Mini Biography
Former 1950s pig-tailed child star Patty McCormack has managed to stay alive in film and TV into her 60s. Born in Brooklyn, New York she found herself modeling at age 4. She progressed to films two years later with Two Gals and a Guy (1951). Her extensive theatrical work began with a Broadway debut at age 6 in the short-lived "Touchstone" starring Ossie Davis_ . While simultaneously appearing in the live television series "I Remember Mama", by age 8, she returned to Broadway creating the role that would make her a cult icon - that of Rhoda Penmark, the tiny, braided-blonde demon with murderous intentions in "The Bad Seed." Starring Nancy Kelly as her put-upon, overly-trusting mother, the show went on to become a certifiable hit. The two actors recreated their roles in The Bad Seed (1956) when it was turned into a movie and achieved equally fine results. No child before her was ever given such a deliberately evil, twisted role and Patty chewed up the scenery with courteous malevolence. Though the film today comes off extremely stagy and overly-mannered, it's fascination cannot be denied. Audiences took to Patty and she earned a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination, as well as a Golden Globe nomination for her performance. She tried to vary her roles in the ongoing years as a pioneer girl in All Mine to Give (1957), a testy child star in Kathy O' (1958) and a tomboy in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1960), just to name a few. Her late teen years found her in The Explosive Generation (1961)and as a young adult in roles in The Mini-Skirt Mob (1968), Maryjane (1968) and The Young Animals (1968). By the 70s, Patty, who had spent so much time as a child doing live television, found herself immersed in that medium and has for nearly the last 35 years, while appearing in a variety of legitimate stage productions and independent films, appeared in more than 250 episodes of some of the most successful television shows ever produced. Audiences may remember her giving sensible, wifely support to Jeffrey Tambor on "The Ropers" (1979), the short-lived spin-off of the "Three's Company" (1977) sitcom,or from her recurring role as Evelyn Michaelson on "Dallas" (1978), or more recently as Adrianna's mother, Liz LaCerva on HBO's hit "The Sopranos" (1999). Her Bad Seed fans will always appreciate however that in 1995 a game Patty felt comfortable enough to capitalize on her early "Bad Seed" fame when she starred in the low budget horror feature Mommy (1995) and its sequel _Mommy II: Mommys Day (1997)_ , as a most pernicious homemaker who is surrounded by people who suffer equally violent Rhoda-worthy ends. Without a doubt, Patty McCormack is a talented, durable performer, who has been able to make the transition from successful child star to earning adult recognition as well.
Mini Biography By:
Gary Brumburgh / gr-home@pacbell.net
Nominated for Oscar.
Another
1 win
&
1 nomination