Grant, Lee 1927–

PERSONAL

Original name, Lyova Haskell Rosenthal; born October 31, 1927, in New York, NY; daughter of A. W. (an educator and realtor) and Witia (a teacher; maiden name, Haskell) Rosenthal; married Arnold Manoff (a playwright), 1951 (divorced, 1960); married Joseph Feury (a producer), 1962; children: (first marriage) Dinah (an actress); (second marriage) Belinda. Education: Attended the Art Student League and the High School of Music and Art; studied voice, violin, and dance at the Juilliard School of Music; attended the Metropolitan Opera Ballet School; studied acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse with Sanford Meisner and at the Actors Studio; studied directing at the Directing Workshop for Women at the American Film Institute.

Addresses: Office—Feury/Grant Entertainment, 441 West End Ave., Suite 10-A, New York, NY 10024. Agent—TalentWorks, 3500 West Olive Ave., Suite 1400, Burbank, CA 91505.

Career: Actress, director, writer, and producer. Ballet dancer, Metropolitan Opera Company, New York City; company member, American Ballet Theatre, New York City; painter and acting teacher; affiliated with Feury/Grant Entertainment. Blacklisted in Hollywood for refusing to state names of suspected communists for the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC).

Member: Actors' Equity Association, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Screen Actors Guild, Directors Guild of America.

Awards, Honors: New York Drama Critics Circle Award, 1949, for Detective Story; Cannes International Film Festival Award, best actress, Academy Award nomination, best actress in a supporting role, and Golden Globe Award nomination, best supporting actress, all 1952, for Detective Story; Obie Award, Village Voice, 1964, for The Maids; Emmy Award, outstanding performance by an actress in a supporting role in a drama, 1966, for Peyton Place; Golden Globe Award nomination, best supporting actress, 1968, for In the Heat of the Night; Emmy Award nomination, c. 1968, for Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theater; Emmy Award nomination, outstanding single performance by an actress in a leading role, 1969, for "The Gates of Cerberus," an episode of Judd for the Defense; Emmy Award, outstanding single performance by an actress in a leading role, 1971, for The Neon Ceiling; Academy Award nomination, best actress in a supporting role, Golden Globe Award nomination, best supporting actress, and Golden Laurel Award nomination, best supporting actress, female, Producers Guild of America, all 1971, for The Landlord; Emmy Award nomination, outstanding single performance by an actress in a leading role, 1971, for Ransom for a Dead Man; Emmy Award nomination, best supporting actress in a comedy-variety, variety, or music, 1974, for The Shape of Things; Academy Award, best actress in a supporting role, and Golden Globe nomination, best supporting actress, both 1976, for Shampoo; Emmy Award nomination, outstanding lead actress in a comedy series, 1976, for Fay; Academy Award nomination, best actress in a supporting role, and Golden Globe nomination, best motion picture actress in a supporting role, both 1977, for Voyage of the Damned; Congressional Arts Caucus Award, outstanding achievement in acting and independent filmmaking, 1983, for Tell Me a Riddle; Genie Award nomination, best performance by a foreign actress, Canadian Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, 1983, for Visiting Hours; Academy Award, best documentary feature, 1986, for Down and Out in America; Directors Guild Award, outstanding directorial achievement in dramatic specials, 1987, for Nobody's Child; Crystal Award, Women in Film, c. 1989; Critics Award nomination, Deauville Film Festival, 1990, for Staying Together; Emmy Award nomination, outstanding supporting actress in a miniseries, movie, or a special, 1993, for Citizen Cohn; Distinguished Achievement Award, Hamptons International Film Festival, 1997.

CREDITS

Film Appearances:

Don "Red" Barry, The Man from the Rio Grande, Republic, 1943.

Shoplifter, Detective Story, Paramount, 1951.

Edna, Storm Fear, United Artists, 1956.

Run of the Arrow, Universal, 1957.

Marilyn, Middle of the Night, Columbia, 1959.

