Glenn Close (born March 19, 1947)[1] is an American film, television and stage actress. She is best known for her roles as a femme fatale—the scheming Marquise de Merteuil in Dangerous Liaisons (1988) and deranged stalker Alex Forrest in Fatal Attraction (1987)—as well as Cruella de Vil in 101 Dalmatians (1996), and its sequel 102 Dalmatians (2000). She has been more recently known for her Emmy and Golden Globe winning role as Patty Hewes in the FX TV series Damages.
Consistently acclaimed for her versatility, she has been nominated six times for an Oscar (five times throughout the 1980's), three times for a Grammy Award and once for a BAFTA Film Award, and has won three Tonys, an Obie, three Emmys, two Golden Globes, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
Close was born in Greenwich, Connecticut, the daughter of Bettine (née Moore) and William Taliaferro Close,[1] a doctor who operated a clinic in the Belgian Congo and served as a personal physician to Congo/Zaire President Mobutu Sese Seko.[2] Her parents came from prominent families. Her father was a descendant of the Taliaferros of Virginia; her paternal grandfather, Edward Bennett Close, a stockbroker and director of the American Hospital Association,[3] was first married to Post Cereals' heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post. Close is also a second cousin once-removed of actress Brooke Shields (Shields's great-grandmother Mary Elsie Moore was a sister of Close's maternal grandfather, Charles Arthur Moore, Jr.).[4]
During her childhood, Close lived with her parents in a stone cottage on her maternal grandfather's estate, in Greenwich.[5] Close has credited her early years for her acting abilities: "I have no doubt that the days I spent running free in the evocative Connecticut countryside with an unfettered imagination, playing whatever character our games demanded, is one of the reasons that acting has always seemed so natural to me."[6] When she was seven years old, her parents joined a "cult group", the Moral Re-Armament, in which her family remained involved for fifteen years, living in communal centers. Close has stated that the family "struggled to survive the pressures of a culture that dictated everything about how we lived our lives." Close traveled for several years in the mid-to-late 1960s with an MRA singing group called "Up With People", and attended Rosemary Hall (now Choate Rosemary Hall), graduating in 1965.[5][7] When she was 22, Close broke away from MRA, attending The College of William and Mary, and majoring in theatre. It was in the College's theatre department that she began to train as a serious actor, under Howard Scammon.[8] She was elected to membership in the honor society of Phi Beta Kappa.[5]
Close started her professional stage career in 1974, and her film work in 1982.[5] She has been nominated for six Academy Awards, for Best Actress in Dangerous Liaisons, Fatal Attraction, and Albert Nobbs and for Best Supporting Actress in The Natural, The Big Chill and The World According to Garp (her first film).[5] In 1984, Close starred in the critically acclaimed drama Something about Amelia, a Golden Globe-winning television movie about a family destroyed by sexual abuse. In 1987 she played the disturbed book editor Alex in Fatal Attraction, and in 1988 she played the scheming aristocrat The Marquise de Merteuil in Dangerous Liaisons.[5] She played the role of Sunny von Bülow in the 1990 film Reversal of Fortune to critical acclaim.
In the 1990s, she starred in the highly rated presentation of the 1991 Hallmark Hall of Fame drama Sarah, Plain and Tall (and its two sequels) and also in the made-for-TV movie Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story (1995); from these roles, she was nominated for 8 Emmys[9] (winning one) and 9 Golden Globes (winning one in 2005 and 2007). She also appeared in the newsroom comedy-drama The Paper (1994), and in (Steven Speilberg's) Hook she made a cameo as Gutless one the Pirates of Captain Hook's Crew who is punhished by being thrown into the Boo Box a chest filled with Scorpions for betting that Hook would not be able to bring Peter Pan back to Neverland, the alien invasion satire Mars Attacks! (1996, as The First Lady), the Disney hit 101 Dalmatians (1996, as the sinister Cruella de Vil) and its sequel 102 Dalmatians (2000), and the blockbuster Air Force One (1997), as the trustworthy vice-president to Harrison Ford's president. In 2001, she starred in a production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic musical South Pacific. In 2005, Close joined the FX crime series The Shield, in which she played a no-nonsense precinct captain. She starred in a series of her own for 2007, Damages (also on FX) instead of continuing her character on The Shield. Close won the 2009 Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama series for her role in Damages.[10] In an interview after her win, Close admitted her role of Patty Hewes in the series was the role of her life. Also in 2009, she narrated the environmental film Home. Glenn Close has hosted Saturday Night Live twice-once in 1989 and in 1992.[11][12]
In December 2010, Close began filming Albert Nobbs in Dublin. She had previously won an Obie in 1982 for her role in the play on stage. She had been working on the film for 10 years,a film which she appeared with along side 101 Dalmatians Co Star Mark Williams and aside from starring in it, co-wrote the screenplay and produced the film.[13][14] She stated at a press conference held on December 9, 2010 in Dublin, a couple of days before shooting began, "I believe in this story and its potential to take everyone on a sensuous, funny, heart-breaking, wildly unexpected ride".
