People named Margaret Rutherford

Margaret Rutherford Born May 11, 1892 in Balham, London, England, UK Died May 22, 1972 in Chalfont St. Peter, Buckinghamshire, England, UK (pneumonia) Birth Name Margaret Taylor Rutherford Height 5' 5" (1.65 m) Mini Bio (1) Rare is the reference to Margaret Rutherford that doesn't characterize her as either jut-chinned, eccentric, or both. The combination of those most mundane of attributes has led some to suggest that she was made for the role of Agatha Christie's indomitable sleuth, Jane Marple, whom Rutherford portrayed in four films between 1961 and 1964 plus in an uncredited film cameo in The Alphabet Murders (1965). Rutherford began her acting career first as a student at London's Old Vic, debuting on stage in 1925. In 1933, she first appeared in the West End at the not-so-tender age of 41. She had her screen debut in 1936 portraying Miss Butterby in the Twickenham-Wardour production of Hideout in the Alps (1936). In summer 1941, Noël Coward's Blithe Spirit opened on the London stage, with Coward himself directing. Appearing as Madame Arcati, the genuine psychic, was Rutherford, in a role in which Coward had earlier envisaged her and which he then especially shaped for her. She would carry her portrayal of Madame Arcati to the screen adaptation, David Lean's Blithe Spirit (1945). Not only would this become one of Rutherford's most memorable screen performances - with her bicycling about the Kentish countryside, cape fluttering behind her - but it would establish the model for portraying that pseudo-soothsayer forever thereafter. Despite Rutherford's appearances in more than 40 films, it is as Madame Arcati and Miss Jane Marple that she will best be remembered. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Bill Takacs Spouse (1) Stringer Davis (26 March 1945 - 22 May 1972) ( her death) Trivia (19) Agatha Christie dedicated her 1963 novel, The Mirror Crack'd From Side To Side, to Rutherford in admiration. She was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1961 Queen's New Year Honours List and the DBE (Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1967 Queen's New Year Honours List for her services to drama. She started work on The Virgin and the Gypsy (1970), but illness caused her to be replaced by Fay Compton. Her husband, Stringer Davis, portrayed Mr. Stringer in her four Miss Marple films and appeared with her in other films as well. Her cousin is the well-known British politician Tony Benn. She was the daughter of William Benn and Florence Nicholson. In 1883, nine years before her birth, her father murdered her grandfather. Her mother committed suicide when she was three years old and she was brought up by her aunt, Bessie Nicholson, in Wimbledon. When her aunt died a small inheritance allowed her to join the Old Vic in repertory. She developed an interest in the theatre while at school. Her guardian aunt paid for her to have private acting lessons. In 1925 (age 33), she was accepted as a student at the Old Vic Theatre, where she appeared in several small Shakespearean roles in productions starring Edith Evans, including The Merchant of Venice, Measure for Measure and The Taming of the Shrew. The Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Arts named an award after her. She was interred at Saint James Churchyard in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, England, with her husband, Stringer Davis. Her epitaph reads "A Blithe Spirit.". Was the 58th actress to receive an Academy Award; she won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for The V.I.P.s (1963) at The 36th Annual Academy Awards (1964) on April 13, 1964. While filming "The Virgin and the Gypsy" in 1969 Rutherford, who was playing a deaf old grandmother, suffered frequent memory lapses causing filming delays. This resulted in her being replaced by Fay Compton. Unfortunately Rutherford never made another film. A memorial service was held for her at St Paul's, Covent Garden (commonly known as the Actors' Church), on 21 July 1972. Among those in attendance were John Gielgud, Flora Robson, Ralph Richardson, Joyce Grenfell and Sybil Thorndike. Robert Morley said in a 1967 TV interview, "Although the profession is crowded with very nice people, she's always too nice, too soft, too much the perfect auntie. She's frightfully funny. She's a marvelous woman... a good woman.". Song of Norway (1970) was the last project for which Margaret Rutherford was contracted, but because of her poor memory at the time, she was replaced before shooting began. She was offered the role of Miss La Creevy in The Great Inimitable Mr. Dickens (1970). Margaret also rehearsed the part in her home in the presence of Ned Sherrin and Anthony Hopkins. Having been unwell for quite a while, she didn't manage to remember her lines though and was therefore replaced. She collaborated with husband Stringer Davis on a total of 27 television and cinema productions. She appeared in two adaptations of the 1895 play "The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde: she played Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest (1946) and Miss Prism in The Importance of Being Earnest (1952). Decided not to have children, despite having strong maternal feelings and a great love for children, out of fear that her children would contract mental illnesses, as she and her parents did. (Margaret battled depression throughout her life; her father murdered her grandfather and her mother committed suicide.). Personal Quotes (5) I hope I'm an individual. I suppose an eccentric is a super individual. Perhaps an eccentric is just off centre - ex-centric. But that contradicts a belief of mine that we've got to be centrifugal. You never have a comedian who hasn't got a very deep strain of sadness within him or her. One thing is incidental on the other. Every great clown has been very near to tragedy. [on co-starring with Alastair Sim in The Happiest Days of Your Life (1950)] I found doing the film a bit tiresome. Film actors are, by nature, more complicated than stage actors. Mr Sim is a brilliant actor but most competitive. [on her initial aversion to doing a Miss Marple movie] Murder, you see, is not the sort of thing I can get close to. I don't like these things that are just for thrills. I would far rather go without work. I do not like murder. It has an atmosphere I have always found uncongenial. How I would love to have been a great traditional actress like Bernhardt, Duse, or Ellen Terry. There have been so many parts I yearned to play.

