Gender
Female
Born
Jun 21, 1925
Troy, New York, USA
Died
Mar 13, 2006
Lenox, Massachusetts, USA
Performer
Relations
Wife of
Max Allentuck 1949 - 1959) divorced
Wife of
David Rayfiel (1963 - 1966) divorced
Comments
Biography: Lois Maureen Stapleton was born on June 21, 1925 in Troy, New York to Irene and John P. Stapleton. She studied with Herbert Berghof at the New School, and joined the Actors Studio in 1947. She married Max A. Allentuck, with whom she had two children. She then married David Rayfiel.

Film/TV Credits: Film credits include: "The Money Pit," "Cocoon," "Reds," "Bye Bye Birdie," "Addicted to Love," "Airport," "Heartburn," "Summer of '42," "Johnny Dangerously," "Cocoon: The Return," "Interiors," and "The Fugitive Kind." Television credits include: "Saturday Night Live," "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson," "Avonlea," "The Equalizer," "The Hollywood Squares," "Great Performances," "Naked City," and "American Masters."

Other Awards: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Single Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Drama for "Among the Paths to Eden" in 1968. Inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame in 1981. Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for "Reds" in 1982.

Trivia:
Her 1995 autobiography, written with Jane Scovell, is entitled "A Hell of a Life."
The marquees of Broadway theaters were dimmed in her honor on March 13, 2006.
  • CREDITS
    The Little Foxes (May 07, 1981 - Sep 05, 1981)
    • Also Starring: Maureen Stapleton [Birdie Hubbard]
    PlayDramaRevival
    The Gin Game (Oct 06, 1977 - Dec 31, 1978)
    • Starring: Maureen Stapleton
      • Fonsia Dorsey - Replacement (Sep 05, 1978 - Dec 31, 1978)
    PlayOriginal
    The Glass Menagerie (Dec 18, 1975 - Feb 22, 1976)
    • Starring: Maureen Stapleton [Amanda]
    PlayDramaRevival
    The Secret Affairs of Mildred Wild (Nov 14, 1972 - Dec 02, 1972)
    • Starring: Maureen Stapleton [Mildred Wild]
    PlayComedyOriginal
    The Country Girl (Mar 15, 1972 - May 06, 1972)
    • Performer: Maureen Stapleton [Georgie Elgin]
    PlayRevival
    The Gingerbread Lady (Dec 13, 1970 - May 29, 1971)
    • Starring: Maureen Stapleton [Evy Meara]
    PlayComedy DramaOriginal
    Norman, Is That You? (Feb 19, 1970 - Feb 28, 1970)
    • Performer: Maureen Stapleton [Beatrice Chambers]
    PlayOriginal
    Plaza Suite (Feb 14, 1968 - Oct 03, 1970)
    • Starring: Maureen Stapleton
      • Karen Nash - (Feb 12, 1968 - Feb 12, 1969)
      • Muriel Tate - (Feb 12, 1968 - Feb 12, 1969)
      • Norma Hubley - (Feb 12, 1968 - Feb 12, 1969)
      • Karen Nash - Replacement (May 25, 1970 - Jun 06, 1970)
      • Muriel Tate - Replacement (May 25, 1970 - Jun 06, 1970)
      • Norma Hubley - Replacement (May 25, 1970 - Jun 06, 1970)
      • Karen Nash - Replacement (Jun 09, 1969 - Jan 03, 1970)
      • Muriel Tate - Replacement (Jun 09, 1969 - Jan 03, 1970)
      • Norma Hubley - Replacement (Jun 09, 1969 - Jan 03, 1970)
    PlayComedyOriginal
    The Rose Tattoo (Nov 09, 1966 - Dec 31, 1966)
    • Starring: Maureen Stapleton [Serafina Delle Rose]
    PlayDramaRevival
    The Glass Menagerie (May 04, 1965 - Oct 02, 1965)
    • Starring: Maureen Stapleton
      • The Mother - (May 03, 1965 - Jul 21, 1965)
    PlayDramaRevival
    Toys in the Attic (Feb 25, 1960 - Apr 08, 1961)
    • Starring: Maureen Stapleton [Carrie Berniers]
    PlayDramaOriginal
    The Cold Wind and the Warm (Dec 08, 1958 - Mar 21, 1959)
    • Performer: Maureen Stapleton [Ida]
    PlayDramaOriginal
    Orpheus Descending (Mar 21, 1957 - May 18, 1957)
    • Performer: Maureen Stapleton [Lady Torrance]
    PlayDramaOriginal
    All in One (Apr 19, 1955 - May 28, 1955)
    • Performer: Maureen Stapleton [Flora Meighan]
    PlayOne ActOriginal
    Richard III (Dec 09, 1953 - Dec 20, 1953)
    • Performer: Maureen Stapleton [Lady Anne]
    PlayHistoryRevival
    The Emperor's Clothes (Feb 09, 1953 - Feb 21, 1953)
    • Performer: Maureen Stapleton [Bella]
    PlayDramaOriginal
    The Crucible (Jan 22, 1953 - Jul 11, 1953)
    • Also Starring: Maureen Stapleton
      • Elizabeth Proctor - Replacement (Apr 13, 1953 - Jul 11, 1953)
    PlayDramaOriginal
    The Rose Tattoo (Feb 03, 1951 - Oct 27, 1951)
    • Starring: Maureen Stapleton [Serafina Delle Rose]
    PlayDramaOriginal
    The Bird Cage (Feb 22, 1950 - Mar 11, 1950)
    • Performer: Maureen Stapleton [Emily Williams]
    PlayOriginal
    Detective Story (Mar 23, 1949 - Aug 12, 1950)
    • Performer: Maureen Stapleton [Miss Hatch]
    PlayDrama MelodramaOriginal
    Antony and Cleopatra (Nov 26, 1947 - Mar 13, 1948)
    • Performer: Maureen Stapleton [Iras]
    PlayTragedyRevival
    The Playboy of the Western World (Oct 26, 1946 - Jan 04, 1947)
    • Performer: Maureen Stapleton
      • Sara Tansey -
      • Pegeen Mike - Replacement
    PlayComedyRevival
    Happy Birthday, Mr. Abbott! (Jun 22, 1987 - Jun 22, 1987)
    • Performer: Maureen Stapleton [Performer]
    SpecialBenefitOriginal
    V.I.P. Night on Broadway (Apr 22, 1979 - Apr 22, 1979)
    • Starring: Maureen Stapleton
    SpecialBenefitOriginal
  • AWARDS

