Jessica Tandy

Jessica Tandy was an American actress who is best known for her roles in Driving Miss Daisy, The Birds, and Cocoon. Born on June 7, 1909, in Stoke Newington, London, England, she had a remarkable career that spanned over six decades.

Personal and Family Life

Jessica Tandy was born Jessie Alice Tandy to parents Jessie Helen and Harry Tandy. She experienced two marriages; her first was to British actor Jack Hawkins, with whom she had one daughter, Susan. In 1942, she married Hume Cronyn, an actor with whom she had two children, Christopher and Tandy, and they enjoyed a successful partnership both personally and professionally.

Career Highlights

Tandy had a successful stage career and is celebrated for her portrayal of Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire, which earned her a Tony Award. Though initially overlooked in film adaptations, she made a significant comeback in her later years, winning an Academy Award at the age of 80 for Driving Miss Daisy. Tandy also received acclaim for her performances in both film and television, solidifying her place in entertainment history.

Death and Legacy

Jessica Tandy passed away on September 11, 1994, in Easton, Connecticut, after battling ovarian cancer. Her legacy lives on through her impressive body of work, which includes numerous awards and accolades in acting. Tandy’s remarkable career is a testament to her talent, with many considering her a pioneer for women in the acting industry.

Filmography

Title Release Date Character
Driving Miss Daisy 1989-12-13 Daisy Werthan
The Birds 1963-03-28 Lydia Brenner
Fried Green Tomatoes 1991-12-27 Ninny Threadgoode
Cocoon 1985-06-21 Alma Finley
Cocoon: The Return 1988-09-13 Alma Finley
The World According to Garp 1982-08-13 Mrs. Fields
batteries not included 1987-12-18 Faye Riley
Nobody’s Fool 1994-12-23 Beryl Peoples
Still of the Night 1982-11-19 Grace Rice
The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel 1951-10-16 Frau Lucie Marie Rommel
Dragonwyck 1946-04-19 Peggy O’Malley
The Bostonians 1984-05-01 Miss Birdseye
The Valley of Decision 1945-05-03 Louise Kane
Best Friends 1982-12-17 Eleanor McCullen
The Light in the Forest 1958-07-08 Myra Butler
September Affair 1950-10-18 Catherine Lawrence
The House on Carroll Street 1988-03-04 Miss Venable
The Seventh Cross 1944-07-24 Liesel Roeder
Camilla 1994-11-25 Camilla Cara
A Woman’s Vengeance 1948-03-02 Janet Spence
The Story Lady 1991-12-09 Grace McQueen
The Green Years 1946-07-04 Kate Leckie
Forever Amber 1947-10-10 Nan Britton
Hemingway’s Adventures of a Young Man 1962-07-25 Mrs. Helen Adams
To Dance with the White Dog 1993-12-05 Cora Peek
Butley 1974-01-21 Edna Shaft
Foxfire 1987-12-13 Annie Nations
Tennessee Williams’ South 1973-01-01
The Fourposter 1955-01-01
Used People 1992-12-16 Freida
The Gin Game 1981-04-21 Fonsia Dorsey
Indiscretions of Eve 1932-09-12 Penelope, the Maid
Blonde Fever 1944-12-05 Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
The Christmas Tree 1958-12-14 Mrs. Martin
Honky Tonk Freeway 1981-08-21 Carol
Jessica Tandy: Theatre Legend to Screen Star 2003-02-04 Self (archive footage)
Miss Daisy’s Journey: From Stage to Screen 2003-02-04 Daisy Werthan (archive footage) (uncredited)
A Streetcar on Broadway 2006-01-01 Self (archive footage)
Terror in the Aisles 1984-10-26 Lydia Brenner (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Moon and Six