Carrie Snodgress

Carrie Snodgress
Snodgress in 1970
Born
Caroline Louise Snodgress

(1945-10-27)October 27, 1945
Barrington, Illinois, U.S.
DiedApril 1, 2004(2004-04-01) (aged 58)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Education
OccupationActress
Years active1969–2004
Spouse(s)Robert Jones
(m. 1981; div. ?)
Partner(s)Neil Young (1970–75)
Jack Nitzsche (late 1970s)
Children1

Caroline Louise Snodgress (October 27, 1945 – April 1, 2004)[1] was an American actress. She is best remembered for her role in the film Diary of a Mad Housewife (1970), for which she was nominated for an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award as well as winning two Golden Globes and two Laurel Awards.

Early life

Born in Barrington, Illinois, Snodgress attended Maine Township High School East in Park Ridge, then Northern Illinois University before leaving to pursue acting. She trained for the stage at the Goodman School of Drama at the Art Institute of Chicago (later DePaul University), graduating with a master's degree[2] and earning the Sarah Siddons award as an outstanding graduate.[3]

Career

After some minor TV appearances, she made her film debut in an uncredited appearance in Easy Rider in 1969, followed by a credit in 1970 for Rabbit, Run.[4] Her next film, Diary of a Mad Housewife (1970), earned her a nomination for Academy Award for Best Actress and two Golden Globe wins, as Best Actress in a Comedy or a Musical[5] and New Star of the Year – Actress.[6]

Between 1970 and 1978, Snodgress didn't make any acting appearances, in order to focus on raising her son. She returned to acting in 1978 in The Fury.[7]

According to Sylvester Stallone, Snodgress was the first actress considered for the role of Adrian in Rocky. However, Snodgress declined the part because it was not well-paid.[8] Rocky director John G. Avildsen cast Snodgress in two of his later films: A Night in Heaven and 8 Seconds.

Snodgress made her off-Broadway debut in 1981 as a replacement in John Ford Noonan's A Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking. That year she married painter Robert Jones, but they separated within a few years.[3] She appeared in All the Way Home, Oh, What a Lovely War!, Caesar and Cleopatra, Tartuffe, The Balcony and The Boor (all at the Goodman Theatre, Chicago); and Curse of the Starving Class at the Tiffany Theatre (in Los Angeles). Other films include Murphy's Law, White Man's Burden, Pale Rider and Blue Sky. She also worked extensively in television.[9]

In her final film, Katja von Garnier's Iron Jawed Angels (2004) about the women's suffrage movement during the 1910s, Snodgress portrayed the mother of Alice Paul, played by Hilary Swank.[10]

Personal life

From 1970 to 1975, Snodgress lived with musician Neil Young and their son Zeke, who was born with cerebral palsy.[11][12] Young's song "A Man Needs a Maid" was inspired by Snodgress, featuring the lyric "I fell in love with the actress / she was playing a part that I could understand."[13] She also inspired the songs "Heart of Gold", "Harvest" and "Out on the Weekend" from Young's album Harvest,[14] as well as "Motion Pictures" from the 1974 album On the Beach. She and Young split in 1975,[15] and his song "Already One", which later appeared on his 1978 album Comes a Time, bookends their relationship.

Later she and musician and film score composer Jack Nitzsche became lovers. Nitzsche had previously worked with Young on several albums. In 1979, Nitzsche was charged with threatening to kill her after he barged into her home and beat her with a handgun. He pleaded guilty to threatening her, was fined, and placed on three years' probation.[10][16] She married Robert Jones in 1981.

Death

While waiting for a liver transplant, Snodgress was hospitalized in Los Angeles, where she died of heart failure on April 1, 2004, at age 58.[10][17] She was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale.[18]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1969 Easy Rider Woman in Commune Uncredited
1970 Diary of a Mad Housewife Bettina "Tina" Balser
Rabbit, Run Janice Angstrom
1972 Journey Through the Past Herself
1978 The Fury Hester
1980 The Attic Louise Elmore
1982 Homework Dr. Delingua
Trick or Treats Joan O'Keefe Adams
1983 A Night in Heaven Mrs. Johnson
1985 Pale Rider Sarah Wheeler
Rainy Day Friends Margot
1986 Murphy's Law Joan Freeman
1988 Blueberry Hill Becca Dane
1989 Chill Factor Amy Carlisle
1990 Across the Tracks Rosemary Maloney
1993 The Ballad of Little Jo Ruth Badger
1994 8 Seconds Elsie Frost
Blue Sky Vera Johnson
1995 White Man's Burden Josine
1997 Up Above the World Unfinished
1998 Wild Things Ruby
1999 A Stranger in the Kingdom Ruth Kinneson
2000 In the Light of the Moon Augusta Wilhelmine Gein Alternate title: Ed Gein
2001 Bartleby Book Publisher
The Forsaken Ina Hamm

