Landis, Jessie Royce (1904–1972)

views updated

Landis, Jessie Royce (1904–1972)

American stage, tv and screen actress. Born Jessie Royce Medbury, Nov 25, 1904, in Chicago, IL; died Feb 2, 1972, in Danbury, CT; m. Perry Lester Landis, 1923 (div. 1935); m. Rex Smith, 1937 (div. 1944); m. J.F.R. Seitz (major general), 1956.

Initially a successful stage actress, made NY debut in The Honor of the Family (1926), followed by over 45 plays in NY and London, including The Furies, Command Performance, Merrily We Roll Along, Love from a Stranger, Richard II, Little Women, Winter's Tale and Richard III; made film debut in Mr. Belvedere Goes to College (1949); other film appearances include It Happens Every Spring, My Foolish Heart, Tonight at 8:30, North by Northwest, The Swan, Bon Voyage, Boys Night Out and as Grace Kelly's mother in To Catch a Thief.

See also autobiography You Won't Be So Pretty (1954).