Blythe Danner

Blythe Katherine Danner (born February 3, 1943) is an American actress. She is the recipient of several accolades, including two Primetime Emmy Awards for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Izzy Huffstodt on Huff (2004–2006), and a Tony Award for Best Actress for her performance in Butterflies Are Free on Broadway (1969–1972). Danner was twice nominated for the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for portraying Marilyn Truman on Will & Grace (2001–06; 2018–20), and the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie for her roles in We Were the Mulvaneys (2002) and Back When We Were Grownups (2004). For the latter, she also received a Golden Globe Award nomination.

Blythe Danner
Danner in 1980
Born (1943-02-03) February 3, 1943
Alma materBard College
OccupationActress
Years active1968–present
Spouse(s)
(m. 1969; died 2002)
Children
RelativesHarry Danner (brother)
Katherine Moennig (niece)

Danner played Dina Byrnes in Meet the Parents (2000) and its sequels Meet the Fockers (2004) and Little Fockers (2010). She has collaborated on several occasions with Woody Allen, appearing in three of his films: Another Woman (1988), Alice (1990), and Husbands and Wives (1992). Her other notable film credits include 1776 (1972), Hearts of the West (1975), The Great Santini (1979), Mr. and Mrs. Bridge (1990), The Prince of Tides (1991), To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995), The Myth of Fingerprints (1997), The X-Files (1998), Forces of Nature (1999), The Last Kiss (2006), Paul (2011), Hello I Must Be Going (2012), I'll See You in My Dreams (2015), and What They Had (2018).

Danner is the sister of Harry Danner and the widow of Bruce Paltrow. She is the mother of actress Gwyneth Paltrow and director Jake Paltrow.

Early life

Danner was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Katharine (née Kile; 1909–2006)[1] and Harry Earl Danner, a bank executive.[2][3] She has a brother, opera singer and actor Harry Danner; a sister, performer-turned-director Dorothy "Dottie" Danner; and a maternal half-brother, violin maker William Moennig. Danner has Pennsylvania Dutch (German), and some English and Irish, ancestry; her maternal grandmother was a German immigrant, and one of her paternal great-grandmothers was born in Barbados (to a family of European descent).[4][5]

Danner graduated from George School, a Quaker high school located near Newtown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania in 1960.[6]

Career

A graduate of Bard College, Danner's first roles included the 1967 musical Mata Hari (closed out of town), and the 1968 Off-Broadway production of Summertree. Her early Broadway appearances included Cyrano de Bergerac (1968) and her Theatre World Award-winning performance in The Miser (1969). She won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for portraying a free-spirited divorcée in Butterflies Are Free (1970).

In 1972, Danner portrayed Martha Jefferson in the film version of 1776. That same year, she played the unknowing wife of a husband who committed murder, opposite Peter Falk and John Cassavetes, in the Columbo episode "Etude in Black".

Her earliest starring film role was opposite Alan Alda in To Kill a Clown (1972). Danner appeared in the episode of M*A*S*H entitled "The More I See You", playing the love interest of Alda's character Hawkeye Pierce. She played lawyer Amanda Bonner in television's Adam's Rib, also opposite Ken Howard as Adam Bonner. She played Zelda Fitzgerald in F. Scott Fitzgerald and 'The Last of the Belles' (1974). She was the eponymous heroine in the film Lovin' Molly (1974) (directed by Sidney Lumet). She appeared in Futureworld, playing Tracy Ballard with co-star Peter Fonda (1976). In the 1982 TV movie Inside the Third Reich, she played the wife of Albert Speer. In the film version of Neil Simon's semi-autobiographical play Brighton Beach Memoirs (1986), she portrayed a middle-aged Jewish mother. She has appeared in two films based on the novels of Pat Conroy, The Great Santini (1979) and The Prince of Tides (1991), as well as two television movies adapted from books by Anne Tyler, Saint Maybe and Back When We Were Grownups, both for the Hallmark Hall of Fame.

Danner at the Metropolitan Opera opening, September 22, 2008

Danner appeared opposite Robert De Niro in the 2000 comedy hit Meet the Parents, and its sequels, Meet the Fockers (2004) and Little Fockers (2010).