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1969 Judd, for the Defense Eileen Episode: "The Crystal Maze"
The Virginian Josephine Delphinia Episode: "Crime Wave in Buffalo Springs"
The Outsider Janet / Diane Episode: "The Flip Side"
The Bold Ones: The Lawyers Megan Baker Episode: "The Whole World is Watching"
Marcus Welby, M.D. Laura Episode: "The White Cane"
1970 Medical Center Mim Hoagley Episode: "The Deceived"
1982 Quincy M.E. Mrs. Vicki McGuire Episode: "The Face of Fear"
1983 ABC Afterschool Special Mrs. Cranston Episode: "Andrea's Story: A Hitchhiking Tragedy"
1984 Highway to Heaven Evelyn Nealy Episode: "To Touch the Moon"
1986 Murder, She Wrote Connie Vernon Episode: "If a Body Meet a Body"
1988 Friday the 13th: The Series Dr. Viola Rhodes Episode: "Brain Drain"
Crossbow Lady Montal Episode: "Ladyship"
1989 In the Heat of the Night Mrs. Kroller Episode: "Crackdown"
1990 Shades of LA Lt. Armacost Episode: "Pointers from Paz"
1991 Equal Justice Marla Prentiss Episode: "Courting Disaster"
1992 Civil Wars Mary Esquavil Episode: "Drone of Arc"
Reasonable Doubts Christine Anderson Episode: "Try to Be Nice, What Does It Get You?"
1993 The X-Files Darlene Morris Episode: "Conduit"
Murder, She Wrote Irene Macinoy Episode: "Love & Hate in Cabot Cove"
1994–95 Phantom 2040 Heloise Walker (voice) Recurring role
1995 Chicago Hope Mrs. Weber Episode: "Every Day a Little Death"
Sisters Betty Merrill Episode: "For Everything a Season: Part 2"
1998 ER Mrs. Lang Episode: "A Hole in the Heart"
Touched by an Angel Judy Bowers Episode: "Miles to Go Before I Sleep"
2002 Judging Amy Dr. Larabie Episode: "People of the Lie"
2003 The West Wing Mrs. Martha Rowe Episode: "Red Haven's on Fire"

TV films and miniseries

Year Title Role
1969 Silent Night, Lonely Night Janet
1970 The Forty-Eight Hour Mile Janet / Diane
1971 The Impatient Heart Grace McCormack
1978 Love's Dark Ride Nancy Warren
1979 Fast Friends Diana Hayward
The Solitary Man Sharon Keyes
1984 Nadia Stefania Comaneci
1985 A Reason to Live Isobel Bennett
1990 The Rose and the Jackal Joan Pinkerton
1991 Mission of the Shark: The Saga of the U.S.S. Indianapolis Louise McVay
1992 Woman with a Past Mama
1994 Rise and Walk: The Dennis Byrd Story Mrs. Byrd
1996 Death Benefit Virginia McGinnis
All She Ever Wanted Alma Winchester
2004 Iron Jawed Angels Mrs. Paul

Awards and nominations

Award Year Category Work Result Ref.
Academy Award 1971 Best Actress Diary of a Mad Housewife Nominated [19]
British Academy Film Award 1972 Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles Diary of a Mad Housewife Nominated [20]
Daytime Emmy Awards 1984 Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming ABC Afterschool Special ("Andrea's Story: A Hitchhiking Tragedy") Nominated
Golden Globe Awards 1971 Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy Diary of a Mad Housewife Won [21]
New Star of the Year – Actress Won
Laurel Award 1971 Best Dramatic Performance, Female Won
Star of Tomorrow, Female Won
National Society of Film Critics Award 1970 Best Actress 5th place

References

  1. ↑ "Carrie Snodgress Biography". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on May 29, 2022. Retrieved May 28, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  2. ↑ "Carrie Snodgress". variety.com. Variety - Penske Media Corporation. April 8, 2004. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
  3. 1 2 Bergan, Ronald (April 14, 2004). "Obituary Carrie Snodgress". The Guardian. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
  4. ↑ Browning, Norma Lee (January 4, 1970). "Miss Snodgress arrives in Hollywood and everyone decides the name's gotta go". Chicago Tribune. p. 3, section 10.
  5. ↑ "Winners & Nominees Actress In A Leading Role – Musical Or Comedy (1971)". GoldenGlobes.com. Golden Globe Awards. Archived from the original on December 31, 2018. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Winners & Nominees : New Star Of The Year – Actress (1971)". GoldenGlobes.com. Golden Globe Awards. Archived from the original on July 27, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  7. ↑ Oliver, Myrna (April 10, 2004). "Carrie Snodgress, 57; Best Actress Nominee". Los Angeles Times.
  8. ↑ "Rocky: Every Actress Considered for Adrian". Screen Rant. July 3, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Carrie Snodgress (movie and TV credits)". TV Guide. Archived from the original on December 31, 2018. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  10. 1 2 3 "Carrie Snodgress, 57, Dies; Starred as 'Mad Housewife'". The New York Times. April 10, 2004.
  11. ↑ Starkey, Arun (November 28, 2024). "'Motion Pictures': Neil Young's ultimate ode to being cheated on". faroutmagazine.co.uk. Far Out. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
  12. ↑ Carr, David (September 19, 2012). "Neil Young Comes Clean". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  13. ↑ Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel (2010). Neil Young: Long May You Run: The Illustrated History. Voyageur Press. p. 65. ISBN 978-0760336472.
  14. ↑ Neil Young (February 1, 2022). Neil Young Radio. SiriusXM.
  15. ↑ Plummer, William (September 26, 1983). "'Mad Housewife' Carrie Snodgress Sues Rocker Neil Young for Support of Their Handicapped Son". People. 20 (13). Archived from the original on April 22, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
  16. ↑ AP Staff (October 23, 1979). "Carrie: It wasn't real rape". The Miami News. Cox Media Group. Associated Press. p. 6A. OCLC 10000467. Retrieved October 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ Oliver, Myrna (April 10, 2004). "Carrie Snodgress, 57; Best Actress Nominee". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 12, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  18. ↑ Forest Lawn-Glendale
  19. ↑ "The 43rd Academy Awards | 1971". www.oscars.org. October 4, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Film". Bafta. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Carrie Snodgress". Golden Globes. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.