Mary Nell Santacroce, original "Miss Daisy"
DESSCRIBE1
stage play, has passed on.
Erich
From AP:
Mary Nell Santacroce
ATLANTA (AP) -- Mary Nell Santacroce, who appeared in numerous TV movies and
starred in the title role of ``Driving Miss Daisy'' on the Atlanta stage and on
international tour, died Wednesday of leukemia and bone cancer.
The actress was born Mary Nell McKoin in Atlanta around 1917, although she
stopped giving her age years ago.
She taught speech and drama at Georgia Institute of Technology from 1948 to
1965.
Most often she played characters with an earthy, humorous bent, laced with a
strong Southern accent. Directing her in the 1979 movie ``Wise Blood,''
filmmaker John Huston described her as ``one of the three or four greatest
actresses in the world.''
She appeared in TV movies including ``The Yearling,'' ``Stolen Babies'' and
``Cold Sassy Tree,'' as well as in miniseries including ``Scarlett'' and
``Queen.'' Her feature film credits include ``Something to Talk About'' and
``The War.''
From IMDB:
Actress filmography
(1990s) (1980s) (1970s)
1."Savannah" (1996) TV Series .... Millie Lester (1996)
2.Something to Talk About (1995) .... Mrs. Pinkerton
... aka Game of Love (1995) (USA: working title)
... aka Grace Under Pressure (1995)
... aka Kings of Carolina (1995) (USA: working title)
... aka Sisters (1995/III) (USA: working title)
3."Scarlett" (1994) (mini) TV Series .... Emma Anson
4.Simple Twist of Fate, A (1994) .... Female Social Worker
5.Yearling, The (1994) (TV) .... Ma Forrester
6.Passion for Justice: The Hazel Brannon Smith Story, A (1994) (TV) .... Endora
... aka Quest for Justice (1994) (TV)
7.War, The (1994) .... Mrs. Higgens
8.Class of '61 (1993) (TV) .... Washington Matron
9.Stolen Babies (1993) (TV) .... Camille Kelley
10."Queen" (1993) (mini) TV Series .... Woman at Coachstop
... aka "Alex Haley's Queen" (1993) (mini)
11.Silent Cries (1993) .... Mrs. Englethrope
... aka Guests of the Emperor (1993)
12.Wife, Mother, Murderer (1991) (TV) .... Grandma
... aka Wife, Mother, Murderer: The Marie Hilley Story (1991) (TV)
13.Carolina Skeletons (1991) (TV) .... Secretary
14.Night of the Hunter (1991) (TV)
15.Not Without My Daughter (1991) .... Grandma
16.Perfect Harmony (1991) (TV) .... Miss Stoddard
17.Rising Son (1990/I) (TV) .... Marge
18.Caroline? (1990) (TV) .... Aunt Helen
19.Cold Sassy Tree (1989) (TV) .... Miss Gussie
20.Impure Thoughts (1985)
21.Night Shadows (1984) .... Mrs. Mapes
... aka Mutant (1984)
22.Ordeal of Dr. Mudd, The (1980) (TV) .... Ellen Stanton
23.Private Eyes, The (1980) .... Lady Morley
24.Wise Blood (1979) .... Landlady
... aka John Huston's Wise Blood (1979)
Louis Epstein
: Mary Nell Santacroce, who originated the role of "Miss Daisy" in Alfred Uhry's
: stage play, has passed on.
What's your source for her being the ORIGINAL?
She wasn't the Broadway Daisy.
: Erich
DESSCRIBE1
on the news. I've since read a more detailed and accurate obituary in the
Atlanta newspapers. My apologies for any confusion this may have caused.
Mary Nell Santacroce was NOT the originator of the "Miss Daisy" role. Miss
Daisy was first played on the New York stage by Dana Ivey (heavily made up for
the role), Santacroce's daughter. Dana Ivey then suggested to her mother that
the part would be perfect for her.
Although not the original, Mary Nell Santacroce is regarded as the definitive
"Miss Daisy" of the stage.
Erich
Louis Epstein
: Allow me to correct my original post; I misinterpreted the announcement I heard
Thanks for that...I did not know Ivey and Santacroce were related
(and was afraid of naming the wrong Ivey as being on Broadway,
I mix up Dana and the unrelated Judith!)