In the film, Close played the title role of Albert Nobbs, a woman living her life as a man in 1800s Ireland after being sexually assaulted as a young girl. For the film, Close sat through hours of makeup to transform herself into a man. While the film itself received mixed reviews, Close and Janet McTeer received rave reviews for their performances. Close's performance was noted for being her most subtle and introverted performance yet and a departure from her other roles. Close received Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, and multiple critics nominations for her performance in Albert Nobbs. On January 24, 2012, Close received her sixth Academy Award nomination, for Best Actress in a Motion Picture, for her performance. The film also received nominations for Best Supporting Actress for McTeer and Best Makeup.
Some of 2011's stand-out film actors appeared in "a video gallery of cinematic villainy" for New York Times Magazine. Close played Theda Bara, a silent film diva mostly known as the first movie "vamp".[15]
Close has had an extensive career performing in Broadway musicals. One of her most notable roles on stage was Norma Desmond in the Andrew Lloyd Webber production of Sunset Boulevard, for which Close won a Tony award, playing the role on Broadway in 1994.[5] Close was also a guest star at the Andrew Lloyd Webber fiftieth birthday party celebration in the Royal Albert Hall in 1998. She appeared as Norma Desmond and performed songs from Sunset Boulevard. In addition to Sunset Boulevard, Close also won Tony Awards in 1984 for The Real Thing, and in 1992 for Death and the Maiden.[5]
Close performed at Carnegie Hall, narrating the violin concerto The Runaway Bunny, a concerto for reader, violin and orchestra, composed and conducted by Glen Roven.
In February 2006, Close married her longtime boyfriend David E. (Evans) Shaw in Maine.[16][17] Close was previously married to Cabot Wade (1969–1973) and James Marlas (1984–1987). She has a daughter, Annie Starke, from her previous relationship with John Starke that ended in 1991. Close is a dog lover and writes a blog for Fetchdog.com, where she interviews other famous people about their relationships with their dogs.[18] Close announced to the public that she has had her DNA sequenced.[19]
Close has donated money to the election campaigns of many Democratic politicians, including Hillary Rodham Clinton, Howard Dean, John Edwards and Barack Obama.[20]
Close was a founder and is chairperson of BringChange2Mind, a US campaign to eradicate the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental illness, supporting her sister Jessie who has bipolar illness.[21]
- Rex (Broadway, 1976), Richard Rodgers-Sheldon Harnick musical about Henry VIII
- Barnum (Charity Barnum, Broadway, 1980), Cy Coleman musical about Phineas T. Barnum
- Sunset Boulevard (Norma Desmond, Broadway, November 1994), Andrew Lloyd Webber musical based on the classic 1950 motion picture Sunset Boulevard
- The Play What I Wrote by Hamish McColl, Sean Foley and Eddie Braben (Lyceum Theatre, 2003)
- Busker Alley (Off-Broadway, 2006, one-performance benefit concert), Sherman Brothers musical based on the 1938 movie St. Martin's Lane, directed by Tony Walton
- Sunset Boulevard (musical, December 1993)
- 1992: Outstanding Actress in a Play – Death and the Maiden (Nomination)
- 1995: Outstanding Actress in a Musical – Sunset Boulevard (Won)
- 1982: Best Actress in a Play – The Singular Life of Albert Nobbs (Won)
Close received her first Grammy nomination (shared with Jeremy Irons) in 1985 for Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for The Real Thing.[22]
In 1988 PBS and Rabbit Ears Productions produced a multi-award-winning animated adaptation and a subsequent book depicting the Irving story The Emperor and the Nightingale. Illustrations, directing, and adaptation were done by Robert Van Nutt; music by Tim Story; and the narration by Glenn Close. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Album for Children, making it Close's second nomination.[23]