From 2001 to 2006, she regularly appeared on NBC's sitcom Will & Grace as Will Truman's mother Marilyn. From 2004 to 2006, she starred in the main cast of the comedy-drama series Huff. In 2005, she was nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards for her work on Will & Grace, Huff, and the television film Back When We Were Grownups, winning for her role in Huff. The following year, she won a second consecutive Emmy Award for Huff. For 25 years, she has been a regular performer at the Williamstown Summer Theater Festival, where she also serves on the Board of Directors.[7]

In 2006, Danner was awarded an inaugural Katharine Hepburn Medal by Bryn Mawr College's Katharine Houghton Hepburn Center.[8] In 2015, Danner was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame.[9]

Blythe Danner, 2010

Environmental activism

Danner has been involved in environmental issues such as recycling and conservation for over 30 years.[10] She has been active with INFORM, Inc., is on the Board of Environmental Advocates of New York and the Board of Directors of the Environmental Media Association,[11] and won the 2002 EMA Board of Directors Ongoing Commitment Award.[12] In 2011, Danner joined Moms Clean Air Force,[13] to help call on parents to join in the fight against toxic air pollution.

Health care activism

After the death of her husband Bruce Paltrow from oral cancer, she became involved with the nonprofit Oral Cancer Foundation.[14] In 2005, she filmed a public service announcement to raise public awareness of the disease and the need for early detection. She has since appeared on morning talk shows and given interviews in such magazines as People. The Bruce Paltrow Oral Cancer Fund, administered by the Oral Cancer Foundation, raises funding for oral cancer research and treatment, with a particular focus on those communities in which healthcare disparities exist.[15]

She has also appeared in commercials for Prolia, a brand of denosumab used in the treatment of osteoporosis.[16][17]

Personal life

Danner was married to producer and director Bruce Paltrow, who died of oral cancer in 2002.[18] She and Paltrow had two children together, actress Gwyneth Paltrow and director Jake Paltrow.

Danner's niece is the actress Katherine Moennig, the daughter of her maternal half-brother William.

Danner co-starred with her daughter in the 1992 television film Cruel Doubt[19] and again in the 2003 film Sylvia, in which she portrayed Aurelia Plath, mother to Gwyneth's title role of Sylvia Plath.[20]

Danner is a practitioner of transcendental meditation, which she has described as "very helpful and comforting."[21]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1972To Kill a ClownLily Frischer
19721776Martha Jefferson
1974Lovin' MollyMolly Taylor
1975Hearts of the WestMiss Trout
1976FutureworldTracy BallardSaturn Award for Best Actress
1979The Great SantiniLillian Meechum
1983Inside the Third ReichMargarete Speer
1983Man, Woman and ChildSheila Beckwith
1985Guilty ConscienceLouise Jamison
1986Brighton Beach MemoirsKate Jerome
1988Another WomanLydia
1990Mr. and Mrs. BridgeGrace Barron
1990AliceDorothy Smith
1991The Prince of TidesSally Wingo
1992Husbands and WivesRain's Mother
1995NapoleonMother Dingo
1995HomageKatherine Samuel
1995To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie NewmarBeatrice
1997The Myth of FingerprintsLena
1997Mad CityMrs. Banks
1998The PropositionSyril Danning
1998No Looking BackClaudia's Mother
1998The X-FilesJana Cassidy
1999Forces of NatureVirginia Cahill
1999The Love LetterLillian MacFarquhar
1999Things I Forgot to RememberMrs. Bradford
2000Meet the ParentsDina ByrnesNominated – Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Supporting Actress in a Comedy
2001The Invisible CircusGail O'Connor
2003Three Days of RainWoman in Cab
2003SylviaAurelia Plath
2004Howl's Moving CastleMadam SulimanVoice role (English dub)
2004Meet the FockersDina Byrnes
2006StolenIsabella Stewart Gardner
2006The Last KissAnnaNominated – Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
2008The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2Greta Randolph
2009Waiting for ForeverMiranda Twist
2009The LightkeepersMrs. Bascom
2010Little FockersDina Byrnes
2011PaulTara Walton
2011What's Your Number?Ava Darling
2011DetachmentMrs. Perkins
2012The Lucky OneEllie Green
2012Hello I Must Be GoingRuth Minsky
2014Murder of a CatEdie Moisey
2015I'll See You in My DreamsCarol PetersenNominated – Gotham Award for Best Actress
Nominated – Satellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture
2015TumbledownLinda Jespersen
2018What They HadRuth Everhardt
2018Hearts Beat LoudMarianne Fisher
2018The ChaperoneMary O'Dell
2019The Tomorrow ManRonnie Meisner
2019Strange but TrueGail

