Sylvia Sidney was an actress whose career spanned over seven decades. She was known for her challenging and sharp-witted acting skills, charming looks, and her moist eyes. She performed the leading roles in dozens of super hit movies. She also wrote two books on needlepoint, which were published in the 1970s.
Acting career
Sidney started her professional career at the age of sixteen through the stage. A year later, she made her debut in the movies with an uncredited role. She received her fair leading role at the age of 31. At the beginning of her career, she received nothing but rave reviews. Still, later she turned all the criticism into appreciation.
Throughout her early film career, Sidney portrayed teary-eyed victims’ roles, which sadly resulted in her being typecast as a victim. Later she switched to some severe functions. Her career diminished somewhat during the 1940s. In 1949, exhibitors voted her “box-office poison.” She made another come back in 1952 with the movie ”Les Misérables”. Her performance was praised and allowed her opportunities to develop as a character actress.
She made her television debut at the age of 42. and appeared in many TV shows, including Route 66, The Defenders, and My Three Sons. She made another comeback in 1973, with the role of ”Joanne Woodward’ in the movie ”Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams”, and won an Academy Award nomination for the Best Supporting Actress.
Personal life
Sidney was married three times in her life. She married her first husband, Bennett Cerf, in 1935, but the marriage only lasted for a year and ended with a divorce. Two years later, she married actor Luther Adler, and they divorced in 1946. Sidney had a son, Jacob, from him. She married her third husband, Carlton Alsop, in1 947, and they separated after four years.
Sylvia Sidney’s death
Sidney died from Esophageal cancer in New York City on July 1, 1999, a month before her 89th birthday. She was a lifetime smoker, enjoying smoking until the end of her life. She smoked even when she was on chemotherapy to treat her cancer. Her trademark raspy voice was, of course, due to a lifetime of smoking.
Here are some beautiful photos of Sylvia Sidney from her acting career and early life.
