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Theatre, Film, and Television Biographies
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Jim Carter to Tom Clark
Virginia Christine Biography (1925-)
Born September 25, 1925, in Sumter, SC.
Born March 5, 1920, in Stanton, IA; died of heart problems, July 24, 1996, inLos Angeles, CA. Actress. Christine, who appeared in more than 400 television programs and films, will long be remembered as Mrs. Olson, the kindly, Swedish woman, who spoke of the richness of Folger's coffee in commercials. Her work as Mrs. Olson spanned more than twenty years. Christine first appeared infilms in 1943's Edge of Darkness, in which she played Miss Olson. Her latercredits included High Noon, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, and Judgment at Nuremberg. On stage, she appeared in the title role of Hedda Gabler in Hedda. On television, her credits included work on Gunsmoke and The Twilight Zone. When she was not acting, she volunteered at Planned Parenthood. She was also named honorary mayor of Brentwood, California, where she resided.
- Nationality
- American
- Gender
- Female
- Birth Details
- September 25, 1925
- Sumter, South Carolina, United States
Famous Works
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Credits; FILM APPEARANCES
- Sarah, House of Women (also known as Ladies of the Mob), Warner Bros., 1962.
- Teresa Moreno, The Ride to Hangman's Tree, Universal, 1967.
- Theresa, The Lost Man, Universal, 1969.
- Sister Pearl, The Great White Hope, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1970.
- Ernestine, Norwood, Paramount, 1970.
- Delilah, Big Jake, National General, 1971.
- Martha, The Late Liz, Gateway, 1971.
- Maid, Support Your Local Gunfighter, United Artists (UA), 1971.
- Mama Holiday, Lady Sings the Blues, Paramount, 1972.
- Macy, Trouble Man, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1972.
- The World's Greatest Athlete, Buena Vista, 1973.
- Ruby, Five on the Black Hand Side, UA, 1973.
- Cleo, The North Avenue Irregulars, Buena Vista, 1979.
- Ruby Simpson, The Toy, Columbia, 1982.
- Landlady, Teachers, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)/UA, 1984.
- The prisoner, Da Capo, P. Kino, 1985.
- Florence Sparrow, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Paramount, 1986.
- Coramae, Howard the Duck, Universal, 1986.
- Emma Ray, Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling, Columbia, 1986.
- Off the Mark (also known as Crazy Legs), Fries Entertainment, 1987.
- Maxine, Backfire, Vidmark, 1989.
- Lily, Original Intent, Paramount, 1992.
- Choirmistress, What's Love Got to Do with It? (also known as I, Tina), Buena Vista, 1993.
- Appeared as Shirley in Pacific Palisades, 1990.
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Credits; TELEVISION APPEARANCES; SERIES
- Mrs. Deering, Julia, NBC, 1968-71.
- Mannix, CBS, 1973.
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Credits; TELEVISION APPEARANCES; EPISODIC
- Delia, Downtown, CBS, 1986.
- Mrs. Bertha Griffin-Lamour, Frank's Place, CBS, 1987.
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Credits; TELEVISION APPEARANCES; MOVIES
- Nurse Blandings, When You Remember Me (also known as The Amazing Legacy of Michael Patrick Smith), ABC, 1990.
- Mrs. Mantley, Donor, CBS, 1990.
- Mamie, Burning Bridges, ABC, 1990.
- Appeared as Mabel Cobb, The Judge and Jake Wyler, 1972; as Gorilla Sydney, White Mama, 1980; as Agnes, Inmates: A Love Story, 1981; and as Margaret White, The George McKenna Story, 1986.
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Credits; TELEVISION APPEARANCES; PILOTS
- June, The Seekers, ABC, 1963.
- Bella Beacham, Featherstone's Nest, CBS, 1979.
- Eloise Baker, Willow B: Women in Prison, ABC, 1980.
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Credits; TELEVISION APPEARANCES; SPECIALS
- The Stellar Gospel Music Awards, syndicated, 1992.
- Appeared as Judge Atherton, Which Mother Is Mine?, 1979 and in Just a Little More Love, 1984.
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Credits; STAGE APPEARANCES
- Grandma Obeah, Jamaica, Imperial Theatre, New York City, 1957.
- Charwoman, Saratoga, Winter Garden Theatre, New York City, 1959.
- Queenie, Show Boat, U.S. cities, 1960.
- Sister Sadie and the Sons of Sam, New Theatre for Now Workshop, Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles, CA, 1968.
- Mama Lena Younger, Raisin (also see below), Arena Stage, Washington, DC,1972-73, then 46th Street Theatre, New York City, 1973-75, later Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, New York City, 1975.
- Mama Lena Younger, Raisin, U.S. cities, 1975.
- Sadie, Sister Sadie, New Dramatists Theatre, New York City, 1975.
- Coralee, Another Part of the Forest, Center Theatre Group, Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles, 1981-82.
- French Fries, Talking With, Center Theatre Group, Mark Taper Forum, 1984-85.
Further Reference
Books:
- Who's Who of American Women, Marquis Who's Who, 1995.
Periodicals:
- Chicago Tribune, July 25, 1996, section 1, p. 10; July 28, 1996, section4, p. 4.
- Los Angeles Times, July 25, 1996, p. A24.
- New York Times, July 26, 1996, p. A22.
- Washington Post, July 26, 1996, p. B5; July 27, 1996, p. B6.
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