Alma Drucilla Fleetwood Lawton[1] (April 1921[2][3] – 24 February 1982[citation needed]) was a Hollywood-based, Argentine-born actress who performed in films, on television, and on old-time radio.
Alma Lawton | |
|---|---|
| Born | Alma Drucilla Fleetwood Lawton April 1921 Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Died | 24 February 1982 (aged 60) London, England, U.K. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1947–1973 |
| Spouse | Ivan Donald Morrison (aka Donald Albert Fleetwood Lawton) |
Early life and career
Born in Buenos Aires to English parents,[3] Lawton appears to have spent her formative years divided primarily between Argentina and Chile.[4] She was the younger of two children born to Alfred Edward Fleetwood Lawton, general manager of Cable & Wireless plc,[5] and Alma Drucilla Fleetwood Lawton Sr. (aka the former Alma Drucilla Harris[6]), herself a onetime music hall comedienne.[7] Prior to beginning her radio career, Lawton reportedly performed in Great Britain, Australia and South America.[8]
Evidently, the younger Lawton inherited her mother's diminutive stature, the latter having been described in 1912 as "the little British singing comedienne,"[7] while the former, at age 31, was dubbed "a diminutive redhead," who, aside from her "stage background in England and Australia," was "distinguished by her height of five feet [and] weigh[t of] 92 pounds."[9] On the other hand, Joe Hyams of the Citizen-News, while likewise documenting Lawton's modest dimensions, adds that "[w]hat she lacks in size, Alma makes up for in talent, proving again that good things come in small packages."
On November 3, 1947, Lawton made her American radio debut on Lux Radio Theatre, in "Singapore," an original radio drama starring Fred MacMurray and Ava Gardner.[10][11] Later that month, she costarred with Wally Maher in "Body Off Billingsgate" on The Whistler,[12] and on December 8, she did another Lux episode, as part of a large ensemble supporting Robert Montgomery, Wanda Hendrix and Thomas Gomez, reprising their starring roles in Ride the Pink Horse.[13]
The following spring, Lawton was tasked by Samuel Goldwyn with helping Teresa Wright achieve a reasonably authentic English accent.[14]
Radio
| Date(s) | Program | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 3, 1947 | Lux Radio Theatre | N/A | Episode: "Singapore"[11] |
| November 26, 1947 | The Whistler | N/A | Episode: "The Body Off Billingsgate"[12] |
| December 8, 1947 | Lux Radio Theatre | N/A | Episode: "Ride the Pink Horse"[13] |
| January 1, 1948 | Family Theater | N/A | Episode: "In Another Year" (Hosted by J. Edgar Hoover, with Glen Langan and Ruth Hussey) |
| September 17, 1948 | NBC University Theatre | N/A | Episode: "The Purloined Letter" (Edgar Allan Poe's story, with Adolphe Menjou)[15][16][17] |
| October 31, 1948 | NBC University Theatre | Ruth | Episode: "Justice" (With Nigel Bruce as Cokeson, and Ben Wright as Falder, in John Galsworthy's play, adapted by George Lefferts)[18] |
| November 28, 1948 | NBC University Theatre | N/A | Episode: "A Passage to India" (E. M. Forster's novel, adapted by George Lefferts)[19] |
| January 23, 1949 | NBC University Theatre | N/A | Episode: "The Ministry of Fear" (Graham Greene's novel, adapted by Ernest Kinoy)[10] |
| April 24, 1949 | NBC University Theatre | N/A | Episode: "The Way of All Flesh" (From Samuel Butler's novel, starring Tom Conway)[10] |
| June 11, 1949 | The Adventures of Philip Marlowe | N/A | Episode: "The Pigeon's Blood"[20] |
| July 10, 1949 | NBC University Theatre | Katherine | Episode: "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" (Co-starring with Herbert Marshall in Agnes Eckhardt's adaptation)[21] |
| January 15, 1950 | Errand of Mercy | N/A | Episode: "Quotation" (Starring Olan Soule)[22][23] |
| January 29, 1950 | NBC University Theatre | Lupe (in "Flowering Judas") | Episodes: "Flowering Judas" and "Pale Horse, Pale Rider"[24] |
| March 25, 1950 | NBC University Theatre | Margaret | Episode: "Howards End" (With Queenie Leonard, Terry Kilburn and Ben Wright)[25] |
| May 21, 1950 | NBC University Theatre | Naomi | Episode: "The House in Paris" (Adaptation of Elizabeth Bowen novel)[26] |
