Actress. A longtime star of the Broadway stage, she is probably best remembered for her role in Clare Boothe Luce's 1936 comedy of manners "The Women". A Michigan native, little is recorded of her early years save that she made her Broadway debut in the 1921 "Mr. Pim Passes By". Phyllis was to work steadily on the Great White Way in a succession of productions both comedic and dramatic and was cast as Edith Potter for the December 26, 1936, premiere of "The Women", then after remaining with the show during its year-and-a-half run joined Marjorie Main as the only members of the all-female cast selected to appear in George Cukor's 1939 silver screen presentation of the piece. She was Nancy Collister for the 1943 Hollywood feature "Let's Face It", played Edith Wilkins in the 1944 to 1946 comedy hit "Dear Ruth", starred in two 1952 Cukor movies, "The Marrying Kind" and "Pat and Mike", and earned her final Broadway credit in the 1954-1955 "Anniversary Waltz". Phyllis reprised her "Anniversary Waltz" role for the 1959 film version entitled "Happy Anniversary" then retired to the New York suburbs where she lived out her days and died of heart disease.
Actress. A longtime star of the Broadway stage, she is probably best remembered for her role in Clare Boothe Luce's 1936 comedy of manners "The Women". A Michigan native, little is recorded of her early years save that she made her Broadway debut in the 1921 "Mr. Pim Passes By". Phyllis was to work steadily on the Great White Way in a succession of productions both comedic and dramatic and was cast as Edith Potter for the December 26, 1936, premiere of "The Women", then after remaining with the show during its year-and-a-half run joined Marjorie Main as the only members of the all-female cast selected to appear in George Cukor's 1939 silver screen presentation of the piece. She was Nancy Collister for the 1943 Hollywood feature "Let's Face It", played Edith Wilkins in the 1944 to 1946 comedy hit "Dear Ruth", starred in two 1952 Cukor movies, "The Marrying Kind" and "Pat and Mike", and earned her final Broadway credit in the 1954-1955 "Anniversary Waltz". Phyllis reprised her "Anniversary Waltz" role for the 1959 film version entitled "Happy Anniversary" then retired to the New York suburbs where she lived out her days and died of heart disease.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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