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Thelma Ritter
ACTOR

Thelma Ritter

Known for How the West Was Won · Alfred Hitchcock Presents · The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

Thelma Ritter (February 14, 1902 – February 5, 1969) was an American actress, best known for her comedic roles as working-class characters and her strong New York accent. She was the recipient of a Tony Award and six nominations for Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, more than any other actress in the category.

Snapshot 2026-10-16

Born
Feb 14, 1902
Died
Feb 5, 1969
Birthplace
Brooklyn, New York, USA
Known For
Acting

Biography

Thelma Ritter (February 14, 1902 – February 5, 1969) was an American actress, best known for her comedic roles as working-class characters and her strong New York accent. She was the recipient of a Tony Award and six nominations for Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, more than any other actress in the category.

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Known For

MOVIEHow the West Was Won
How the West Was WonAgatha Clegg · 1962
★ 7.0
TVAlfred Hitchcock Presents
Alfred Hitchcock PresentsLottie Slocum · 1955
★ 7.8
TVThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonSelf · 1962
★ 7.6
TVThe Oscars
The OscarsSelf · 1953
★ 7.1
TVThe Colgate Comedy Hour
The Colgate Comedy HourSelf · 1950
★ 6.9
TVThe Merv Griffin Show
The Merv Griffin ShowSelf · 1962
★ 6.8
TVThe 20th Century Fox Hour
The 20th Century Fox Hour1 eps · 1955
★ 6.0
TV
LV
Lux Video TheatreSelf · 1950
★ 6.7

Filmography

Movies

Miracle on 34th StreetPeter's Mother (uncredited)
1947
Call Northside 777Captain's Secretary (uncredited)
1948
A Letter to Three WivesSadie Dugan (uncredited)
1949
City Across the RiverMrs. Katie Cusack
1949
Father Was a FullbackGeraldine
1949
All About EveBirdie Coonan
1950
I'll Get ByMiss Murphy
1950
Perfect StrangersLena Fassler
1950
As Young as You FeelDella Hodges
1951
The Mating SeasonEllen McNulty
1951
The Model and the Marriage BrokerMae Swasey
1951
With a Song in My HeartClancy
1952
Pickup on South StreetMoe Williams
1953
The Farmer Takes a WifeLucy Cashdollar
1953
TitanicMaude Young
1953
Rear WindowStella
1954
Daddy Long LegsAlicia Pritchard
1955
Lucy GallantMolly Basserman
1955
The Proud and ProfaneKate Connors
1956
A Hole in the HeadSophie Manetta
1959
Pillow TalkAlma
1959
The MisfitsIsabelle Steers
1961
The Second Time AroundAggie Gates
1961
Birdman of AlcatrazElizabeth Stroud
1962
How the West Was WonAgatha Clegg
1962
A New Kind of LoveLena O'Connor
1963
For Love or MoneyChloe Brasher
1963
Move Over, DarlingGrace Arden
1963
Boeing, BoeingBertha
1965
The IncidentBertha Beckerman
1967
What's So Bad About Feeling Good?Mrs. Schwartz
1968
Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down the LineSelf (archive footage)
1997
Making 'The Misfits'Self (archive footage)
2002
The Men Who Made the Movies: Samuel FullerMoe Williams (archive footage)
2002
Marilyn at the MoviesSelf (archive footage)
2011
Footsteps on the CeilingBirdie Coonan (archive footage)
2013
Arthur Miller: WriterSelf (archive footage)
2017

Television

Lux Video TheatreSelf · 1 eps
1950
The Colgate Comedy HourSelf · 1 eps
1950
Goodyear Television Playhouse1 eps
1951
General Electric TheaterDoris Green · 1 eps
1953
The OscarsSelf · 1 eps
1953
Alfred Hitchcock PresentsLottie Slocum · 1 eps
1955
The 20th Century Fox Hour1 eps
1955
Telephone Time1 eps
1956
The Dinah Shore Chevy ShowSelf · 1 eps
1956
StartimeMrs. Gillis · 1 eps
1959
The Merv Griffin ShowSelf · 1 eps
1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonSelf · 2 eps
1962

Photos

Thelma Ritter photo
Thelma Ritter photo
Thelma Ritter photo
Thelma Ritter photo
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