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Lee Grant

Actor

Lee Grant

Born October 31, 1925 in New York City, New York, USA66 films

Lee Grant (born Lyova Haskell Rosenthal; October 31, 1925) is an American actress and director. She made her film debut in 1951 as a young shoplifter in William Wyler's Detective Story, co-starring Kirk Douglas and Eleanor Parker. This role earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress as well as the Best Actress Award at the 1952 Cannes Film Festival.

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In 1952 she was blacklisted from most acting jobs for the next 12 years. She was able to find only occasional work onstage or as a teacher during this period. It also contributed to her divorce. She was removed from the blacklist in 1962 and rebuilt her acting career. She starred in 71 TV episodes of Peyton Place (1965–1966), followed by lead roles in films such as Valley of the Dolls, In the Heat of the Night (both 1967), and Shampoo (1975), for the last of which she won an Oscar. In 1964, she won the Obie Award for Distinguished Performance by an Actress for her performance in The Maids. During her career she was nominated for the Emmy Award seven times between 1966 and 1993, winning twice.

In 1986 she directed Down and Out in America which tied for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, and in the same year she also won a Directors Guild of America Award for Nobody's Child.

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The best way into Lee Grant's work
Mulholland Drive posterFirst watchMulholland Drive20017.8as LouiseBlonde Betty Elms has only just arrived in Hollywood to become a movie star when she meets an enigmatic brunette with amnesia.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
In the Heat of the Night poster7.7In the Heat of the Night1967Damien - Omen II poster6.4Damien - Omen II1978Defending Your Life poster6.9Defending Your Life1991Detective Story poster7.0Detective Story1951There Was a Crooked Man... poster6.8There Was a Crooked Man...1970Shampoo poster6.1Shampoo1975Airport '77 poster5.6Airport '771977Valley of the Dolls poster6.0Valley of the Dolls1967

Filmography

66 films as actor
  1. 2020Killian & the Comeback KidsMs. Hunter (voice)
  2. 2005Going ShoppingWinnie
  3. 2001Mulholland DriveLouise
  4. 2001The Amati GirlsAunt Spendora
  5. 2000Dr. T & the WomenDr. Harper
  6. 2000Poor LizaCountess Ekaterina
  7. 1996The Substance of FireCora Cahn
  8. 1996It's My PartyAmalia Stark
  9. 1994Under HeatJane
  10. 1992Citizen CohnDora Cohn
  11. 1992In My Daughter's NameMaureen Leeds
  12. 1992Something to Live for: The Alison Gertz StoryCarol Gertz
  13. 1991Defending Your LifeLena Foster
  14. 1990She Said NoD.A. Doris Cantore
  15. 1989The Hijacking of the Achille LauroMarilyn Klinghoffer
  16. 1987The Big TownFerguson Edwards
  17. 1984TeachersDr. Donna Burke
  18. 1984A Billion for BorisSascha Harris
  19. 1983Will There Really Be a Morning?Lillian Farmer
  20. 1982Plaza SuiteNorma Hubley / Muriel Tate / Karen Nash
  21. 1982Visiting HoursDeborah Ballin
  22. 1982Thou Shalt Not KillMaxine Lochman
  23. 1981For Ladies OnlyAnne Holt
  24. 1981The Million Dollar FaceEvalyna
  25. 1981Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon QueenMrs. Sylvia Lupowitz
  26. 1980Tell Me a RiddleFlight Attendant (voice)
  27. 1980Little Miss MarkerThe Judge
  28. 1979You Can't Go Home AgainEsther Jack
  29. 1979When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder?Clarisse Ethridge
  30. 1978The Good DoctorVarious Roles
  31. 1978The SwarmAnne MacGregor
  32. 1978Damien - Omen IIAnn Thorn
  33. 1978The Mafu CageEllen
  34. 1977Airport '77Karen Wallace
  35. 1977The SpellMarion Matchett
  36. 1976Voyage of the DamnedLili Rosen
  37. 1976Perilous VoyageVirginia Monroe
  38. 1975ShampooFelicia Karpf
  39. 1975The SeagullIrina Arkadina
  40. 1974The Internecine ProjectJean Robertson
  41. 1973What Are Best Friends For?Adele Ross
  42. 1973Partners in CrimeJudge Meredith Leland
  43. 1972Lieutenant Schuster's WifeEllie Schuster
  44. 1972Ransom for a Dead ManLeslie Williams
  45. 1972Portnoy's ComplaintSophie Portnoy
  46. 1971Plaza SuiteNorma Hubley
  47. 1971The Neon CeilingCarrie Miller
  48. 1970Night SlavesMarjorie Howard
  49. 1970There Was a Crooked Man...Mrs. Bullard
  50. 1970The LandlordJoyce Enders
  51. 1969MaroonedCelia Pruett
  52. 1969The Big BounceJoanne
  53. 1968Buona Sera, Mrs. CampbellFritzie Braddock
  54. 1968The Love Song of Barney KempinskiLaura
  55. 1967Valley of the DollsMiriam Polar
  56. 1967In the Heat of the NightMrs. Leslie Colbert
  57. 1967Divorce American StyleDede Murphy
  58. 1967DeadlockVirginia Cloyd
  59. 1964Pie in the SkySuzy
  60. 1963An Affair of the SkinKatherine McCleod
  61. 1963The BalconyCarmen
  62. 1959The World of Sholom AleichemThe Goatseller / Avenging Angel
  63. 1959Middle of the NightMarilyn
  64. 1958Three Plays by Tennessee WilliamsJane (Segment "Moony's Kid Don't Cry")
  65. 1955Storm FearEdna
  66. 1951Detective StoryShoplifter