Person
Sylvia Sidney
Acting · 1910–1999 · The Bronx, New York, USA
Biography
Sylvia Sidney (born Sophia Kosow, August 8, 1910 – July 1, 1999) was an American stage, screen and film actress whose career spanned over 70 years. She rose to prominence in dozens of leading roles in the 1930s. She later gained attention for her role as Juno, a case worker in the afterlife, in Tim Burton's film Beetlejuice, for which she won a Saturn Award as Best Supporting Actress. She also was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams (1973).
Known for
The Mike Douglas Show
Self
The Love Boat
Natalie Corson
Diagnosis: Murder
Alice
Golden Globe Awards
Self
Magnum, P.I.
Elizabeth Barrett
My Three Sons
Miss Houk
The Philco Television Playhouse
1948
The Equalizer
Judge
Climax!
1954
The Defenders
Adela Collins
Filmography
- 1998Fantasy IslandClia
- 1996Mars Attacks!Grandma Norris
- 1993Diagnosis: MurderAlice
- 1992Used PeopleBecky
- 1990Night of 100 Stars IIISelf
- 1990Andre's MotherMrs. Downes
- 1989Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group TheatreSelf
- 1988Dear JohnMrs. Lumenski
- 1988Cary Grant: A Celebration of a Leading ManSelf (archive footage)
- 1988BeetlejuiceJuno
- 1987The Witching of Ben WagnerGrammy (Regina's Grandmother)
- 1987thirtysomething
- 1987PalsFern Stobbs
- 1985The EqualizerJudge
- 1985An Early FrostBeatrice McKenna
- 1985Finnegan Begin AgainMargaret
- 1984Going Hollywood: The '30s(archive footage)
- 1983CopkillerMargaret Smith
- 1983The Brass RingGrandmother
- 1982Having It AllMarney
- 1982HammettDonaldina Cameron
- 1982Night of 100 StarsSelf
- 1982Come Along with MeMrs. Flanner
- 1982American PlayhouseMrs. Flanner
- 1981A Small KillingSadie Ross
- 1980Magnum, P.I.Elizabeth Barrett
- 1980The Shadow BoxFelicity
- 1980F.D.R.: The Last YearCousin Polly
- 1980The Gossip ColumnistAlma Lewellyn
- 1979SupertrainAgatha Wills
- 1978WKRP in CincinnatiLillian Carlson
- 1978KazMolly
- 1978Damien - Omen IIAunt Marion
- 1978SiegeLillian Gordon
- 1977The Love BoatNatalie Corson
- 1977I Never Promised You a Rose GardenMiss Coral
- 1977SnowbeastMrs. Carrie Rill
- 1977Eight Is EnoughAunt Fealty
- 1976Raid on EntebbeDora Bloch
- 1976God Told Me ToElizabeth Mullin
- 1976Death at Love HouseClara Josephs
- 1975Starsky & HutchOlga Grossman
- 1975Winner Take AllAnne Barclay
- 1975The Secret Night CallerKitty
- 1973Summer Wishes, Winter DreamsMrs. Pritchard - Rita's Mother
- 1971Do Not Fold, Spindle, or MutilateElizabeth Gibson
- 1961The Mike Douglas ShowSelf
- 1961The DefendersAdela Collins
- 1960Special for WomenMinna Borden
- 1960Route 66Lonnie Taylor
- 1960My Three SonsMiss Houk
- 1959The DuPont Show with June AllysonBeulah Ridges
- 1958Naked CityFlorence Nunda
- 1958No Time at AllMrs. Kramer
- 1957The Polly Bergen ShowSelf
- 1957Tonight Starring Jack PaarSelf
- 1957The Helen Morgan StoryLulu Morgan
- 1956Playhouse 90Mrs. Kramer
- 1956Behind the High WallHilda Carmichael
- 1955Man on the LedgeMrs. Cosick
- 1955The 20th Century Fox HourMrs. Cosick
- 1955Playwrights '56
- 1955Violent SaturdayElsie Braden
- 1954Climax!
- 1953Kraft Television Theatre
- 1953General Electric TheaterGloria Roma
- 1952The Ford Television Theatre
- 1952Les MiserablesFantine
- 1951Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
- 1951Tales of Tomorrow
- 1950Lux Video TheatreJoyce
- 1950Cameo Theatre
- 1949Screen Snapshots 1860: Howdy, PodnerSylvia Sidney
- 1948The Philco Television Playhouse
- 1947Love from a StrangerCecily Harrington
- 1947Kraft Television Theatre
- 1946The Searching WindCassie Bowman
- 1946Mr. AceMargaret Wyndham Chase
- 1945Blood on the SunIris Hilliard
- 1944Golden Globe AwardsSelf
- 1941Breakdowns of 1941Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1941The Wagons Roll at NightFlo Lorraine
- 1939One Third of a NationMary Rogers
- 1938You and MeHelen Roberts
- 1937Dead EndDrina
- 1937You Only Live OnceJoan Graham
- 1937SabotageMrs. Verloc
- 1936FuryKatherine Grant
- 1936The Trail of the Lonesome PineJune Tolliver
- 1935Mary Burns, FugitiveMary Burns
- 1935Accent on YouthLinda Brown
- 1934Behold My Wife!Tonita Storm Cloud
- 1934Thirty Day PrincessNancy Lane / Princess Catterina
- 1934Good DameLillie Taylor
- 1933Jennie GerhardtJennie Gerhardt
- 1933Pick-upMary Richards
- 1932Madame ButterflyCho-cho San
- 1932Make Me a StarSylvia Sidney (uncredited)
- 1932Merrily We Go to HellJoan Prentice
- 1932The Miracle ManHelen Smith aka Helen Vail
- 1931Ladies of the Big HouseKathleen Storm McNeil
- 1931Street SceneRose Maurrant
- 1931An American TragedyRoberta 'Bert' Alden
- 1931Confessions of a Co-EdPatricia Harper
- 1931The House That Shadows Built(archive footage)
- 1931City StreetsNan Cooley
- 1930Five Minutes from the StationCarrie Adams
- 1929Thru Different EyesValerie Briand
- 1927Broadway NightsPerformer
- 1926The Sorrows of SatanBridesmaid (uncredited)
Follow their work on Vescene
Rate films and shows on two axes — quality and fun — and share taste with friends.