Edith Atwater (April 22, 1911 – March 14, 1986) was an American stage, film, and television actress whose career spanned more than five decades. Known for her versatile presence on Broadway and in Hollywood, Atwater appeared in numerous dramatic and character roles, becoming a familiar face in mid-20th-century film and television.
Early Life and Stage Career
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Atwater made her Broadway debut in 1933. She went on to establish herself as a dependable and respected stage performer throughout the 1930s and 1940s. One of her most notable early roles was in The Man Who Came to Dinner (1939).
Her Broadway credits include Springtime for Henry (1931), Are You Decent (1934), Brittle Heaven (1934), This Our House (1935), The Country Wife (1936), The Masque of Kings (1937), Susan and God (1937), Retreat to Pleasure (1940), Johnny on a Spot (1942), R.U.R. (1942), State of the Union (1945), Parlor Story (1947), The Gentleman from Athens(1947), Metropole (1949), King Lear (1950), and Flahooley (1951).
She later served on the governing board of Actors’ Equity Association.
Film Career
Atwater began appearing in films in the mid-1940s. She played roles in:
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The Body Snatcher (1945)
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Sweet Smell of Success (1957)
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It Happened at the World’s Fair (1963)
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Strait-Jacket (1964)
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Strange Bedfellows (1965)
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True Grit (1969)
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The Love Machine (1971)
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Die Sister, Die! (1972)
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Mackintosh and T.J. (1975)
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Family Plot (1976)
Her filmography reflects her adaptability, with appearances in thrillers, melodramas, Westerns, and psychological dramas.
Television Career
Atwater became a steady presence on television from the 1950s through the 1980s. Between 1964 and 1965, she appeared on Peyton Place as Grace Morton, acting alongside her real-life husband Kent Smith, who played Dr. Robert Morton.
She was also a regular cast member on:
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Love on a Rooftop (1966–1967)
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Kaz (1978–1979)
Her numerous guest roles included appearances on Hazel, Knots Landing, The Rockford Files, and many other series of the era.
Personal Life
Atwater married actor Hugh Marlowe in 1941; the couple divorced in 1946. In 1962, she married actor Kent Smith, with whom she remained until his death in 1985. She had no children.
Edith Atwater died of cancer on March 14, 1986, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, at the age of 74.
Legacy
Atwater’s likeness was caricatured by artist Alex Gard and displayed at Sardi’s in New York City. The drawing is preserved in the permanent collection of the New York Public Library, reflecting her longstanding connection to the American theatre community.