The Blue Angel, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1959.

Carmen, The Balcony, Continental, 1963.

From Russia with Love, United Artists, 1963.

Katherine McCleod, An Affair of the Skin (also known as Love as a Disorder), Zenith, 1964.

Suzy, Pie in the Sky (also known as Terror in the City), Allied Artists, 1964.

Dede Murphy, Divorce American Style, Columbia, 1967.

Miriam Polar, Valley of the Dolls, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1967.

Mrs. Leslie Colbert, In the Heat of the Night, United Artists, 1967.

Fritzie Braddock, Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell, United Artists, 1968.

Celia Pruett, Marooned (also known as Space Travelers), Columbia, 1969.

Joanne (motel resident), The Big Bounce, Warner Bros./Seven Arts, 1969.

Mrs. Bullard, There Was a Crooked Man …, Warner Bros., 1970.

Mrs. Enders, The Landlord, United Artists, 1970.

Norma Hubley, Plaza Suite, Paramount, 1971.

The Last Generation, R & S Film Enterprises, 1971.

Sophie Portnoy, Portnoy's Complaint, Warner Bros., 1972.

Jean Robertson, The Internecine Project (also known as G, Der Schwarze Panther, and Ein Mann stellt eine Falle), Allied Artists, 1974.

Felicia Carr, Shampoo, Columbia, 1975.

The Prisoner of Second Avenue, Warner Bros., 1975.

Lillian Rosen, Voyage of the Damned, Avco-Embassy, 1976.

Karen Wallace, Airport '77, Universal, 1977.

Anne MacGregor, The Swarm, Warner Bros., 1978.

Ann Thorn, Damien—Omen II (also known as Omen II and Omen II: Damien), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1978.

Ellen Carpenter, The Mafu Cage (also known as The Cage, Deviation, Don't Ring the Doorbell, and My Sister, My Love), Clouds, 1978.

Clarisse Ethridge, When You Comin' Back Red Ryder?, Columbia, 1979.

Judge, Little Miss Marker, Universal, 1980.

Deborah Ballin, Visiting Hours (also known as The Fright, Get Well Soon, and Terreur a l'hopital central), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1981.

Narrator, The Wilmar Eight (documentary; also known as The Wilmar 8), California Newsreel, 1981.

Mrs. Lupowitz, Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen, American Cinema, 1981.

I Ought to Be in Pictures, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1982.

Dr. Burke, Teachers, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, 1984.

Herself, Sanford Meisner: The Theatre's Best Kept Secret (documentary; also known as Sanford Meisner: The American Theatre's Best Kept Secret), Columbia, 1984.

Mrs. Barr, Constance, Miramax/Mirage/Enterprise/New Zealand Film Commission, 1984.

Mrs. Jones, Trial Run, Miracle Films/New Zealand Film Commission, 1984.

Sascha Harris, Billions for Boris (also known as A Billion for Boris), Comworld Pictures/Kandel Productions, 1984.

Presenter (video version), Kaddish, First Run Features, 1985.

Narrator, Down and Out in America (documentary), Joseph Feury Productions, 1986.

Arriving Tuesday, Cinepro/New Zealand Film Commission/Walker, 1986.

Ferguson Edwards, The Big Town, Columbia, 1987.

Herself, Calling the Shots (documentary), World Artists Releasing, 1988.

Lena Foster, Defending Your Life, Warner Bros., 1991.

Jane, Under Heat, 1994.

Amalia Stark, It's My Party, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, 1995.

Stephen Verona: Self Portrait (documentary), 1995.

Cora Cahn, The Substance of Fire, Miramax, 1996.

Poor Liza, 1998.

Dr. Harper, Dr. T and the Women, Artisan Entertainment, 2000.

Louise Bonner, Mulholland Dr. (also known as Mulholland Drive), Universal Focus, 2001.

Winnie, Going Shopping (also known as Shopping), Rainbow Film Company, 2004.

