Viveca Lindfors
Encyclopedia
Elsa Viveca Torstensdotter Lindfors (29 December 1920 – 25 October 1995), better known under her professional name of Viveca Lindfors, was a Swedish stage and film actress.
, Sweden
, the daughter of Karin Emilia Therese (née
Dymling) and Axel Torsten Lindfors. She trained at the Royal Dramatic Theatre School, Stockholm. Soon after, she became a theater and film star in Sweden. She moved to the United States in 1946 after being signed by Warner Bros.
and began working in Hollywood. She appeared in more than one hundred films including Night Unto Night
, No Sad Songs for Me, Dark City
, King of Kings, Creepshow
, and Stargate
.
She appeared with actors such as Ronald Reagan
, Jeffrey Hunter
, Charlton Heston
, Lizabeth Scott
and Errol Flynn
. She also appeared on television, including the 1959 episode "The Temple of the Swinging Doll" of the NBC
espionage
drama Five Fingers
, starring David Hedison
. Later, she had a recurring role on the ABC
series Life Goes On
, for which she won an Emmy Award
. Lindfors appeared with Joseph Cotten
and Ward Bond
in the 1957 film The Halliday Brand
. One of her last performances was in the original Stargate
film.
An original and mesmerizing stage presence, her roles ranged from Strindberg
to Shakespeare to the musical Pal Joey.
In 1962, she shared the Silver Bear for Best Actress
award with Rita Gam
at the Berlin Film Festival
, for their performances in Tad Danielewski
's No Exit
.
She was married four times: to Harry Hasso
, a Swedish cinematographer; Folke Rogard
, a Swedish attorney and FIDE President; Don Siegel
, the director; and George Tabori
, a Hungarian writer, producer and director. She had three children: two sons (John Tabori with Hasso, and the actor Kristoffer Tabori
, with Siegel) and a daughter (Lena Tabori, with Rogard).
In the last years of her life, she taught acting at the School of Visual Arts in New York. She had returned to her native Sweden to perform in the play In Search of Strindberg. She died there of rheumatoid arthritis
at the age of 74, and was buried there. In New York, a service was held at the Actors Studio
where Gene Frankel
spoke to an audience about his respect and affection for her.
Life and career
Lindfors was born in UppsalaUppsala
- Economy :Today Uppsala is well established in medical research and recognized for its leading position in biotechnology.*Abbott Medical Optics *GE Healthcare*Pfizer *Phadia, an offshoot of Pharmacia*Fresenius*Q-Med...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, the daughter of Karin Emilia Therese (née
Married and maiden names
A married name is the family name adopted by a person upon marriage. When a person assumes the family name of her spouse, the new name replaces the maiden name....
Dymling) and Axel Torsten Lindfors. She trained at the Royal Dramatic Theatre School, Stockholm. Soon after, she became a theater and film star in Sweden. She moved to the United States in 1946 after being signed by Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
and began working in Hollywood. She appeared in more than one hundred films including Night Unto Night
Night Unto Night
Night Unto Night is a 1949 drama film directed by Don Siegel, based on the 1944 novel by Philip Wylie.-Cast:* Ronald Reagan - John Galen* Viveca Lindfors - Ann Gracy* Broderick Crawford - C.L. Shawn* Rosemary DeCamp - Thalia Shawn* Osa Massen - Lisa...
, No Sad Songs for Me, Dark City
Dark City (1950 film)
Dark City is a 1950 film noir. The casting of Charlton Heston—in his first Hollywood film appearance—as a petty hood is unusual in light of his subsequent career. The film also features Jack Webb and Harry Morgan, who both went on to co-star in Dragnet. The musical score was composed by Franz...
, King of Kings, Creepshow
Creepshow
Creepshow is a 1982 American horror anthology film directed by George A. Romero and written by Stephen King. The film's ensemble cast included Ted Danson, Leslie Nielsen, Hal Holbrook, E.G...
, and Stargate
Stargate (film)
Stargate is a 1994 American adventure-military science fiction film released through Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Carolco Pictures. Created by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich, the film is the first release in the Stargate franchise...
.
