Nora Dunfee
Encyclopedia
Nora Dunfee was an American
Broadway
and film
actress.
Born in Belmont, Ohio
, Dunfee began her professional acting career at the Ogunquit Playhouse in Ogunquit, Maine
, starring in Sinclair Lewis
's production of "Our Town
". Her stage credits on- and off-broadway include "Madam, Will You Walk?" (1953), "The Midnight Caller" (1958), "The Visit" (1960), "The Last Days of Lincoln" (1961) and "Crowbar" (1990). She also appeared in several films, most notably as the elderly lady at the bus stop who gives Tom Hanks advice in Forrest Gump
.
Dunfee studied speech and voice under Margaret Prendergast McLean and taught for many years in the graduate acting program of the Tisch School of the Arts
at New York University
. She also taught privately in New York and California and coached many actors over the years, including Julie Haydon
, James Earl Jones
, Raul Julia
, Diane Keaton
, Mel Gibson
and Keanu Reeves
. In theater, she was a vocal consultant for "The Real Thing". "Two Gentlemen of Verona" and "A Lie of the Mind", and cinematically, she served as dialect coach for such films as Witness
, Crimes of the Heart
, and The Serpent and the Rainbow.
Dunfee met her future husband, David Clarke, in an acting class and the two married in 1946. The couple appeared together in a number of stage productions, including "Portrait of a Lady", "The Visit" and "The Gin Game". Clarke and Dunfee had two daughters together, K.C. and Susan.
Her last consulting job was on the film Rob Roy
(1995). Dunfee was working as Sissy Spacek's dialogue coach and preparing for her own role in Charles Matthau's adaptation of Truman Capote
's The Grass Harp
when she became ill and had to leave the shoot. She died of complications after a brief illness at the age of 78 at St. Clare's Hospital and Health Center in Manhattan.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
and film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
actress.
Born in Belmont, Ohio
Belmont, Ohio
Belmont is a village in Belmont County, Ohio, United States. It is part of the Wheeling, West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 532 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Belmont is located at ....
, Dunfee began her professional acting career at the Ogunquit Playhouse in Ogunquit, Maine
Ogunquit, Maine
Ogunquit is a town in York County, Maine, United States. As of the 2000 census its population was 1,226. The popularity of the town as a summer resort is epitomized by its motto, "Beautiful Place by the Sea."...
, starring in Sinclair Lewis
Sinclair Lewis
Harry Sinclair Lewis was an American novelist, short-story writer, and playwright. In 1930, he became the first writer from the United States to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, "for his vigorous and graphic art of description and his ability to create, with wit and humor, new types of...
's production of "Our Town
Our Town
Our Town is a three-act play by American playwright Thornton Wilder. It is a character story about an average town's citizens in the early twentieth century as depicted through their everyday lives...
". Her stage credits on- and off-broadway include "Madam, Will You Walk?" (1953), "The Midnight Caller" (1958), "The Visit" (1960), "The Last Days of Lincoln" (1961) and "Crowbar" (1990). She also appeared in several films, most notably as the elderly lady at the bus stop who gives Tom Hanks advice in Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump is a 1994 American epic comedy-drama romance film based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom. The film was directed by Robert Zemeckis, starring Tom Hanks, Robin Wright and Gary Sinise...
.
Dunfee studied speech and voice under Margaret Prendergast McLean and taught for many years in the graduate acting program of the Tisch School of the Arts
Tisch School of the Arts
Tisch School of the Arts is one of the 15 schools that make up New York University ....
at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
. She also taught privately in New York and California and coached many actors over the years, including Julie Haydon
Julie Haydon
Julie Haydon was an American actress who performed on Broadway and in films.-Early career and films:Born Donella Donaldson in Oak Park, Illinois, Haydon began her acting career when she was 19, touring with Minnie Maddern Fiske in Mrs. Bumstead Leigh...
, James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones is an American actor. He is well-known for his distinctive bass voice and for his portrayal of characters of substance, gravitas and leadership...
, Raul Julia
Raúl Juliá
Raúl Rafael Juliá y Arcelay was a Puerto Rican actor.Born in San Juan, he gained interest in acting while still in school. Upon completing his studies, Juliá decided to pursue a career in acting. After performing in the local scene for some time, he was convinced by entertainment personality Orson...
, Diane Keaton
Diane Keaton
Diane Keaton is an American film actress, director, producer, and screenwriter. Keaton began her career on stage, and made her screen debut in 1970...
, Mel Gibson
Mel Gibson
Mel Colm-Cille Gerard Gibson, AO is an American actor, film director, producer and screenwriter. Born in Peekskill, New York, Gibson moved with his parents to Sydney, Australia when he was 12 years old and later studied acting at the Australian National Institute of Dramatic Art.After appearing in...
and Keanu Reeves
Keanu Reeves
Keanu Charles Reeves is a Canadian actor. Reeves is perhaps best known for his roles in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, Speed, Point Break and the science fiction-action trilogy The Matrix...
. In theater, she was a vocal consultant for "The Real Thing". "Two Gentlemen of Verona" and "A Lie of the Mind", and cinematically, she served as dialect coach for such films as Witness
Witness (1985 film)
Witness is a 1985 American thriller film directed by Peter Weir and starring Harrison Ford and Kelly McGillis. The screenplay by William Kelley, Pamela Wallace, and Earl W...
, Crimes of the Heart
Crimes of the Heart (film)
Crimes of the Heart is a 1986 American black comedy film directed by Bruce Beresford. The screenplay by Beth Henley is adapted from her Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name.-Plot:...
, and The Serpent and the Rainbow.
Dunfee met her future husband, David Clarke, in an acting class and the two married in 1946. The couple appeared together in a number of stage productions, including "Portrait of a Lady", "The Visit" and "The Gin Game". Clarke and Dunfee had two daughters together, K.C. and Susan.
Her last consulting job was on the film Rob Roy
Rob Roy (film)
Rob Roy is a 1995 historical drama film directed by Michael Caton-Jones. Liam Neeson stars as Robert Roy MacGregor, an 18th century Scottish historical figure who battles with feudal landowners in the Scottish Highlands. Jessica Lange, John Hurt, Tim Roth, Eric Stoltz, and Jason Flemyng also star...
(1995). Dunfee was working as Sissy Spacek's dialogue coach and preparing for her own role in Charles Matthau's adaptation of Truman Capote
Truman Capote
Truman Streckfus Persons , known as Truman Capote , was an American author, many of whose short stories, novels, plays, and nonfiction are recognized literary classics, including the novella Breakfast at Tiffany's and the true crime novel In Cold Blood , which he labeled a "nonfiction novel." At...
's The Grass Harp
The Grass Harp
The Grass Harp is a novel by Truman Capote published on October 1, 1951 It tells the story of an orphaned boy and two elderly ladies who observe life from a tree...
when she became ill and had to leave the shoot. She died of complications after a brief illness at the age of 78 at St. Clare's Hospital and Health Center in Manhattan.