Film Director:

The Stronger (short film), American Film Institute, 1976.

Tell Me a Riddle, Filmways, 1980.

The Wilmar Eight (documentary; also known as The Wilmar 8), California Newsreel, 1981.

Down and Out in America (documentary), Joseph Feury Productions, 1986.

Staying Together, Hemdale, 1989.

Stage Appearances:

Princess Ho Chee, L'Oracolo (opera), Metropolitan Opera House, New York City, 1933.

Liliom, Green Mansions Theatre, Warrensburg, NY, 1947.

This Property Is Condemned, Green Mansions Theatre, 1947.

Mildred, Joy to the World, Plymouth Theatre, New York City, 1948.

Shoplifter, Detective Story, Hudson Theatre, New York City, 1949–50.

Diane, All You Need Is One Good Break, Mansfield Theatre, New York City, 1950.

Raina Petkoff, Arms and the Man, Arena Theatre, New York City, 1950–51.

Daisy Durole, Lo and Behold!, Booth Theatre, New York City, 1951–52.

Sally, I Am a Camera, Mount Kisco Playhouse, Mount Kisco, NY, 1952.

Amy, They Knew What They Wanted, Mount Kisco Playhouse, 1953.

Title role, Gigi (musical), Mount Kisco Playhouse, 1954.

Stella, Wedding Breakfast, 48th Street Theatre, New York City, 1954–55.

Eliza, Pygmalion, Mount Kisco Playhouse, 1956.

Lizzie, The Rainmaker, Mount Kisco Playhouse, 1957.

Mrs. Rogers, A Hole in the Head, Plymouth Theatre, 1957.

Gittel Mosca, Two for the Seesaw, Booth Theatre, 1958–59.

Rose Collins, The Captains and the Kings, Playhouse Theatre, New York City, 1962.

Solange, The Maids, One Sheridan Square Theatre, New York City, 1963.

Title role, Electra, New York Shakespeare Festival, Public Theatre, Delacorte Theatre, New York City, 1964.

Joan of Arc (title role), Saint Joan, Moorestown Theatre, Moorestown, NJ, 1966.

Edna Edison, The Prisoner of Second Avenue, Eugene O'Neill Theatre, New York City, 1971–73.

Regina, The Little Foxes, 1975.

Appeared in a series of one-act plays with Henry Fonda, American National Theatre and Academy Theatre, New York City, 1949.

Major Tours:

Oklahoma (musical), U.S. cities, 1948.

The Tender Trap, U.S. cities, 1962.

Ninotchka, Silk Stockings, U.S. cities, 1963.

Karen Nash, "Visitor from Mamaroneck," Muriel Tate, "Visitor from Hollywood," and Norma Hubley, "Visitor from Forest Hills," in Plaza Suite, U.S. cities, 1968.

Stage Director:

The Adventures of Jack and Max, Actors Studio West, Los Angeles, CA, 1968.

A Private View, New York Shakespeare Festival, Public Theatre, New York City, 1983.

The Lay of the Land, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA, 1990.

Television Appearances; Series:

Rose Peabody, Search for Tomorrow, CBS, 1953–54.

Stella Chernak, Peyton Place, ABC, 1965–66.

Fay Stewart (title role), Fay, NBC, 1975–76.

Blair Dillon, White Fang (also known as Croc blanc), [Canada and France], beginning 1993.

Television Appearances; Miniseries:

Grace Coolidge, Backstairs at the White House, NBC, 1979.

Ava Marshall, Bare Essence, CBS, 1982.

Rachele Mussolini, Mussolini: The Untold Story, NBC, 1985.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Lizzie, The Respectful Prostitute, BBC, 1964.

Marjorie Howard, Night Slaves, ABC, 1970.

Carrie Miller, The Neon Ceiling, NBC, 1971.

Ellie Schuster, Lieutenant Schuster's Wife, ABC, 1972.

Adele Ross, What Are Best Friends for?, ABC, 1973.