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1970George M!Agnes Nolan CohanTelevision film
1971Dr. Cook's GardenJaney RauschTelevision film
1972ColumboJanice BenedictEpisode: "Etude in Black"
1973Adam's RibAmanda Bonner13 episodes
1974F. Scott Fitzgerald and 'The Last of the Belles'Zelda FitzgeraldTelevision film
1974SidekicksPrudy JenkinsTelevision film
1975Great PerformancesNina ZarechnayaEpisode: "The Seagull"
1976M*A*S*HCarlye Breslin WaltonEpisode: "The More I See You"
1976A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig StoryEleanor GehrigTelevision film
1976Great PerformancesAlma WinemillerEpisode: "Eccentricites of a Nightingale"
1977The Court-Martial of George Armstrong CusterMrs. CusterTelevision film
1978Are You in the House Alone?Anne OsbourneTelevision film
1979Too Far to GoJoan Barlow MapleTelevision film
1979You Can't Take It with YouAlice SycamoreTelevision film
1982Inside the Third ReichMargarete SpeerTelevision film
1983In Defense of KidsEllen WilcoxTelevision film
1984Guilty ConscienceLouise JamisonTelevision film
1984Helen Keller: The Miracle ContinuesAnne SullivanTelevision film
1988–1989TattingersHillary Tattinger13 episodes
1989Money, Power, MurderJeannieTelevision film
1990JudgmentEmmeline GuitryTelevision film
1992Getting Up and Going HomeLilyTelevision film
1992Cruel DoubtBonnie Van SteinTelevision film
1992Tales from the CryptMargaretEpisode: "Maniac at Large"
1992LincolnElizabeth Todd EdwardsTelevision film
1993Tracey Ullman Takes on New YorkEleanor LevineTelevision film
1993Great PerformancesNarratorEpisode: "The Maestros of Philadelphia"
1994Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells AllBianca HonicutTelevision film
1994Leave of AbsenceElisaTelevision film
1997Thomas JeffersonMartha JeffersonTelevision film
1997A Call to RememberPaula TobiasTelevision film
1998From the Earth to the MoonNarratorEpisode: "Le voyage dans la lune"
1998Saint MaybeBee BedloeTelevision film
1998Murder She Purred: A Mrs. Murphy MysteryMrs. MurphyTelevision film
2001–2006,
2018–2020
Will & GraceMarilyn Truman14 episodes
Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series (2005–2006)
2002We Were the MulvaneysCorinne MulvaneyTelevision film
Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
2002Presidio MedDr. Harriet Lanning3 episodes
2003Two and a Half MenEvelyn HarperEpisode: "Most Chicks Won't Eat Veal"
2004Back When We Were GrownupsRebecca Holmes DavitchTelevision film
Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film
Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
2004–2006HuffIsabelle Huffstodt25 episodes
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (2005–2006)
2009MediumLouise LeamingEpisode: "A Taste of Her Own Medicine"
2009Nurse JackieMaureen CooperEpisode: "Tiny Bubbles"
2011–2012Up All NightDr. Angie Chafin3 episodes
2015The SlapVirginia LathamEpisode: "Anouk"
2016MadoffRuth Madoff4 episodes
2016Odd Mom OutJill's MomEpisode: "Fasting and Furious"
2017GypsyNancy4 episodes
2018Patrick MelroseNancy ValanceMini-series