In 1989 Close narrated The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Album for Children, for which Tim Story composed the music, and gave Close her third nomination.[24]
In 1995, Glenn Close and Placido Domingo recorded a Christmas album together titled Repeat the Sounding Joy featuring The London Symphony Orchestra. The album was produced by the Hallmark company.[25]
Film
| Year |
Title |
Role |
Notes/Awards |
| 1982 |
World According to Garp, TheThe World According to Garp |
Jenny Fields |
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Nominated—New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress (2nd place) |
| 1983 |
Big Chill, TheThe Big Chill |
Sarah Cooper |
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role |
| 1984 |
Natural, TheThe Natural |
Iris Gaines |
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role |
| 1984 |
Stone Boy, TheThe Stone Boy |
Ruth Hillerman |
|
| 1984 |
Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes |
Jane Porter |
dubbed Andie MacDowell's voice |
| 1985 |
Maxie |
Jan / Maxie |
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Actress |
| 1985 |
Jagged Edge |
Teddy Barnes |
|
| 1987 |
Fatal Attraction |
Alexandra "Alex" Forrest |
People's Choice Award for Favorite Motion Picture Actress
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actress
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Drama |
| 1988 |
Dangerous Liaisons |
Marquise Isabelle de Merteuil |
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actress
Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role
Nominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress |
| 1988 |
Light Years |
Queen Ambisextra (voice) |
French title: Gandahar |
| 1989 |
Immediate Family |
Linda Spector |
|
| 1990 |
Hamlet |
Queen Gertrude |
|
| 1990 |
Reversal of Fortune |
Sunny von Bulow |
|
| 1991 |
Hook |
Gutless |
Cameo |
| 1991 |
Meeting Venus |
Karin Anderson |
Venice Film Festival: Golden Ciak for Best Actress |
| 1993 |
House of the Spirits, TheThe House of the Spirits |
Ferula Trueba |
|
| 1994 |
Paper, TheThe Paper |
Alicia Clark |
|
| 1996 |
Mars Attacks! |
First Lady Marsha Dale |
|
| 1996 |
101 Dalmatians |
Cruella de Vil |
Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Actor/Actress – Family
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| 1996 |
Mary Reilly |
Mrs. Farraday |
|
| 1997 |
In & Out |
Herself |
cameo appearance |
| 1997 |
Air Force One |
Vice President Kathryn Bennett |
Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Supporting Actress – Action/Adventure |
| 1997 |
Paradise Road |
Adrienne Pargiter |
|
| 1999 |
Cookie's Fortune |
Camille Dixon |
|
| 1999 |
Tarzan |
Kala |
voice |
| 2000 |
102 Dalmatians |
Cruella de Vil |
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy |
| 2000 |
Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her |
Dr. Elaine Keener |
|
| 2001 |
South Pacific |
|
|
| 2001 |
Safety of Objects, TheThe Safety of Objects |
Esther Gold |
|
| 2003 |
Le Divorce |
Olivia Pace |
|
| 2003 |
Roberto Benigni's Pinocchio |
The Blue Fairy |
English voice |
| 2004 |
Heights |
Diana |
|
| 2004 |
Stepford Wives, TheThe Stepford Wives |
Claire Wellington |
|
| 2005 |
Tarzan II |
Kala |
voice |
| 2005 |
Chumscrubber, TheThe Chumscrubber |
Carrie Johnson |
|
| 2005 |
Nine Lives |
Maggie |
Locarno International Film Festival: Bronze Leopard Award for Best Actress (Shared with the film's ensemble of actresses)
Nominated—Gotham Award for Best Ensemble Cast |
| 2006 |
Hoodwinked! |
Granny |
voice |
| 2007 |
Evening |
Mrs. Wittenborn |
|
| 2010 |
Hoodwinked 2: Hood vs. Evil |
Granny |
voice |
| 2011 |
Albert Nobbs |
Albert Nobbs |
Also producer, screenplay and author of the lyrics of the song "Lay Your Head Down"
AARP's Movies for Grownups Awards for Best Actress
Alliance of Women Film Journalists for Female Icon Award
