Agnes Moorehead

Agnes Moorehead was an American TV, Movie, Stage and Radio artist. She was one of the most renowned actresses of her time. She was considered to be very multi-talented because she performed in various fields like radio, television, stage, film etc. She earned a Primetime Emmy Award and two Golden Globe awards in her career.

Agnes Moorehead was born on 6 December 1900 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S. Later she moved to St. Louis, Missouri. She completed her graduation from Central High School located in St. Louis, in 1918. In 1921, she earned a Bachelor’s degree, with a major in Biology, from the now Muskingum University, in new Concord Ohio. Here she gave the perfect fodder to her ambition by appearing in college stage plays. After that, she received an honorary Doctorate in Literature. She also earned a Master’s degree in English. Later on, she pursued postgraduate studies at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and she graduated from there with an honors degree in the year 1929. She also received an honorary doctoral degree from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois.

Her married life was not successful because she married twice during her life. In 1930, she married John Griffith Lee, and they divorced in 1952. While they were married, they adopted an orphan named Sean in 1949. But it was not clear whether the adoption was legal or not. Later on, in 1954, she married actor Robert Gist but they parted ways in 1958.

Agnes Moorehead was an ambitious girl since her birth; she had a burning ambition to become an actress. At the age of 3, she gave her first-ever public performance, reciting “The Lord Prayer” in her father’s church. 

Agnes appeared in many films, radio, and television shows. However, her career was unsteady in the beginning, but she gradually moved towards success after she became very popular on radio. She appeared in movies like ‘Citizen Kane’, ‘The Magnificent Ambersons’, ‘The Big Street’, ‘Journey into Fear’, ‘The Youngest Profession’, ‘Government Girl’ and many more. She also ventured into theater histrionics, appearing on stage during her training at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Agnes died of uterine Cancer on April 30, 1974 at the age of 74, in Rochester, Minnesota and her resting place is Dayton Memorial Park in Dayton, Ohio.