BIO

Greer Garson was born Eileen Evelyn Greer Garson in London, in 1904.   Her father was a clerk who died when she was very young. Her mother was the actress Nina Ross.   She was educated at the University of London where she earned degrees in French and 18th-century literature.   She intended to teach, but instead began working at an advertising agency and appeared in local theatre.

She appeared on British television during its earliest years, beginning in 1937, including the first instance of a Shakespeare performance on television.

Garson was discovered by the producer Louis B. Mayer while he was visiting London.   She signed a contract with MGM and appeared in her first American film, Goodbye, Mr. Chips, in 1939, at the age of 35.   She received her first Academy Award nomination for the role.

Garson went on to become a major box office star, winning the Academy Award for Mrs. Miniver (1942).   She received another five Oscar nominations for Blossoms in the Dust (1941), Madame Curie (1943), Mrs. Parkington (1944), The Valley Of Decision (1945) and Sunrise at Campobello (1960).

Although she continued to appear on television, her last film role was in 1967.

Garson made her Broadway debut as a replacement for Rosalind Russell in 1958.   She moved behind the scenes to produce four productions through 1981, receiving a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding New Play for On Golden Pond (1979).

She married three times:

1. Edward Snelson, civil servant, 1933-1940, divorced.   Although she did not divorce for several years, she moved back in with her mother after the honeymoon.
2. Richard Ney, actor, 1943-1947, divorced.   She met Ney on the set of Mrs. Miniver where she played his mother.
3. Elijah “Buddy” Fogelson, Texas oilman, 1949-1987, widowed.

Garson died of congestive heart failure in Dallas, Texas, in 1996. She was 91 years old.

Additional English stage history is available at:

Additional Broadway stage history is available at:

Additional biographical information is available at:

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