broadway, Broadway, and Hollywood.
Photos: Hometown Theater Honors Marion Ross With Bronze Statue

The bronze statue is dressed as Mrs. Cunningham from the 'Happy Days' series, which ran for 10 years from 1974-1984 and was sculptured using a screen accurate replica of a costume that Marion wore on the show and is seated on a park bench reaching out to invite any passerby to join her.
Award-Winning Television Director John Erman Has Passed Away at Age 85

Noted television director and producer John Erman, who directed episodes of many of the great television shows and TV movies and mini-series from the early sixties all the way into the 2000’s, died in New York on June 25th after a brief illness.
THE WIDOW'S VEIL Announced At Metropolitan Virtual Playhouse

The groundbreaking reading series continues as Obie Award winner Metropolitan Playhouse presents its next free 'screened' readings, live-streamed at no charge, with talkback to follow: THE WIDOW'S VEIL, Alice Rostetter, streaming at 8 PM Eastern at: www.metropolitanplayhouse.org.
Feinstein's At The Nikko Announces Lineup For Spring 2020

Today, Feinstein's at the Nikko announced an exciting lineup of national and local artists who will take the stage at San Francisco's premier intimate nightclub this spring. Additional artists will be announced at a later date. Tickets for all shows are on-sale now by visiting www.feinsteinssf.com or calling 866-663-1063. Ticket prices are subject to change without notice.
BWW Review: Charles Busch Sends Up Pre-Code 'Fallen Woman' Flicks With THE CONFESSION OF LILY DARE

Nowadays there appears to be an increasing awareness in the theatre about presenting women characters through the aesthetic of male playwrights and directors, much of it involving the movie term 'male gaze' which was coined by Laura Mulvey in the 70s to describe the disproportionately sexualized manner in which women were presented in film.  From that context, it's possible to conclude that this is what playwright/actor Charles Busch has been commenting on all along.
Tony Award-Winner & TV Icon Julie Newmar Celebrates Her 86th Birthday With Portrait

This Friday, TONY Award winner & TV Icon, Julie Newmar, is celebrating her 86th birthday - 
THE MAX FACTOR Documentary Screens In The Historic Max Factor Building

On Sunday, August 11th, Hollywood insider, Donelle Dadigan, and respected actress, Lee Purcell, hosted and invitation only screening of the documentary - THE MAX FACTOR.  The film takes a look behind the scenes into the star studded and astounding life of the inventor, pioneer and Hollywood' legendary King of Make-up.  The screening was followed by Q&A with the hosts and Filmmakers Clara and Julia Kuperberg and was moderated by film historian and critic, Leonard Maltin, who remarked 'The Max Factor Building is a true Hollywood treasure. I'm always happy to spend time there celebrating its history.' 
HOLLYWOOD PARTY: MOVIE SONGS 1928-1936 Comes to The Gardenia This Month

We're goin' (WEST) Hollywood! HOLLYWOOD PARTY: MOVIE SONGS 1928-1936 Today, July 27th at 9:00pm at The Gardenia at 7066 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA. Come hear the songs from when the movies first learned to sing with the wonderful Shelly Markham at the piano. Reserve via your telephone at 323-467-7444. Dinner is served from 7:00pm-9:00pm. So, make a night of it! Hope I'll see all my West Coast buddies. 
Review: U.S. Premiere of Norm Foster's SCREWBALL COMEDY Generates Laughs at Theatre 40

Norm Foster has written over sixty plays which have been produced all over the world. Selections from this most-produced Canadian playwright have been included at Theatre 40 for many years, but this time the group is excited to present the U.S. Premiere of his appropriately titled new play SCREWBALL COMEDY which pays homage to this classic genre of entertainment. Emerging in the 1930s, screwball comedies were a wild new strain of fast-talking farces involving battles of the sexes and a world forever on the brink of chaos. The elements included a male and female who may be adversarial at first but are ultimately ideal for each other. Think of the classic films It Happened One Night, His Girl Friday, Bringing Up Baby and My Man Godfrey during which some farcical or slapstick action occurs, including snappy patter and crackling dialogue with bits of off-color humor thrown in, with the plot ultimately leading to the female gaining the upper hand in the relationship.
HOLLYWOOD PARTY: MOVIE SONGS 1928-1936 Comes to The Gardenia This Month

We're goin' (WEST) Hollywood! HOLLYWOOD PARTY: MOVIE SONGS 1928-1936 Friday, July 27th at 9:00pm at The Gardenia at 7066 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA. Come hear the songs from when the movies first learned to sing with the wonderful Shelly Markham at the piano. Reserve via your telephone at 323-467-7444. Dinner is served from 7:00pm-9:00pm. So, make a night of it! Hope I'll see all my West Coast buddies. 
BWW Review: IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT at Don Bluth Front Row Theatre

Adapting a classic film to the stage is no easy task. IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT director Erica Parrish found it 'a challenge, but lots of fun.'
Tony Award-Winning Lighting Designer, Natasha Katz, Accepts The 2018 Apple Award

The Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance, a department within the College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts at Wayne State University, will honor legendary Broadway lighting designer, Natasha Katz, with the 2018 Apple Award on Thursday, April 19, 2018 during an invitation-only ceremony at the Fisher Theatre prior to that evening's performance of Broadway's 'School of Rock,' for which Ms. Katz designed the lighting.
Jeff Macauley Brings HOLLYWOOD PARTY: MOVIE SONGS 1928-1936 to Pangea NYC

Songs from when the movies first learned to sing -- Today, November 30th 7pm
Jeff Macauley Brings HOLLYWOOD PARTY: MOVIE SONGS 1928-1936 to Pangea NYC

Songs from when the movies first learned to sing -- Thursday, November 30th 7pm

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Claudette Colbert been in?

Claudette Colbert has appeared on Broadway in 19 shows.

How many West End shows has Claudette Colbert been in?

Claudette Colbert has not appeared in the West End

What awards has Claudette Colbert been nominated for?

Claudette Colbert has been nominated for Special Awards (Drama Desk Awards) and Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for her role in The Marriage-Go-Round.

What awards has Claudette Colbert won?

Claudette Colbert has received Special Awards from the Drama Desk Awards.

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