Oscar-Winner Actress Patricia Neal Dies at 84 (Star of 'The Fountainhead,' 'A Face In The Crowd')

[Hissyspit]

Source: Associated Press

Oscar-winner actress Patricia Neal dies at 84

From the Associated Press
August 8, 2010|8:18 p.m.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Actress Patricia Neal, who won an Oscar in 1964 for "Hud" and later fought back from crippling strokes, has died at age 84.

Neal had lung cancer and died at her home in Edgarton, Mass., on Martha's Vineyard, said longtime friend Bud Albers of Knoxville, Tenn.

The Kentucky-born Neal, famous for her husky voice, was already a Tony-winning stage actress when she made her film debut in 1949. Among her movies were "The Fountainhead" and "A Face in the Crowd."

The year after winning the Academy Award, she suffered a series of strokes and had to relearn to walk and talk. But she returned to the screen and earned another Oscar nomination and three Emmy nominations.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-mew-patricia-neal-20100809,0,741639.story

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Safe passage to her...

She was a shining light to so many, and a terrific actress...

I am sad to hear this news.

My condolences to her loved ones...

[CTyankee]

31. I'm old enough to remember my aunts talking about her affair with Gary Cooper.

I thought that was very romantic...

[BeyondGeography]

2. She was both gifted and nothing short of heroic

RIP :patriot:

[Indydem]

3. Huh, what odd dichotomy

The Glenn Beck story and an Ayn Rand film.

[6000eliot]

16. What is the Glenn Beck story?

I couldn't find it in the obituary.

[ingac70]

19. "A Face in the Crowd". n/t

[6000eliot]

20. Ah. I see.

I didn't recognize it, because Andy Griffith's character in the movie is MUCH more skillful at what he does than Beck is.

[The Wizard]

25. Lonesome Rhodes' audience

had much higher IQs than Beck's moronic following.

[66 dmhlt]

36. Photo of Neal & Griffith from "A Face in the Crowd"

Of course she won an Oscar for her role opposite Paul Newman in "Hud" ... but an interesting bit of trivia is that she was the first choice to play Mrs. Robinson in the "The Graduate" - but turned it down as she was recuperating from the three stroke she suffered in 1965.

Anne Bancroft accepted the role, and was nominated as Best Actress for her portrayal as Mrs. Robinson in 1967.

[libnnc]

4. One of my favorite Patricia Neal stories...

After her long struggle recovering from her stroke, she starred in "The Subject Was Roses". At the film's premier, all of Hollywood came to see her--including a speechless Barbara Stanwyck who 20+ years before had been livid that Neal landed the role of Dominique in "The Fountainhead". Stanwyck had banked on getting the role and left Warner Bros. in a huff as a result.

Anyway, fast-forward to 1968; the story goes, as Neal came out of the theater into the lobby at the premier of "The Subject Was Roses", Stanwyck approached her with tears in her eyes--so moved by Neal's performance. She took Neal's hand and stammered "You were WONDERFUL..." Without missing a beat, Neal said "Oh. So you FINALLY saw 'The Fountainhead'....."

:applause: Bravo and RIP Ms. Neal. :applause:

[ScottLand]

21. Thanks for that. That is a beautiful story.

[Journeyman]

5. A beautiful woman, a wonderful talent . . .

[gauguin57]

6. Klaatu Barada Nikto, Ms. Neal.

rest in peace.

[Ichingcarpenter]

10. The Day the Earth Stood Still

One of my favorite films with her.

RIP Ms Neal.

[Booster]

7. Now, there was an actress. RIP, Patricia. Ya done good.

:cry:

[senseandsensibility]

11. Indeed.

That was my first memory of her. I saw her in The Homecoming, which launched the Waltons series.

[Tx4obama]

8. All the good ones are dying off, it's so sad ;( n/t

[Ken Burch]

15. Yes....but there's good ones being born, as well....

It will just be awhile before we find out who they are.

[CBHagman]

49. I like your style.

I've been sad to see so many actors, directors, and others of Hollywood's golden era dying, but you're right; there are good ones still with us and more good ones to come.

[Ken Burch]

50. Well...all we have is what's still to come, in the end.

might as well hope it'll be better.

[Morning Dew]

9. Loved her in "The Homecoming" too

RIP

[no_hypocrisy]

28. The original mother in The Waltons.

[Bluenorthwest]

34. Indeed she was

[GoddessOfGuinness]

45. I love that story...

...especially because of her.