| June 4, 1950 | NBC University Theatre | N/A | Episode: "Gallions Reach"[10] |
| August 20, 1950 | NBC University Theatre | The Mother | Episode: "A High Wind in Jamaica" (Richard Hughes' novel, as adapted by Jane Speed)[27] |
| January 11, 1951 | Screen Guild Players | Dolly | Episode: "Brief Encounter" (Starring Stewart Granger and Deborah Kerr)[28] |
| September 17, 1951 | Suspense | N/A | Episode: "Neal Cream, Doctor of Poison" (Written by Antony Ellis, starring Charles Laughton)[10] |
| May 9, 1952 | NBC Presents: Short Story | Helen | Episode: "The Old General" (From Eric Knight's story, starring Ramsay Hill)[29] |
| October 6, 1952 | Suspense | Ellen | Episode: "The Diary of Dr. Pritchard" (Antony Ellis adapts William Roughead story, starring Sir Cedric Hardwicke)[30] |
| February 8, 1953 | Errand of Mercy | Janie | Episode: "H with a Southern Accent"[31] |
| September 7, 1953 | Lux Radio Theatre | Louise | Episode: "My Cousin Rachel" (With Olivia De Havilland, reprising her film role, while Lawton is promoted from "Mary Pascoe" to Rachel's romantic rival, Louise)[32] |
| November 25, 1953 | Crime Classics | N/A | Episode: "Killing Story Of William Corder And The Farmer's Daughter" (Morton Fine-David Friedkin script) |
Film and television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | Lights Out (TV) | Dee Darrow | Episode: "The Fonceville Curse"[33][34] |
| 1951 | Thunder on the Hill | Nurse Brent | [9][35] |
| 1951 | Lady Possessed | Nurse | [9][36] |
| 1952 | Ma and Pa Kettle On Vacation | N/A | [9][35] |
| 1952 | My Cousin Rachel | Mary Pascoe | [37] |
| 1953 | Hallmark Hall of Fame | N/A | Episode: "A Queen's Way"[38] |
| 1955 | Lady Godiva of Coventry | Lady Yolanda | [39][40][41] |
| 1956 | Gaby | English Girl | [35] |
| 1957 | Sergeant Preston of the Yukon (TV) | Molly Andrews | Episode: "Blind Justice"[42] |
| 1957 | Telephone Time (TV) | Teacher | Episode: "Parents of a Stranger" (Seen working with child for about 15 seconds at the 20:20 mark)[43][44] |
| 1957 | Until They Sail | N/A | [45] |
| 1958 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV) | Alma | Season 4 Episode 9: "Murder Me Twice"[46] |
| 1959 | The Jack Benny Program (TV) | Maid | Episode: "Autolight" (Gas Light parody, starring Benny and Barbara Stanwyck, featuring Lawton as one of the two maids;[47] she is the first person seen as the curtain rises)[48] |
| 1959 | One Step Beyond (TV) | Liz | Episode: "The Devil's Laughter"[49] |
| 1960 | Peter Gunn (TV) | Supervisor | Episode: "See No Evil"[50] |
| 1960 | Alcoa Theatre (TV) | N/A | Episode: "Chinese Finale"[51] |
| 1960 | Midnight Lace | N/A | [35] |
| 1963 | My Three Sons (TV) | N/A | Episode: "Scotch Broth"[52] |
| 1964 | Mary Poppins | Mrs. Corry | [35] |
| 1964 | My Fair Lady | Flower Girl | [53] |
| 1973 | Emergency! (TV) | English Maid | Episode: "The Professor"[54] |
Personal life
As of no later than April 1950, Lawton was married to fellow actor Donald Morrison.[55] In May 1951, the couple had their names legally changed; hers, from Morrison back to Lawton, and his from Ivan Donald Morrison—which was, in fact, the Americanized version of his birth name, Isaac Morduchovitch[56]—to Donald Albert Fleetwood Lawton.[57] Donald Lawton died on October 18, 1990.[58]
References
Further reading
- "Telechatter: Hollywood". The Hollywood Reporter. September 21, 1949. p. 37. ProQuest 1286041441.
KECA-TV will audition IMPPRO-Cascade Pictures live video package, 'Everybody's Theatre,' next week. Donald Morrison, Alma Lawton and Jack Nestle have lead roles.
- Feeder, Bill (June 21, 1950). "Radio Reviews: Presenting Charles Boyer". The Hollywood. ProQuest 2322726317.
The principal character of the series, Baron Michel, a debonair French rogue, is skillfully projected by Boyer. Hanley Stafford, the only other regular casting in the series, gives the show excellent dramatic-comedy dressing. Top performances also were turned in by Viola Von, Alma Lawton, Joe Kearns, Don Morrison, John Stephenson, Fritz Feld and Alec Harford.
External links
- Alma Lawton at IMDb
- Alma Lawton at Old Time Radio Researchers