She appeared with actors such as Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
, Jeffrey Hunter
Jeffrey Hunter
Jeffrey Hunter was an American film and television actor. His most famous roles are as Jesus in the film King of Kings, as Martin Pawley in The Searchers, and as Capt...
, Charlton Heston
Charlton Heston
Charlton Heston was an American actor of film, theatre and television. Heston is known for heroic roles in films such as The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, El Cid, and Planet of the Apes...
, Lizabeth Scott
Lizabeth Scott
Lizabeth Scott is an American actress and singer widely known for her film noir roles.-Early life:She was born Emma Matzo in the Pine Brook section of Scranton, Pennsylvania, one of six children, to Ruthenian parents who had emigrated from Uzhgorod, in what is now Ukraine...
and Errol Flynn
Errol Flynn
Errol Leslie Flynn was an Australian-born actor. He was known for his romantic swashbuckler roles in Hollywood films, being a legend and his flamboyant lifestyle.-Early life:...
. She also appeared on television, including the 1959 episode "The Temple of the Swinging Doll" of the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
espionage
Espionage
Espionage or spying involves an individual obtaining information that is considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information. Espionage is inherently clandestine, lest the legitimate holder of the information change plans or take other countermeasures once it...
drama Five Fingers
Five Fingers (TV series)
For other uses see 5 Fingers Five Fingers is an NBC adventure/drama series set in Europe during the Cold War loosely based on the 1952 film 5 Fingers, starring James Mason and Danielle Darrieux...
, starring David Hedison
David Hedison
Albert David Hedison, Jr. is an Armenian-American film, television, and stage actor. He was billed as Al Hedison in his early film work. In 1959, when he was cast in the role of Victor Sebastian in the short-lived espionage television series Five Fingers, NBC insisted that he change his name...
. Later, she had a recurring role on the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
series Life Goes On
Life Goes On (TV series)
Life Goes On is a television series that aired on ABC from September 12, 1989 to May 23, 1993. The show centers on the Thacher family living in suburban Chicago: Drew, his wife Elizabeth, and their children Paige, Rebecca, and Charles, who is known as Corky...
, for which she won an Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
. Lindfors appeared with Joseph Cotten
Joseph Cotten
Joseph Cheshire Cotten was an American actor of stage and film. Cotten achieved prominence on Broadway, starring in the original productions of The Philadelphia Story and Sabrina Fair...
and Ward Bond
Ward Bond
Wardell Edwin "Ward" Bond was an American film actor whose rugged appearance and easygoing charm were featured in over 200 movies and the television series Wagon Train.-Early life:...
in the 1957 film The Halliday Brand
The Halliday Brand
The Halliday Brand is a 1957 Western film directed by Joseph H. Lewis and starring Joseph Cotten.-Cast:* Joseph Cotten - Daniel Halliday* Viveca Lindfors - Aleta Burris* Betsy Blair - Martha Halliday* Ward Bond - Big Dan Halliday...
. One of her last performances was in the original Stargate
Stargate
Stargate is a adventure military science fiction franchise, initially conceived by Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin. The first film in the franchise was simply titled Stargate. It was originally released on October 28, 1994, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Carolco, and became a hit, grossing nearly...
film.
An original and mesmerizing stage presence, her roles ranged from Strindberg
Strindberg
Strindberg may refer to:People* August Strindberg , Swedish dramatist and painter* Nils Strindberg , Swedish photographer* Anita Strindberg , Swedish actor* Henrik Strindberg , Swedish composerOther...
to Shakespeare to the musical Pal Joey.
In 1962, she shared the Silver Bear for Best Actress
Silver Bear for Best Actress
The Silver Bear for Best Actress is the Berlin International Film Festival's award for achievement in performance by an actress.-Awards:- External links :*...
award with Rita Gam
Rita Gam
Rita Gam is an American film and television actress and documentary film maker. She was nominated for a Golden Globe and won the Silver Bear for Best Actress.-Career:...
at the Berlin Film Festival
12th Berlin International Film Festival
The 12th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from June 22 to July 3, 1962.-Jury:* King Vidor * André Michel* Emeric Pressburger* Hideo Kikumori* Dolores del Río* Jurgen Schildt* Max Gammeter* Günther Stapenhorst* Bruno E...
