Phyllis Kirk

Phyllis Kirk

Kirk as Nora Charles with Peter Lawford in The Thin Man (1957)
Born Phyllis Kirkegaard
(1927-09-18)September 18, 1927
Syracuse, New York, U.S.
Died October 19, 2006(2006-10-19) (aged 79)
Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting place Arlington National Cemetery
Occupation Actress
Years active 1949–1970
Spouse(s) Warren Bush (? – 1992)

Phyllis Kirk (born Phyllis Kirkegaard; September 18, 1927 – October 19, 2006)[1] was an American actress.

Early life

Kirk was born in Syracuse, New York,[2] although some sources state her birthplace as Plainfield, New Jersey. She contracted polio as a child, which resulted in health problems for the rest of her life.[3] Kirk graduated from Battin High School, Elizabeth, New Jersey.

Career

As a teenager, Kirk moved to New York City to study acting and changed her last name from Kirkegaard to Kirk. She began her career on Broadway before embarking on a television and film career.[4]

Kirk is best known for her many roles throughout the 1950s. She appeared with Vincent Price in the 3-D horror film House of Wax (1953). Her most notable television role was opposite Peter Lawford in The Thin Man (1957–1959), wherein they played Nick and Nora Charles. A newspaper columnist described what distinguished Kirk's role in the program: "[I]t's her brains that keep her flying high on 'The Thin Man' series."[5]

She also appeared with Jerry Lewis in his 1957 film The Sad Sack and the 1956 film Back from Eternity. Kirk was a regular on The Red Buttons Show and appeared as a guest on some television programs, including an episode of The Twilight Zone ("A World of His Own"). As her acting career slowed down, Kirk began serving as an activist for various social causes. She vocally opposed death row inmate Caryl Chessman's death sentence and visited Chessman in prison until his execution in 1960. After the Watts Riots in 1965, she funded preschool programs for underprivileged families in South Los Angeles.[4]

She granted interviews and wrote for the American Civil Liberties Union newspaper. Kirk made her last onscreen appearance in a 1970 episode of The F.B.I. before leaving show business altogether to enter public relations. She worked as a publicist for CBS News, and retired in 1992.[6]

Personal life

Kirk was married to television producer and screenwriter Warren Bush until his death in 1992.[6] A Democrat, she attended the 1960 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles, California.[7]

Death

On October 19, 2006, Kirk died of a cerebral aneurysm at age 79 in Woodland Hills, California.[8] She was buried with her husband Warren Bush in the Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1950 Our Very Own Zaza
1950 A Life of Her Own Jerry
1950 Two Weeks with Love Valerie Stresemann
1950 Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone Kay
1951 Three Guys Named Mike Kathy Hunter
1952 Just This Once Young Lover on Ferry Uncredited
1952 About Face Alice Wheatley
1952 The Iron Mistress Ursula de Varamendi
1952 Stop, You're Killing Me Nurse Uncredited
1953 House of Wax Sue Allen
1953 Thunder Over the Plains Norah Porter
1953 World by the Tail Television film
1954 Crime Wave Ellen Lacey
1954 River Beat Judy Roberts
1955 Canyon Crossroads Katherine Rand
1956 Johnny Concho Mary Dark
1956 Back from Eternity Louise Melhorn
1957 That Woman Opposite Eve Atwood
1957 The Sad Sack Major Shelton

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1952 The Philco Television Playhouse Dolly 1 episode
1952 Tales of Tomorrow 1 episode
1952–1956 Studio One Various Characters 4 episodes
1953 Armstrong Circle Theatre 1 episode
1953 The United States Steel Hour Betty Lou 1 episode
1953–1954 Lux Video Theatre 2 episodes
1953–1954 Goodyear Television Playhouse Girl 3 episodes
1953–1954 The Web Meg Loomis 2 episodes
1953–1957 Robert Montgomery Presents Various Characters 4 episodes
1954 Suspense 1 episode
1954 Your Show of Shows 1 episode
1954 Justice 1 episode
1955 Appointment with Adventure (CBS anthology series) 1 episode
1955 Playwrights '56 Girl Friend 1 episode
1955 Letter to Loretta Jess Blackston 1 episode
1955 The Red Buttons Show Various Characters Unknown episodes
1955–1956 Climax! Various Characters 3 episodes
1956 Schlitz Playhouse of Stars Barbara Hunter 1 episode
1956 Celebrity Playhouse Laurie Westbrook 2 episodes
1956 Playhouse 90 Nancy Tennant 1 episode
1956–1957 The Ford Television Theatre Various Characters 4 episodes
1957 The Errol Flynn Theatre 2 episodes
1957 The 20th Century Fox Hour Barbara Sherwood 1 episode
1957–1959 The Thin Man Nora Charles 72 episodes
1958 The Ford Show, Starring Tennessee Ernie Ford Herself 1 episode
1960 Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater Ann Bagley 1 episode
1960 The Twilight Zone Victoria West Episode: "A World of His Own"
1970 The F.B.I. Nora Tobin 1 episode

Award nominations

Year Award Category Series Result
1959 Emmy Award Best Actress in a Leading Role (Continuing Character) in a Dramatic Series The Thin Man Nominated

References

  1. ↑ "Phyllis Kirk: 1927 - 2006 `House of Wax,' `Thin Man' star". chicagotribune.com. 2006-10-23. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
  2. ↑ Weaver, Tom (2001). I was a Monster Movie Maker: Conversations with 22 SF and Horror Filmmakers. McFarland. p. 122. ISBN 0-7864-1000-0.
  3. ↑ Monush, Barry (2003). Screen World Presents the Encyclopedia of Hollywood Film Actors: From the Silent Era to 1965. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 395. ISBN 1-55783-551-9.
  4. 1 2 "'House of Wax' actress Kirk dies at 79". usatoday.com. 2006-10-22. Retrieved 2008-11-04.
  5. ↑ Scott, Vernon (April 24, 1959). "Phylliss Kirk's Brain Power Keeps Her Flying on Series". The Daily Inter Lake. p. 10. Retrieved April 13, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. 1 2 Vallance, Tom (2006-10-23). "Phyllis Kirk". The Independent (London). p. 2. Retrieved 2008-11-04.
  7. ↑ 1960 Democratic Convention Los Angeles Committee for the Arts on YouTube
  8. ↑ "'House of Wax' actress Phyllis Kirk dead". arts.abc.net.au. 2006-10-23. Retrieved 2008-11-04.
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