Neal, Patricia (1926–)

American actress. Born Patsy Louise Neal, Jan 20, 1926, in Packard, KY; dau. of William Burdette Neal (transportation manager) and Eura Mildred (Petry) Neal; attended Northwestern University, 1943–45; m. Roald Dahl (writer), July 2, 1953 (div. Nov 1983); children: Olivia (1955–1962); Tessa (b. 1957); Theo (b. 1960); Ophelia (b. 1964); Lucy (b. 1965).

Distinguished actress, made Broadway debut as Regina Giddens in Another Part of the Forest (1946), for which she won Donaldson Award, Drama Critics Circle Award, and 1st Tony Award ever conferred; other stage appearances include an acclaimed performance as Martha Dobie in The Children's Hour (1952); made London debut as Catherine Holly in Suddenly Last Summer (1958); made film debut opposite Ronald Reagan in John Loves Mary (1949), a comedy for which she was ill-suited; son endured a brain-damaging injury (1960), young daughter died (1962), and had a nearly fatal series of strokes (1965); struggled to reclaim life, then reestablished career (1968), winning Oscar nomination for Best Actress for The Subject Was Roses; other films include The Fountainhead (1949), The Hasty Heart (1950), Bright Leaf (1950); Three Secrets (1950), The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), A Face in the Crowd (1957), Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), In Harm's Way (1965), A Mother's Right: The Elizabeth Morgan Story (1992), Heidi (1993) and Cookie's Fortune (1999). Won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Hud (1963); won an Emmy for portrayal of Olivia Walton in tv movie "The Homecoming," which inspired "The Waltons."

See also autobiography (with Richard DeNeut) As I Am (Simon & Schuster, 1988); Barry Farrell, Pat and Roald (Random, 1969); (tv movie) The Patricia Neal Story, starring Glenda Jackson (1981); and Women in World History.