, for their performances in Tad Danielewski
Tad Danielewski
Tad Danielewski was a Polish-born American film director.-Early years:...
's No Exit
No Exit (1962 film)
No Exit is a 1962 film adaptation of Jean-Paul Sartre's play No Exit directed by Tad Danielewski.-Cast:* Carlos Brown - Roger Delaney III* Elsa Dorian - Shirley* Rita Gam - Estelle* Mario Horna - Albert* Miguel A...
.
She was married four times: to Harry Hasso
Harry Hasso
Harry Hasso wasborn in Germany in Frankenthal 1904. He workedin Sweden and Germany as a cameraman andalso wrote some of the music and manuscripts for some...
, a Swedish cinematographer; Folke Rogard
Folke Rogard
Bror Axel Folke Per Rogard was a Swedish lawyer and chess official.He was born in Stockholm. He was Vice-President of the international chess governing body, FIDE, from 1947 to 1949 and then succeeded Alexander Rueb as President. He held the post until succeeded by Max Euwe in 1970.-External links:...
, a Swedish attorney and FIDE President; Don Siegel
Don Siegel
Donald Siegel was an influential American film director and producer. His name variously appeared in the credits of his films as both Don Siegel and Donald Siegel.-Early life:...
, the director; and George Tabori
George Tabori
George Tabori was a Hungarian writer and theater director.-Life and career:Tabori was born in Budapest as György Tábori, a son of Kornél and Elsa Tábori. His father died in Auschwitz in 1944, but his mother and his brother Paul managed to escape the Nazis. His son Peter Tabori and again his son...
, a Hungarian writer, producer and director. She had three children: two sons (John Tabori with Hasso, and the actor Kristoffer Tabori
Kristoffer Tabori
Kristoffer Tabori is an American actor and television director.-Early life:Tabori was born in Malibu, California, the son of director Don Siegel and Swedish-American actress Viveca Lindfors. He appeared in one of his mother's films, Weddings and Babies, as a young boy...
, with Siegel) and a daughter (Lena Tabori, with Rogard).
In the last years of her life, she taught acting at the School of Visual Arts in New York. She had returned to her native Sweden to perform in the play In Search of Strindberg. She died there of rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder that may affect many tissues and organs, but principally attacks synovial joints. The process produces an inflammatory response of the synovium secondary to hyperplasia of synovial cells, excess synovial fluid, and the development...
at the age of 74, and was buried there. In New York, a service was held at the Actors Studio
Actors Studio
The Actors Studio is a membership organization for professional actors, theatre directors and playwrights at 432 West 44th Street in the Clinton neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. It was founded October 5, 1947, by Elia Kazan, Cheryl Crawford, Robert Lewis and Anna Sokolow who provided...
where Gene Frankel
Gene Frankel
__notoc__Eugene V. "Gene" Frankel was an American actor, theater director, and acting teacher especially notable in the founding of the off-Broadway scene...
spoke to an audience about his respect and affection for her.
Filmography
- Adventures of Don JuanAdventures of Don JuanAdventures of Don Juan, known in the United Kingdom as The New Adventures of Don Juan, is a 1948 adventure Technicolor romance film made by Warner Bros...
(1948) .... Queen Margaret - Dark CityDark CityDark City is a 1998 neo-noir science fiction film directed by Alex Proyas. It was adapted from a screenplay written by Proyas, David S. Goyer and Lem Dobbs. The film stars Rufus Sewell, Kiefer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly, and William Hurt. Sewell plays John Murdoch, a man suffering from amnesia...
(1950) .... Victoria Winant - Four in a JeepFour in a JeepFour in a Jeep is a 1951 Swiss drama film directed by Leopold Lindtberg.-Cast:* Ralph Meeker - Sergeant William Long* Viveca Lindfors - Franziska Idinger* Yossi Yadin - Sergeant Vassilij Voroshenko...
(1951) .... Franziska Idinger - MoonfleetMoonfleetMoonfleet is a tale of smuggling by the English novelist J. Meade Falkner, first published in 1898. The book was extremely popular among children worldwide up until the 1970s, mostly for its themes of adventure and gripping storyline...