Margaret Jane Rutherford of Blue Australia was born in 1875 in Blue, and died at age 15 years old in 1890.

Margaret A Rutherford of Frankfort, Will County, IL was born on March 1, 1922, and died at age 81 years old on February 21, 2004. Margaret Rutherford was buried at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Section C2-28 Row C Site 4 20953 West Hoff Road, in Elwood.

Margaret Margaret (Rutherford) Gardiner of Staw Australia, was married to George Gardiner, and has children Elizabeth Gardiner, Margaret Gardiner, Elizabeth Gardiner, James Gardiner, Margaret Gardiner, Anne Gardiner, Edith Gardiner, Mary Hannah Jane Gardiner, Alice Gardiner, Alice Gardiner, Edith Gardiner, Anne Gardiner, and Edith George Gardiner. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Margaret Rutherford Gardiner.

Margaret (Brown) Rutherford was in a relationship with Gideon Rutherford, and has children George Brown Rutherford, George Rutherford, and Gideon Brown Rutherford. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Margaret (Brown) Rutherford.

Margaret B Rutherford of Lutherville Timonium, Baltimore County, MD was born on September 18, 1914, and died at age 78 years old on November 23, 1992. Margaret Rutherford was buried at Baltimore National Cemetery Section A Site 245E 5501 Frederick Avenue, in Baltimore.

Margaret Jane Rutherford of Kton Australia was born in 1876, and died at age 14 years old in 1890 in Kton.

Margaret Rutherford was born on January 23, 1908, and died at age 60 years old on November 18, 1968. Margaret Rutherford was buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery Section F Site 1223 2900 Sheridan Road, in St. Louis, Mo. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Margaret Rutherford.

Margaret Rutherford of Falkner, Tippah County, Mississippi was born on November 14, 1905, and died at age 72 years old in August 1978.

Margaret J Rutherford of Washington, District of Columbia County, DC was born on August 4, 1904, and died at age 85 years old on October 9, 1989.

Margaret Rutherford of Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois was born on November 3, 1880, and died at age 91 years old in June 1972.

Margaret Rutherford of Fresno, Fresno County, CA was born on January 1, 1906, and died at age 84 years old on October 26, 1990.

Margaret Rutherford of California was born on April 3, 1915, and died at age 49 years old in November 1964.

Margaret Rutherford of La Jolla, San Diego County, California was born on October 9, 1895, and died at age 85 years old in June 1981.

Margaret Rutherford of Redondo Beach, Los Angeles County, California was born on August 5, 1910, and died at age 68 years old in June 1979.

Margaret Rutherford of Wilmington, Los Angeles County, California was born on February 7, 1909, and died at age 69 years old in March 1978.

Margaret Rutherford of Salem, Marion County, Oregon was born on July 13, 1911, and died at age 70 years old in April 1982.

Margaret G Rutherford of Blaine, Whatcom County, WA was born on September 30, 1932, and died at age 65 years old on June 18, 1998.

Margaret D Rutherford of Seattle, King County, WA was born on October 27, 1898, and died at age 72 years old on May 15, 1971.

Margaret E Rutherford of Kelso, Cowlitz County, WA was born on March 31, 1924, and died at age 87 years old on August 30, 2011.

Margaret Irene Rutherford of San Marcos, Hays County, Texas was born on December 10, 1916, and died at age 94 years old on May 23, 2011.

Margaret B Rutherford of Phoenix, Maricopa County, AZ was born on July 9, 1914, and died at age 87 years old on October 13, 2001.

Margaret Rutherford of Denver, Denver County, Colorado was born on February 5, 1909, and died at age 71 years old in May 1980.

Margaret Rutherford of Westminster, Adams County, Colorado was born on April 20, 1887, and died at age 82 years old in May 1969.

Margaret W Rutherford of Veradale, Spokane County, WA was born on March 6, 1907, and died at age 99 years old on February 18, 2007.

Margaret Rutherford of Topeka, Shawnee County, KS was born on September 19, 1907, and died at age 82 years old on February 5, 1990.

Margaret Rutherford of West Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa was born on April 21, 1893, and died at age 84 years old in December 1977.

Margaret Rutherford of Burlington, Des Moines County, IA was born on October 30, 1911, and died at age 81 years old in August 1993.

Margaret Rutherford of Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona was born on February 28, 1895, and died at age 88 years old in September 1983.