Alliance of Women Film Journalists for Most Egregious Love Interest Age Difference Award Shared with Mia Wasikowska
Irish Film & Television Award for Best International Actress
Satellite Award for Best Original Song
Tokyo International Film Festival for Best Actress
Women Film Critics Circle for Courage in Acting - Taking on unconventional roles that radically redefine the images of women on screen
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actress
Nominated—Irish Film & Television Award for Best Film
Nominated—Irish Film & Television Award for Best Script for Film
Nominated—AACTA International Award for Best Actress
Nominated—Alliance of Women Film Journalists for Actress Defying Age and Ageism
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song
Nominated—Houston Film Critics Society Award for Best Song
Nominated—Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actress
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Adapted Screenplay
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Nominated—Women Film Critics Circle for Women's Work: Best Ensemble |
Documentary
| Year |
Title |
Role |
Notes |
| 1990 |
Divine Garbo |
Herself |
Greta Garbo documentary |
| 1999 |
Lady with the Torch, TheThe Lady with the Torch |
Herself-host |
The 75th Anniversary of Columbia Pictures |
| 2001 |
Welcome to Hollywood |
Herself |
|
| 2003 |
What I Want My Words to Do to You: Voices from Inside a Women's Maximum Security Prison |
Herself |
|
| 2003 |
Closer Walk, AA Closer Walk |
Narrator |
Robert Bilheimer film. AIDS epidemic. |
| 2007 |
Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age |
Herself |
|
| 2009 |
Home |
Narrator |
Yann Arthus-Bertrand film. |
| 2011 |
Pax |
|
Director and executive producer |
Television
| Year |
Title |
Role |
Notes/Awards |
| 1975 |
Rules of the Game, TheThe Rules of the Game |
Neighbor |
|
| 1979 |
Too Far to Go |
Rebecca Kuehn |
|
| 1979 |
Orphan Train |
Jessica |
|
| 1982 |
Elephant Man, TheThe Elephant Man |
Princess Alexandra |
|
| 1984 |
Something About Amelia |
Gail Bennett |
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress - Miniseries or a Movie
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Miniseries or Television Film |
| 1988 |
Stones for Ibarra |
Sara Everton |
|
| 1990 |
She'll Take Romance |
|
|
| 1991 |
Sarah, Plain and Tall |
Sarah Wheaton |
Also executive producer
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress - Miniseries or a Movie
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Miniseries or Television Film |
| 1993 |
Skylark |
Sarah Witting |
Also executive producer
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress - Miniseries or a Movie |
| 1995 |
Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story |
Col. Margarethe Cammermeyer |
Also executive producer
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress - Miniseries or a Movie
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Miniseries or Television Film
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Female Actor - Miniseries or Television Film |
| 1995 |
Simpsons, TheThe Simpsons (1995–2012) |
Mona Simpson |
|
| 1997 |
In the Gloaming |
Janet |
CableACE Awardfor Guest Actress in a Dramatic Special or Series
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress - Miniseries or a Movie
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Female Actor - Miniseries or Television Film
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film |
| 1999 |
Sarah, Plain and Tall: Winter's End |
Sarah Witting |
Also executive producer |
| 2000 |
Baby |
Adult Sophie |
(narrator) |
| 2001 |
Ballad of Lucy Whipple, TheThe Ballad of Lucy Whipple |
Arvella Whipple |
Also executive producer |
| 2001 |
South Pacific |
Nellie Forbush |
Also executive producer |
| 2002 |
Will and Grace |
Fanny Lieber |
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress - Comedy Series |
| 2003 |
Brush with Fate |
Cornelia Engelbrecht |
|
| 2004 |
Lion in Winter, TheThe Lion in Winter |
