Elizabeth Wilson, a character actress known for her roles in The Graduate and 9 To 5, has died. She was 94.
Elizabeth Morten, Wilson’s close friend, confirmed the sad news to the New York Times. Wilson died Saturday in New Haven, Connecticut.
She was best known for mother roles, playing Dustin Hoffman’s mother in 1967’s The Graduate and Ralph Fiennes’ mother in 1994’s Quiz Show. She’s even Uncle Fester’s mother in 1991’s The Addams Family. Her last film role was Franklin D. Roosevelt’s mother in 2012’s Hyde Park on the Hudson.
The Hollywood Reporter points out that she also worked with The Graduate director Mike Nichols several times, also appearing in Catch-22, The Day of the Dolphin and Regarding Henry.
Of course, one of her other beloved film roles isn’t as a mother though. She started as Roz, the nemesis of Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda in 1980’s 9 To 5.
Wilson, whose career lasted nearly 70 years, also included several stage performances. She won a Tony in 1972 for Sticks and Bones, an anti-war drama in which she played a Vietnam veteran's mother. Other stage roles included Picnic in 1953, the 1999 revival of Waiting in the Wings and the 1980 production of Morning’s At Seven.
On the TV side, she earned an Emmy nomination for 1987’s Nutcracker: Money, Madness and Murder. Her last TV appearance came in a 2002 episode of LAw & Order: Criminal Intent.
Wilson is survived by a sister and nieces and nephews.
image courtesy of Walter McBride/INFphoto.com