About Estelle Parsons (1927 - )
Estelle Parsons is from Massachussetts. She studied to be a lawyer but changed careers, first to singing, then to Broadway performance. Parsons studied method acting with Lee Strasburg.
She was cast as Blanche in Arthur Penn's 1967 outlaw movie, BONNIE AND CLYDE, with Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway. Although she was only paid $5,000 for her work, portraying the sister-in-law of Beatty's character, she received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of a reluctant, hysterical outlaw wife.
The next year, in 1968, she played in Director Paul Newman's RACHEL, RACHEL, with Joanne Woodward. She played the lead character's sympathetic friend and fellow teacher. She was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress and won the Oscar.
Estelle Parsons played the emotionally charged, sarcastic, soon to be ex-wife of Godfrey Cambridge in the 1970 movie, WATERMELON MAN. The movie chronicles the transformation of a white businessman, who wakes up one day to find his skin is permanently dark, and then makes various adjustments in his life, until he is satisfied with the change.
Estelle Parsons played Roseanne Barr's pretentious mom in the long running, hit television series, ROSEANNE, 1988-1997.
Estelle Parsons has taught acting at Yale and Columbia Universities. Recently she served as Artistic Director of the Acting Studio in New York from 1998-2003. Parsons was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame. Parsons continues to work in films and on the stage. She made her London stage debut, as Helga ten Dorp, in 2010, with "Death Trap" on the West End.
Her other films include:
DON'T DRINK THE WATER
WATERMELON MAN
I WALK THE LINE
I NEVER SANG FOR MY FATHER
TWO PEOPLE
FOR PETE'S SAKE
FOREPLAY
DICK TRACY
THE LEMON SISTERS
BOYS ON THE SIDE
THAT DARN CAT
FREAK CITY
Parson's TV Credits Include:
BACKSTAIRS AT THE WHITE HOUSE
ROSEANNE
EVERYDAY HEROES (TV MOVIE)
A PRIVATE MATTER (TV MOVIE)
THE LOVE LETTER (TV MOVIE) |
Estelle Parsons, Award Winner - MovieActors.com