(1955) .... Mrs. Minton - I Accuse!I Accuse!I Accuse! is a 1958 biographical drama film directed by and starring José Ferrer. The film is based on the true story of the Dreyfus Case, in which a Jewish captain in the French Army is falsely accused of treason.-Plot synopsis:...
(1958) .... Lucie Dreyfus - RawhideRawhide (TV series)Rawhide is an American Western series that aired for eight seasons on the CBS network on Friday nights, from January 9, 1959 to September 3, 1965, before moving to Tuesday nights from September 14, 1965 until January 4, 1966, with a total of 217 black-and-white episodes...
.... Luisa Esquivel Y Hadley (1 episode, 1959) - Johnny MidnightJohnny Midnight (TV series)Johnny Midnight is an American crime drama that aired for one season in syndicated from January to December 1960. The series stars Edmond O'Brien as the title character.-Synopsis:...
.... Simone in episode "X Equals Murder" (1960) - The Story of RuthThe Story of RuthThe Story of Ruth is a 1960 American biblical drama film directed by Henry Koster, based on the Biblical account of Ruth. The title role is portrayed by Jewish actress Elana Eden, with Stuart Whitman as Boaz, Peggy Wood as Naomi, and Tom Tryon as Mahlon....
(1960) .... Eleilat - Weddings and BabiesWeddings and BabiesWeddings and Babies is a 1960 film directed, produced, and written by independent filmmaker Morris Engel. Starring Viveca Lindfors and John Myhers....
(1960).... Bea - King of KingsKing of KingsKing of Kings is a title that has been used by several monarchies and empires throughout history. The title originates in the Ancient Near East. It is broadly the equivalent of the later title Emperor....
(1961) .... Claudia - TempestTempestTempest or The Tempest may refer to:Tempest, a violent storm- Fiction :* The Tempest, a 1611 play by William Shakespeare** The Tempest , a 1667 adaptation of Shakespeare's play by John Dryden and William D'Avenant...
....Catherine the Great (1961) - The UntouchablesThe Untouchables (1959 TV series)The Untouchables is an American crime drama that ran from 1959 to 1963 on ABC. Based on the memoir of the same name by Eliot Ness and Oscar Fraley, it fictionalized the experiences of Eliot Ness, a real-life Prohibition agent, as he fought crime in Chicago during the 1930s with the help of a...
.... Mrs. Jarreau (1 episode, 1961) - Naked CityNaked City (TV series)Naked City is a police drama series which aired from 1958 to 1963 on the ABC television network. It was inspired by the 1948 motion picture of the same name, and mimics its dramatic "semi-documentary" format....
.... Lulu Kronen (1 episode, 1961) - The Damned (1961)
- No ExitNo Exit (1962 film)No Exit is a 1962 film adaptation of Jean-Paul Sartre's play No Exit directed by Tad Danielewski.-Cast:* Carlos Brown - Roger Delaney III* Elsa Dorian - Shirley* Rita Gam - Estelle* Mario Horna - Albert* Miguel A...
(1962) - The Defenders .... Madeline Flanders / ... (2 episodes, 1962–1964)
- Voyage to the Bottom of the SeaVoyage to the Bottom of the SeaVoyage to the Bottom of the Sea is an American science fiction film, produced and directed by Irwin Allen, released by 20th Century Fox in 1961. The story was written by Irwin Allen and Charles Bennett. Walter Pidgeon starred as Admiral Harriman Nelson, with Robert Sterling as Captain Lee Crane...
.... Dr. Laura Rettig (1 episode, 1964) - 12 O'Clock High .... Nicole Trouchard (1 episode, 1964)
- BonanzaBonanzaBonanza is an American western television series that both ran on and was a production of NBC from September 12, 1959 to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 430 episodes, it ranks as the second longest running western series and still continues to air in syndication. It centers on the...
.... Angela Bergstrom (1 episode, 1965) - Ben CaseyBen CaseyBen Casey is an American medical drama series which ran on ABC from 1961 to 1966. The show was known for its opening titles, which consisted of a hand drawing the symbols "♂, ♀, *, †, ∞" on a chalkboard, as cast member Sam Jaffe intoned, "Man, woman, birth, death, infinity." Neurosurgeon Joseph...