[defendandprotect]

12. Love Patricia Neal -- especially HUD . . .

She survived a great deal of difficulties --

death of one of her children -- carriage hit by car, I think.

A number of strokes in early age --

I think she had 4 or 5 children -- and I think all by Raoul Dahl?

The Fountainhead was a disappointment re story line -- but quite some chemistry

between Neal and Cooper! Wow!

Raoul Dahl was also quite something --

he wrote children's books -- and a few other things!! Wow!




PS: I also love "The Day The Earth Stood Still" -- and note others commenting on it --

I never saw an interview where she was asked her feelings about making the movie --

or the long popularlity of the movie?

[FunkyLeprechaun]

22. Roald Dahl

One of my favourite authors ever!! Their granddaughter, Sophie Dahl, is a model and a cook. Love her show the Delicious Miss Dahl.

Patricia Neal's signed photo is above my bed in the States! :-)

[defendandprotect]

42. Sorry for the misspelling .... I'm not familiar with Sophie, but I'll look for her ...!!

[LostinVA]

30. Dahl was not very nice to her

[defendandprotect]

43. Ah, that's sad . . . though I think he was still with her during aftermath of

strokes -- but don't really know anything else about their relationship.

Besides the very popular children's books, Dahl wrote books for adults --

rather risque if not pornographic -- only one I've read which was hilarious

and dealt with trying to collect the sperm of very intelligent/genius level

males!!

I do recall Patricia Neal telling of having seen Gary Cooper again in NYC many

years after their affair -- which involved a pregnancy . . .

She said he was looking into some shop window when she came by him on a NYC street --

and she stopped to speak with him -- and they exchanged a few friendly words.

That's all.

Don't know if she was ever involved again with anyone after Dahl?

I thought HUD was amazing since it was after she had her strokes!!

At least, I think it was -- ????

[CTyankee]

32. I did see (or read, can't remember which) an interview where she talked about the

very tall actor they got to play the role of the space being. It seems he wasn't very strong physically and had real difficulty in carrying Neal in one scene. They had to fake it, she said...

[defendandprotect]

44. Rather comical story re the alien . . . but for the more human Michael Rennie always LOVED him...

I thought the message of the movie -- our violence which we never

seem to come to terms with -- and the idea of creating a weapon which

destroys the first one to use violence is something we should have been

thinking about long ago.

[NBachers]

13. Jeez, I just watched her last night in "In Harm's Way"

with John Wayne and Kirk Douglas, among others; an Otto Preminger film. I focused on every scene she was in, because it was such a treat to see her. The closing shot was Patricia Neal looking into the camera and smiling at shot-up Wayne- "I'm not going anywhere." The camera lingers on her there as the movie ends . . .

One of the big ones . . .

[saigon68]

24. Excellent movie

[Solly Mack]

14. RIP

[BumRushDaShow]

17. R.I,P.

Another great loss.... Rest in peace Ms. Neal. O8)

[dogday]

18. What a talented lady she was...

RIP :(

[xchrom]

23. may Peace be with her family and friends at this time. nt

[liberal N proud]

26. She was a great actress.

[SemperEadem]

27. Rest in peace

thank you for sharing your gift with us.

[LostinVA]

29. And the original Olivia Walton

[salin]

48. That was my first memory when I heard the news.

Probably generational?

[yellerpup]

33. Rest in Peace, my beautiful girl.

Thank you for everything you did (and tried to do) for me. The world will never be the same without you. My condolences to your family. You will never be forgotten.

[Bluenorthwest]

35. A great voice, a wonderful actress

A Face In the Crowd is one of my favorite films of all time, ranks higher every year. Patricia and Andy and everyone in that film is perfect. As Patricia most often was, perfect.

[roxiejules]

37. A great woman who will be missed

:cry:

[BEZERKO]

38. Klaatu barada nikto!

I love the Day the Earth Stood Still. Bernard Hermann did the score, the man was a genius.

[progressoid]

40. ...

[Uncle Joe]

39. RIP, Patricia Neal.

Thanks for the thread, Hissyspit.

[DebbieCDC]

41. A face in the crowd...now known as the Glen Bleccch Story

Wonderful actress, sad to hear of her passing

[GoddessOfGuinness]

46. She played a great tender/tough role in In Harm's Way, too...

Rest in Peace, Ms. Neal...

[Paladin]

47. She Improved Any Movie In Which She She Appeared.

I personally think "In Harms Way" is a significantly undervalued WWII movie, and Patricia Neal's role in it is a major reason why. Personal class and enormous talent, all the way. May God bless and keep her.....