Eleanor of Aquitaine |
Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Miniseries or Television Film
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Female Actor - Miniseries or Television Film
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress - Miniseries or a Movie |
| 2004 |
Strip Search |
Karen Moore |
|
| 2004 |
West Wing, TheThe West Wing |
Evelyn Baker Lang |
|
| 2005 |
Shield, TheThe Shield |
Captain Monica Rawling |
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress - Drama Series
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Television Series Drama |
2007–
present |
Damages |
Patty Hewes |
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress - Drama Series (Won 2008–2009, Nominated in 2010)
Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Television Series Drama (Won 2008, Nominated 2010)
Gracie Allen Award for Outstanding Female Lead in a Drama Series
Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama (Nominated 2007–2008, Won 2009)
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series (2008, 2010, 2011, 2012)
Nominated—Television Critics Association Award for Individual Achievement in Drama (2008–2009) |
- ^ a b c Roberts, Gary Boyd (2010). "Notable Kin - Additional Noted American Cousins of The Princess of Wales: A Five-Year Update, Numbers 326-350". New England Historic Genealogical Society - Founded 1845. http://www.americanancestors.org/notable-kin-additional-cousins-of-the-princess-of-wales/. Retrieved 2010-12-07.
- ^ "Conscience and the Congo". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 2006-11-29. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06333/741921-374.stm.
- ^ "Glenn Close Biography – Yahoo! Movies". Movies.yahoo.com. http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800019740/bio. Retrieved 2010-08-22.
- ^ http://www.holcombegenealogy.com/data/p1141.htm
- ^ a b c d e f g h Stated on Inside the Actors Studio, 1995
- ^ In a speech at Princeton University on February 19, 2009
- ^ a b Rosemary Hall Alumnae Award from the Choate Rosemary Hall website
- ^ "Glenn Close: "Are You Who We Think You Are?"". Princeton.edu. 2009-02-19. http://www.princeton.edu/WebMedia/flash/lectures/20090219_publect_close.shtml. Retrieved 2010-08-22.
- ^ Glenn Close Emmy Award Winner
- ^ Joyce Eng (20 September 2009). "Kristin Chenoweth, Jon Cryer Win First Emmys". TVGuide.com. http://www.tvguide.com/News/Kristin-Chenoweth-Jon-1009931.aspx. Retrieved 2009-09-20.
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ Glenn Close's Albert Nobbs Costume Revealed" comingsoon.net (Source:Daily Mail), December 5, 2010
- ^ BWW Staff. "Glenn Close Reprises 'Albert Nobbs' in New Film" broadwayworld.com, December 15, 2010
- ^ Touch of Evil: Glenn Close
- ^ Stritof, Sheri and Bob. "Glenn Close and David Shaw", Marriage.about.com, accessed December 31, 2011
- ^ "Glenn Close Marries on Maine Retreat", People Magazine, February 6, 2006
- ^ fetchdog.com
- ^ "BioTechniques – First named female genome sequenced". http://www.biotechniques.com/news/First-named-female-genome-sequenced/biotechniques-204525.html?utm_source=BioTechniques+Newsletters+%26+e-Alerts&utm_campaign=d473e565ff-BTN+Weekly&utm_medium=email.
- ^ "Opensecrets.org". Opensecrets.org. http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?key=a4rpw&txtName=Close,%20Glenn&txtState=(all%20states)&txtAll=Y&Order=N. Retrieved 2010-08-22.
- ^ http://www.bringchange2mind.org/
- ^ 1985 Grammy Awards
- ^ "The Emperor and the Nightingale"
- ^ "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"
- ^ Hallmark Presents: Glenn Close & Placido Domingo - Repeat The Sounding Joy (1995)
- ^ "Amy Pascal timeline". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117971486?refcatid=14&printerfriendly=true.
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Awards for Glenn Close
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| 1991–2010 |
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