Virginia Monroe, Perilous Voyage (also known as The Revolution of Antonio DeLeon), NBC, 1976.

Marion Matchett, The Spell, NBC, 1977.

Esther Jack, You Can't Go Home Again, CBS, 1979.

Anne Holt, For Ladies Only, NBC, 1981.

Evalyna, The Million Dollar Face (also known as Kiss of Gold), NBC, 1981.

Maxine Lochman, Thou Shalt Not Kill, NBC, 1981.

Lillian Farmer, Will There Really Be a Morning?, CBS, 1983.

Marilyn Klinghoffer, The Hijacking of the Achille Lauro (also known as Achille Lauro: Terror at Sea, The Last Voyage, and Sea of Terror), NBC, 1989.

District attorney Doris Cantore, She Said No, NBC, 1990.

Carol Gertz, Something to Live for: The Alison Gertz Story (also known as Fatal Love), ABC, 1992.

Dora Cohn, Citizen Cohn, HBO, 1992.

Maureen Leeds, In My Daughter's Name, CBS, 1992.

Aunt Spendora, The Amati Girls, Fox Family Channel, 2000.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Hannah, "Where Is Thy Brother?," Jewish Appeal Special, NBC, 1958.

Robert Young and the Family, CBS, 1971.

The Wonderful World of Aggravation, ABC, 1972.

Wife, "Raincheck," Three for the Girls, CBS, 1973.

The Shape of Things, CBS, 1973.

Irina Arkadina, "The Seagull," Theatre in America, broadcast on Great Performances, PBS, 1975.

Narrator, Why Me?, syndicated, 1975.

Host, Once upon a Time … Is Now: The Story of Princess Grace (documentary), NBC, 1977.

"The Good Doctor," Great Performances, PBS, 1978.

Herself, A Salute to American Imagination, CBS, 1978.

Karen Nash, "Visitor from Mamaroneck," Muriel Tate, "Visitor from Hollywood," and Claire Hubley, "Visitor from Forest Hills," Plaza Suite, HBO, 1982.

Narrator, "When Women Kill" (documentary), America Undercover, HBO, 1984.

Narrator, What Sex Am I? (documentary), HBO, 1985.

Harry Belafonte: Don't Stop the Carnival, HBO, 1985.

Herself, Hello Actors Studio (documentary), c. 1987.

Host, "Battered" (documentary), America Undercover, HBO, 1989.

Herself, "Miracle on 44th Street: A Portrait of the Actors Studio," American Masters (documentary; also known as American Masters: Miracle on 44th Street—A Portrait of the Actors Studio), PBS, 1991.

Narrator, Confronting Evil (documentary), HBO, 1992.

Narrator, Women on Trial (documentary), HBO, 1992.

Street Scenes: New York on Film (documentary), American Movie Classics, 1992.

Voice, Earth and the American Dream (documentary), HBO, 1993.

Voice of Alice Fletcher, The Wild West (documentary), syndicated, 1993.

In Censors We Trust (documentary), E! Entertainment Television, 1993.

Narrator, "Rod Serling: Submitted to Your Approval," American Masters (documentary; also known as American Masters: Rod Serling: Submitted for Your Approval), PBS, 1995.

Herself, Blacklist: Hollywood on Trial (documentary), American Movie Classics, 1996.

Host, Say It, Fight It, Cure It (documentary), Lifetime, 1997.

Narrator, Confronting the Crisis: Childcare in America (documentary), Lifetime, 1999.

Herself, Hollywood, DC: A Tale of Two Cities (documentary), Bravo, 2000.

Herself, Hidden Values: The Movies of the Fifties (documentary), TCM, 2001.

Herself, The Omen Legacy (documentary), American Movie Classics, 2001.

Herself, The John Garfield Story (documentary), TCM, 2003.

Herself, "None without Sin," American Masters (documentary; also known as American Masters: None without Sin), PBS, 2003.

Television Appearances; Awards Presentations:

Herself, The 48th Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 1976.

