Sandy Dennis was a talented and quirky actress who won two Oscars and two Tonys for her performances on screen and stage. She was known for her distinctive mannerisms and voice, as well as her roles in films such as Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Up the Down Staircase, and The Fox. However, her life was cut short by ovarian cancer, which she battled for several years before succumbing to it in 1992. Here is a brief overview of her career, her illness, and her legacy.
Contents
A Rising Star in the 1960s
Sandy Dennis was born in Hastings, Nebraska, on April 27, 1937. She developed a passion for acting at an early age and moved to New York City at 19 to pursue her dream. She studied with renowned acting teacher Uta Hagen and joined the Actors Studio, where she honed her craft alongside other future stars such as Paul Newman, Marilyn Monroe, and James Dean.
She made her Broadway debut in 1957 as an understudy in The Dark at the Top of the Stairs, directed by Elia Kazan. She also made her film debut in 1961 in Splendor in the Grass, written by William Inge and starring Natalie Wood and Warren Beatty. She gained recognition and acclaim for her leading roles in two Broadway plays: A Thousand Clowns (1962), for which she won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play, and Any Wednesday (1964), for which she won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play.
She reached the peak of her career in 1966, when she co-starred with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, directed by Mike Nichols and based on the play by Edward Albee. She played Honey, the naive and nervous wife of a young academic who gets caught up in the vicious verbal games of an older couple. Her performance earned her rave reviews and an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
She continued to work steadily in film and theater throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s, appearing in movies such as The Three Sisters (1966), Up the Down Staircase (1967), The Fox (1967), The Out-of-Towners (1970), God Told Me To (1976), and The Four Seasons (1981). She also returned to Broadway in 1976 to star in the original production of Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean, which was later adapted into a film by Robert Altman.
A Private Battle with Ovarian Cancer
Sandy Dennis was never married, but she had several long-term relationships with men, including jazz musician Gerry Mulligan and actor Eric Roberts. She was also an avid animal lover and activist, who rescued dozens of stray cats from the streets of New York City and kept them as pets in her apartment.
In the mid-1980s, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, a disease that often has no symptoms until it is too late. She underwent surgery and chemotherapy, but the cancer spread to other parts of her body. She kept her illness a secret from the public and continued to work as much as she could. Her last film role was in The Indian Runner (1991), directed by Sean Penn and starring Viggo Mortensen and David Morse.
She died on March 2, 1992, at her home in Westport, Connecticut. She was 54 years old. Her death was announced by her brother Frank Dennis, who said that she had been ill for some time but did not want anyone to know. He also said that she had requested that no funeral or memorial service be held for her.
A Lasting Legacy of Talent and Quirkiness
Sandy Dennis left behind a remarkable body of work that showcased her range and versatility as an actress. She was able to portray complex and nuanced characters with depth and sensitivity, as well as humor and charm. She was also one of the most original and distinctive performers of her generation, who created a style that was uniquely hers.
She influenced many other actors who admired her work, such as Meryl Streep, Diane Keaton, Julianne Moore, Jennifer Aniston, and Sarah Jessica Parker. She also received many honors and awards for her achievements, including two Oscars, two Tonys, a Golden Globe, an Emmy nomination, a BAFTA nomination, a National Society of Film Critics Award, a New York Film Critics Circle Award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Sandy Dennis was a rare talent who left an indelible mark on American cinema and theater. She was also a courageous woman who faced her illness with dignity and grace. She will always be remembered as one of the greats of her era.