Stage

Year Title Role Location Notes
1965The Glass MenagerieLaura WingfieldTheater Company of Boston
1967Three SistersIrina ProzorovaTrinity Square Playhouse
1968Cyrano de BergeracSister MartheVivian Beaumont Theater
1968Up EdenViolet BeamJan Hus Playhouse Theater
1968LoversMargaret Mary EnrightVivian Beaumont Theater
1969Someone's Comin' HungryConnie OdumPocket Theatre
1969The MiserEliseVivian Beaumont TheaterTheatre World Award
1969–1972Butterflies Are FreeJill TannerBooth TheatreTony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play
1971Major BarbaraBarbara UndershaftMark Taper Forum
1972Twelfth NightViolaVivian Beaumont Theater
1974The SeagullNina ZarechnayaWilliamstown Theatre Festival
1975Ring Round the MoonIsabelleWilliamstown Theatre Festival
1977The New York IdeaCynthia KarslakeBrooklyn Academy of MusicNominated – Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play
1979Children of the SunLisaWilliamstown Theatre Festival
1980BetrayalEmmaTrafalgar TheatreNominated – Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play
Nominated – Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play
1980–1981The Philadelphia StoryTracy Samantha LordVivian Beaumont Theater
1987Blithe SpiritElvira CondomineNeil Simon Theatre
1988Much Ado About NothingBeatriceDelacorte Theater
1988A Streetcar Named DesireBlanche DuBoisCircle in the Square TheatreNominated – Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play
1989Love LettersMelissa GardnerPromenade Theatre
1991PicnicRosemary SydneyWilliamstown Theatre Festival
1994The SeagullIrina ArkadinaWilliamstown Theatre Festival
1995SylviaKateNew York City Center
1995–1996MoonlightBelLaura Pels Theatre
1998The Deep Blue SeaHester CollyerCriterion Center Stage Right
2000Tonight at 8.30Jane FeatherwaysWilliamstown Theatre Festival
2001FolliesPhyllis Rogers StoneBelasco TheatreNominated – Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical
2002CarouselMrs. MullinCarnegie Hall
2003All About EveKaren RichardsAhmanson Theatre
2006Suddenly Last SummerViolet VenableLaura Pels TheatreNominated – Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play
2012–2013Nice Work If You Can Get ItMillicent WinterImperial Theatre
2014The Country HouseAnna PatersonSamuel J. Friedman Theatre

References

  1. "Social Security Death Index". FamilySearch. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
  2. "Blythe Danner Biography (1944–)". FilmReference.com. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
  3. "Dan Gross: Gwynnie had no time for granny". Philly.com. April 28, 2011.
  4. Hughes, Mike (November 20, 2004). "'Grownups' star finds role is a welcome distraction". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
  5. "Hollywood celebrity finds family links in Barbados". Barbados Advocate. March 31, 2011. Archived from the original on January 19, 2012.
  6. "George School profile". GeorgeSchool.org. Archived from the original on October 18, 2014. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  7. "Trustees". Williamstown Theatre Festival. Archived from the original on October 21, 2011. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
  8. "Danner wins medal" Archived June 4, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Bryn Mawr.edu
  9. "Theater Hall of Fame Ceremony, Honoring Susan Stroman, F. Murray Abraham, Philip J. Smith and more, presented tonight". www.playbill.com. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  10. "City Council Minutes". City of Santa Monica. June 24, 2003. Archived from the original on January 19, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
  11. "Board of Directors". Environmental Media Association. Archived from the original on December 6, 2011. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
  12. "12th Annual Environmental Media Awards". Environmental Media Association. Archived from the original on May 24, 2011. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
  13. "Moms Clean Air Force". momscleanairforce.org. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
  14. "The Oral Cancer Foundation". Oral Cancer Fund. December 7, 2011. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
  15. "Bruce Paltrow Fund". Oral Cancer Fund. December 7, 2011. Archived from the original on November 26, 2011. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
  16. "Hear from Blythe on Prolia". Prolia.com. Archived from the original on October 19, 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  17. "Denosumab". BNF British National Formulary - NICE. 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  18. "Bruce Paltrow Fund". OCF Inc. Archived from the original on January 22, 2013. Retrieved December 20, 2012.
  19. "Blythe's Spirit". Los Angeles Times. May 17, 1992. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  20. "Paltrow equal to the task of portraying a tortured Plath". Los Angeles Times. October 17, 2003. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  21. Douglas, Clare; Whitwell, Carli (May 27, 2015). "Blythe Danner: 'A part of me feels like I have never grown up'". Hello! Canada. Retrieved June 3, 2015. I have found transcendental meditation very helpful and comforting. It centers me.
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