Herself, The American Film Institute Salute to Sidney Poitier (also known as AFI Salute to Sidney Poitier), NBC, 1992.

Herself, The 70th Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 1998.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

"Screwball," The Play's the Thing, CBS, 1950.

"Zone of Quiet," Comedy Theatre, CBS, 1950.

"The Blonde Comes First," Studio One, CBS, 1952.

"Dark as Night," Danger, CBS, 1952.

"Death to the Lonely," Danger, CBS, 1952.

"Dressing Up," Danger, CBS, 1952.

"The Face of Fear," Danger, CBS, 1952.

Wife, "Justice," ABC Album (also known as Plymouth Playhouse), ABC, 1953.

"The Noose," Broadway Television Theater (also known as Broadway Theater), syndicated, 1953.

"Death Is a Spanish Dancer," Kraft Television Theatre, ABC, 1955.

"Shadow of the Champ," Philco Television Playhouse, NBC, 1955.

Helen Cartwright, "Keyhole," Playwrights '56, NBC, 1956.

Lennie Converse, "Even the Weariest River," Alcoa Hour, NBC, 1956.

"Look What's Going On," Kraft Theatre, NBC, 1958.

"Three Plays by Tennessee Williams: Moony's Kids Don't Cry," Kraft Theatre, NBC, 1958.

Avenging angel, "The World of Sholem Aleichem," Play of the Week, syndicated, 1959.

"Man in the Middle," Brenner, CBS, 1959.

Martirio, "The House of Bernarda Alba," Play of the Week, syndicated, 1960.

Lucy Morrison, "Lucy," Great Ghost Tales, NBC, 1961.

Florrie Sands, "Saturday's Children," Breck Golden Showcase, CBS, 1962.

Cleo Tanner, "To Spend, to Give, to Want," The Nurses, CBS, 1963.

Doris Kelly, "The Gift," The Nurses, CBS, 1963.

Nora Best, "Not Bad for Openers," East Side/West Side, CBS, 1963.

Norma Burgess, "The Empty Heart," The Defenders, CBS, 1963.

Anita Johnson, "For Jimmy, the Best of Everything," Ben Casey, ABC, 1964.

Diedre Bassett, "For Just a Man Falleth Seven Times," Ben Casey, ABC, 1964.

Millie, "Taps for a Dead War," The Fugitive, ABC, 1964.

Vera Donlon, "Question: Where Vanished the Tragic Piper?," Slattery's People, CBS, 1964.

Lillian Carroll, "A Couple of Dozen Tiny Pills," The Doctors and the Nurses, CBS, 1965.

Maria Edwards, "Nobody Asks What Side You're On," The Defenders, CBS, 1965.

Susan Buchanan, "The Diplomat," Mission: Impossible, CBS, 1965.

"With Intent to Influence," For the People, CBS, 1965.

Laura, "The Love Song of Barney Kempinski," ABC Stage '67, ABC, 1966.

Ruth, "The People Trap," ABC Stage '67, ABC, 1966.

Francesca Kirby, "Eat, Drink, and Be Buried," Ironside, NBC, 1967.

Rosemary Williams, "The Lady from Mesa," The Big Valley, ABC, 1967.

Virginia Cloyd, "Deadlock," Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theater, NBC, 1967.

Kay Gould, "The Gates of Cerberus," Judd, for the Defense, ABC, 1968.

Susan Buchanan, "The Diplomat," Mission: Impossible, CBS, 1968.

Karen Harper, "The Loner," Medical Center, CBS, 1969.

Eddie Booker, "A Love to Remember," The Name of the Game, NBC, 1970.

Veronica Steele, "Whatever Happened to Happy Endings?," Bracken's World, NBC, 1970.

"Mother of Sorrow," The Mod Squad, ABC, 1970.

"Tarot," The Name of the Game, NBC, 1970.

Jennifer Carlyle, "Yesterday Is but a Dream," Men at Law (also known as Storefront Lawyers), CBS, 1971.