    Tony Award®

     

    Best Featured Actress in a Play

    1981 | Nominee  | The Little Foxes
    Also Starring: Maureen Stapleton

    Best Actress in a Play

    1971 | Winner  | The Gingerbread Lady
    Starring: Maureen Stapleton
     

    Best Actress in a Play

    1968 | Nominee  | Plaza Suite
    Starring: Maureen Stapleton
     

    Best Actress in a Play

    1960 | Nominee  | Toys in the Attic
    Starring: Maureen Stapleton
     

    Best Actress in a Play

    1959 | Nominee  | The Cold Wind and the Warm
    Performer: Maureen Stapleton

    Best Featured Actress in a Play

    1951 | Winner  | The Rose Tattoo
    Starring: Maureen Stapleton

    Drama Desk Award

    Outstanding Performance

    1971 | Winner  | The Gingerbread Lady
    Starring: Maureen Stapleton

    Theatre World

    Award

    1951 | Recipient  | The Rose Tattoo
    Starring: Maureen Stapleton
The Little Foxes (May 07, 1981 - Sep 05, 1981)
  • Also Starring: Maureen Stapleton [Birdie Hubbard]
PlayDramaRevival
The Gin Game (Oct 06, 1977 - Dec 31, 1978)
  • Starring: Maureen Stapleton
    • Fonsia Dorsey - Replacement (Sep 05, 1978 - Dec 31, 1978)
PlayOriginal
The Glass Menagerie (Dec 18, 1975 - Feb 22, 1976)
  • Starring: Maureen Stapleton [Amanda]
PlayDramaRevival
The Secret Affairs of Mildred Wild (Nov 14, 1972 - Dec 02, 1972)
  • Starring: Maureen Stapleton [Mildred Wild]
PlayComedyOriginal
The Country Girl (Mar 15, 1972 - May 06, 1972)
  • Performer: Maureen Stapleton [Georgie Elgin]
PlayRevival
The Gingerbread Lady (Dec 13, 1970 - May 29, 1971)
  • Starring: Maureen Stapleton [Evy Meara]
PlayComedy DramaOriginal
Norman, Is That You? (Feb 19, 1970 - Feb 28, 1970)
  • Performer: Maureen Stapleton [Beatrice Chambers]
PlayOriginal
Plaza Suite (Feb 14, 1968 - Oct 03, 1970)
  • Starring: Maureen Stapleton
    • Karen Nash - (Feb 12, 1968 - Feb 12, 1969)
    • Muriel Tate - (Feb 12, 1968 - Feb 12, 1969)
    • Norma Hubley - (Feb 12, 1968 - Feb 12, 1969)
    • Karen Nash - Replacement (May 25, 1970 - Jun 06, 1970)
    • Muriel Tate - Replacement (May 25, 1970 - Jun 06, 1970)
    • Norma Hubley - Replacement (May 25, 1970 - Jun 06, 1970)
    • Karen Nash - Replacement (Jun 09, 1969 - Jan 03, 1970)
    • Muriel Tate - Replacement (Jun 09, 1969 - Jan 03, 1970)
    • Norma Hubley - Replacement (Jun 09, 1969 - Jan 03, 1970)
PlayComedyOriginal
The Rose Tattoo (Nov 09, 1966 - Dec 31, 1966)
  • Starring: Maureen Stapleton [Serafina Delle Rose]
PlayDramaRevival
The Glass Menagerie (May 04, 1965 - Oct 02, 1965)
  • Starring: Maureen Stapleton
