Straight, Beatrice

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Actress.

From the guide to the Beatrice Straight papers, [ca. 1925]-1990., (Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library)

Actress. Beatrice Straight, daughter of Willard Dickerman Straight and Dorothy Whitney Straight, was born August 2, 1914 in Old Westbury, N. Y. Some time after her father's death in 1918, her mother married Leonard Elmhirst and moved to England where Beatrice attended a progressive school in Devon called Dartington Hall. She persuaded Michael Chekhov, nephew of Anton Chekhov, to move his studio from Moscow to Dartington Hall, where he taught for a number of years, and later to Ridgefield, Connecticut. All through her career Beatrice strongly supported other actors and took part in acting companies both large and small. She was particularly interested in the stage and education of those interested in acting, especially children. She made her Broadway debut in 1935 in "Bitter Oleander" and performed until 1991, sometimes in roles with her husband, Peter Cookson, was a singer, dancer, actor and playwright. Many scripts in the collection bear his name or pseudonym. Honors she received include a Tony Award in 1953 for her role in "The Crucible" and an Academy Award in 1977 for her supporting role as the wife of William Holden in "Network," a scene which lasted approximately five minutes in the final version of the film. She enjoyed a wide variety of roles ranging from Shakespearean productions to Wonder Woman's queen mother, and "Deadly Voyage" a performance aboard a cruise ship. She died in 2001 at age 86.

From the description of Beatrice Straight papers, [ca. 1925]-1990. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 63937300

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Chekhov Theatre Studio (Ridgefield, Conn.). Correspondence with Margaret Naumburg, 1941. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Gore Vidal papers, 1850-2020 (inclusive), 1936-2008 (bulk) Houghton Library
referencedIn Lerner, Max, 1902-2001. Max Lerner papers, 1927-1992 (inclusive). Yale University Library
creatorOf Beatrice Straight papers, [ca. 1925]-1990. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
referencedIn Theatre Arts Monthly, collection of portraits, ca., ca., 1924-1939 (bulk), 1916-1964 (inclusive). Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
creatorOf Weiman, Rita, 1889-1954. Studio one-- "The target" / by Rita Weiman. Bowling Green State University, BGSU Libraries
referencedIn R. Buckminster Fuller Papers Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Guide to the Daily Worker and Daily World Photographs Collection, 1920-2001 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Martin Poll Papers 1967-1984. New York University. Archives
creatorOf Gibbons, Edward. "Studio one"-- "Chill on the wind" / by Edward Gibbons. Bowling Green State University, BGSU Libraries
referencedIn Rosamond Gilder papers, 1917-1949 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
creatorOf Prey, Deirdre Hurst du, 1906-. The Actor is the theatre : a collection of Michael Chekhov's unpublished notes and manuscripts on the art of acting and the theatre: typescript, 1977. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn William James Jr. papers, 1857-1960 (inclusive), 1911-1959 (bulk). Houghton Library
creatorOf Straight, Beatrice. Beatrice Straight papers, [ca. 1925]-1990. Cornell University Library
referencedIn Van Volkenburg Browne, Ellen, b. 1882. Autograph letters signed (48) and telegram : Seattle, Los Angeles, Victoria (British Columbia), Florence, New York, Windsor (Vermont), West Brooksville (Maine), Totnes (Devon), to Edward Wagenknecht, 1933-1973 and [n.d.]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Arthur Unger collection of recorded interviews [sound recording] The New York Public Library. Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound.
referencedIn Gilder, Rosamond. Papers, 1917-1949. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Lucille Lortel papers The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
referencedIn Martin Poll Papers, 1967-1984 New York University. Archives
referencedIn Max Lerner papers, 1927-1998 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
creatorOf Ross, Jerome. Studio one-- Act of mercy / written especially for Studio one by Jerome Ross. Bowling Green State University, BGSU Libraries
referencedIn The Actor is the theatre : a collection of Michael Chekhov's unpublished notes and manuscripts on the art of acting and the theatre: typescript, 1977 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
referencedIn John Mason Brown papers, 1922-1967. Houghton Library
referencedIn Lindsay Crouse papers, 1967-1987. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn George Brinton Beal papers, circus collection, and other theatrical collections, 1862-1969. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Beal, George Brinton. person
correspondedWith Brown, John Mason, 1900-1969 person
associatedWith Chekhov, Michael, 1891-1955. person
associatedWith Chekhov Theatre Studio (Ridgefield, Conn.) corporateBody
associatedWith Communist Party of the United States of America. corporateBody
associatedWith Cookson, Peter W. person
associatedWith Crouse, Lindsay. person
associatedWith Fuller, R. Buckminster (Richard Buckminster), 1895-1983 person
associatedWith Gilder, Rosamond. person
correspondedWith James, William, 1882-1961 person
associatedWith Lerner, Max, 1902- person
associatedWith Lerner, Max, 1902-2001. person
associatedWith Lortel, Lucille person
associatedWith Martin Poll Productions. corporateBody
associatedWith Poll, Martin person
associatedWith Prey, Deirdre Hurst du, 1906- person
associatedWith Saddler, Donald person
associatedWith Unger, Arthur person
associatedWith Van Volkenburg Browne, Ellen, b. 1882. person
associatedWith Vidal, Gore, 1925- person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Subject
Actresses
Occupation
Actresses
Activity

Person

Birth 1914-08-02

Death 2001-04-07

Americans

English

Information

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SNAC ID: 42631648