Herself, Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" (also known as Laugh-In), NBC, 1971.

Herself, The Flip Wilson Show, NBC, 1973.

Ellie, "Fifty," One Day at a Time, CBS, 1984.

Guest, At Rona's, NBC, 1989.

Aunt Susan, "The Return of Aunt Susan," Empty Nest, NBC, 1992.

Mrs. Rogers, "The Handler," The Ray Bradbury Theater, USA Network, 1992.

Herself, Inside the Actors Studio, Bravo, 1995.

Narrator, Intimate Portrait: Bella Abzug (documentary), Lifetime, 1999.

Herself, Intimate Portrait: Marlo Thomas (documentary), Lifetime, 2000.

Narrator, Intimate Portrait: Swoosie Kurtz (documentary), Lifetime, 2000.

Herself, The View, ABC, 2000.

Herself, Intimate Portrait: Lee Grant (documentary), Lifetime, 2001.

Television Appearances; Pilots:

Wife, Justice, broadcast as an episode of ABC Album (also known as Plymouth Playhouse), ABC, 1953.

Leslie Williams, Ransom for a Dead Man (also known as Columbo: Ransom for a Dead Man), NBC, 1971.

Diane Harper, The Ted Bessell Show, CBS, 1973.

Judge Meredith Leland, Partners in Crime, NBC, 1973.

Television Director; Movies:

A Matter of Sex, NBC, 1984.

No Place Like Home, CBS, 1989.

Following Her Heart (also known as Sing Me the Blues, Lena), NBC, 1994.

Reunion, CBS, 1994.

Seasons of the Heart (also known as The Winter Garden), NBC, 1994.

The Loretta Claiborne Story, ABC, 2000.

Television Director; Specials:

(With Carolyn Raskin) The Shape of Things, CBS, 1973.

"When Women Kill" (documentary), America Undercover, HBO, 1984.

"Cindy Eller: A Modern Fairy Tale," ABC Afterschool Specials, ABC, 1985.

What Sex Am I? (documentary), HBO, 1985.

Nobody's Child, CBS, 1986.

Host, "Battered" (documentary), America Undercover, HBO, 1989.

Women on Trial (documentary), HBO, 1992.

Say It, Fight It, Cure It (documentary), Lifetime, 1997.

Confronting the Crisis: Childcare in America (documentary), Lifetime, 1999.

"Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light," American Masters (documentary; also known as American Masters: Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light), PBS, 2000.

The Gun Deadlock (documentary), Lifetime, 2001.

Television Producer; Specials:

Host, "Battered" (documentary), America Undercover, HBO, 1989.

Women on Trial (documentary), HBO, 1992.

Say It, Fight It, Cure It (documentary), Lifetime, 1997.

Confronting the Crisis: Childcare in America (documentary), Lifetime, 1999.

Television Director; Episodic:

"For the Use of the Hall," Hollywood Television Theatre, PBS, 1975.

"The Stronger," Shortstories, 1988.

Intimate Portrait (documentary), Lifetime, various episodes beginning in 1998.

Television Executive Producer; Episodic:

(With others) Intimate Portrait: Star Jones (documentary), Lifetime, 1999.

Intimate Portrait: Florence Griffith Joyner (documentary), Lifetime, 2000.

WRITINGS

Teleplays; Specials:

(With others) The Shape of Things, CBS, 1973.

What Sex Am I? (documentary), HBO, 1985.

Teleplays; Episodic:

Intimate Portrait (documentary), Lifetime, multiple episodes in 1998–1999.

Nonfiction:

(With David Craig) On Singing Onstage, Museum of Our National Heritage, 1978, revised edition, Applause Theatre Book Publishing, 1991.

OTHER SOURCES

Periodicals:

American Film, February, 1990, pp. 16-19.

New York Times, July 23, 1983, p. 48.

People Weekly, October 23, 1989, p. 105; February 26, 1996, p. 14.