    • The Mother - (May 03, 1965 - Jul 21, 1965)
PlayDramaRevival
Toys in the Attic (Feb 25, 1960 - Apr 08, 1961)
  • Starring: Maureen Stapleton [Carrie Berniers]
PlayDramaOriginal
The Cold Wind and the Warm (Dec 08, 1958 - Mar 21, 1959)
  • Performer: Maureen Stapleton [Ida]
PlayDramaOriginal
Orpheus Descending (Mar 21, 1957 - May 18, 1957)
  • Performer: Maureen Stapleton [Lady Torrance]
PlayDramaOriginal
All in One (Apr 19, 1955 - May 28, 1955)
  • Performer: Maureen Stapleton [Flora Meighan]
PlayOne ActOriginal
Richard III (Dec 09, 1953 - Dec 20, 1953)
  • Performer: Maureen Stapleton [Lady Anne]
PlayHistoryRevival
The Emperor's Clothes (Feb 09, 1953 - Feb 21, 1953)
  • Performer: Maureen Stapleton [Bella]
PlayDramaOriginal
The Crucible (Jan 22, 1953 - Jul 11, 1953)
  • Also Starring: Maureen Stapleton
    • Elizabeth Proctor - Replacement (Apr 13, 1953 - Jul 11, 1953)
PlayDramaOriginal
The Rose Tattoo (Feb 03, 1951 - Oct 27, 1951)
  • Starring: Maureen Stapleton [Serafina Delle Rose]
PlayDramaOriginal
The Bird Cage (Feb 22, 1950 - Mar 11, 1950)
  • Performer: Maureen Stapleton [Emily Williams]
PlayOriginal
Detective Story (Mar 23, 1949 - Aug 12, 1950)
  • Performer: Maureen Stapleton [Miss Hatch]
PlayDrama MelodramaOriginal
Antony and Cleopatra (Nov 26, 1947 - Mar 13, 1948)
  • Performer: Maureen Stapleton [Iras]
PlayTragedyRevival
The Playboy of the Western World (Oct 26, 1946 - Jan 04, 1947)
  • Performer: Maureen Stapleton
    • Sara Tansey -
    • Pegeen Mike - Replacement
PlayComedyRevival
Happy Birthday, Mr. Abbott! (Jun 22, 1987 - Jun 22, 1987)
  • Performer: Maureen Stapleton [Performer]
SpecialBenefitOriginal
V.I.P. Night on Broadway (Apr 22, 1979 - Apr 22, 1979)
  • Starring: Maureen Stapleton
SpecialBenefitOriginal

Tony Award®

 

Best Featured Actress in a Play

1981 | Nominee  | The Little Foxes
Also Starring: Maureen Stapleton

Best Actress in a Play

1971 | Winner  | The Gingerbread Lady
Starring: Maureen Stapleton
 

Best Actress in a Play

1968 | Nominee  | Plaza Suite
Starring: Maureen Stapleton
 

Best Actress in a Play

1960 | Nominee  | Toys in the Attic
Starring: Maureen Stapleton
 

Best Actress in a Play

1959 | Nominee  | The Cold Wind and the Warm
Performer: Maureen Stapleton

Best Featured Actress in a Play

1951 | Winner  | The Rose Tattoo
Starring: Maureen Stapleton

Drama Desk Award

Outstanding Performance

1971 | Winner  | The Gingerbread Lady
Starring: Maureen Stapleton

Theatre World

Award

1951 | Recipient  | The Rose Tattoo
Starring: Maureen Stapleton

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