.... Mrs. Boone / ... (2 episodes, 1965–1966) - The Diary of Anne Frank (1967) (TV)
- The F.B.I.The F.B.I.The F.B.I. is an American television series that was broadcast on ABC from 1965 to 1974. It was sponsored by the Ford Motor Company, and the characters almost always drove Ford vehicles in the series - indeed, this was a key point of Mad magazine's July 1971 satire of the series .-Synopsis:Produced...
.... Eva Bolen / ... (2 episodes, 1967–1969) - The Interns (1 episode, 1970)
- A House Without BoundariesA House Without BoundariesA House Without Boundaries is a 1972 Spanish drama film directed by Pedro Olea. It was entered into the 22nd Berlin International Film Festival.-Cast:* María Arias* Charly Bravo* Geraldine Chaplin* Luis Ciges* Jesús Fernández* José Franco...
(1972) - The Way We WereThe Way We WereThe Way We Were is a 1973 American romantic dramatic film co-starring Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford, directed by Sydney Pollack. The screenplay by Arthur Laurents was based on his college days at Cornell University and his experiences with the House Un-American Activities Committee.A box...
(1973) .... Paula Reisner - Inside the Third ReichInside the Third ReichInside the Third Reich is a memoir written by Albert Speer, the Nazi Minister of Armaments from 1942 to 1945, serving as Hitler's main architect before this period...
(1982) (TV) .... Gypsy woman - CreepshowCreepshowCreepshow is a 1982 American horror anthology film directed by George A. Romero and written by Stephen King. The film's ensemble cast included Ted Danson, Leslie Nielsen, Hal Holbrook, E.G...
.... Aunt Bedelia (1982) - DynastyDynastyA dynasty is a sequence of rulers considered members of the same family. Historians traditionally consider many sovereign states' history within a framework of successive dynasties, e.g., China, Ancient Egypt and the Persian Empire...
.... Adriana (1 episode, 1982) - Dies rigorose LebenDies rigorose LebenDies rigorose Leben is a 1983 German drama film directed by Vadim Glowna. It was entered into the 33rd Berlin International Film Festival, where it won an Honourable Mention.-Cast:* Ángela Molina as Rosa* Jerzy Radziwilowicz as Joey...
(1983) - Trapper John, M.D.Trapper John, M.D.Trapper John, M.D. is an American television medical drama and spin-off of the film MASH, concerning a lovable surgeon who became a mentor and father figure in San Francisco, California. The show ran on CBS from September 23, 1979, to September 4, 1986....
.... Zella Korevechi (1 episode, 1984) - The Sure ThingThe Sure ThingThe Sure Thing is a 1985 romantic comedy directed by Rob Reiner, written by Steven L. Bloom and Jonathan Roberts and starring John Cusack, Daphne Zuniga, Viveca Lindfors, and Nicollette Sheridan...
(1985) .... Professor Taub - Frankenstein's AuntFrankenstein's AuntFrankenstein's Aunt is the protagonist of three novels - two by Allan Rune Pettersson and a seven-episode TV miniseries based on the first one...
(1987) (TV) .... Hannah von Frankenstein - The Ann Jillian Story (1988) (TV) .... Ann's Mother
- China BeachChina BeachChina Beach is an American dramatic television series set at an evacuation hospital during the Vietnam War. The title refers to My Khe beach in the city of Da Nang, Vietnam, which was nicknamed "China Beach" by unknown foreigners, most likely Americans...
.... Ilsa (1 episode, 1990) - The Exorcist IIIThe Exorcist IIIThe Exorcist III is a 1990 American supernatural thriller written and directed by William Peter Blatty. It is the second sequel of The Exorcist series and a film adaptation of Blatty's novel, Legion . The film stars George C. Scott, Brad Dourif, Ed Flanders, and Nicol Williamson...
(1990) .... Nurse X - Law & OrderLaw & OrderLaw & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,...
.... Helga Holtz (1 episode, 1993) - StargateStargate (film)Stargate is a 1994 American adventure-military science fiction film released through Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Carolco Pictures. Created by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich, the film is the first release in the Stargate franchise...
(1994) .... Catherine Langford - Last Summer in the HamptonsLast Summer in the HamptonsLast Summer in the Hamptons is a 1995 movie directed by Henry Jaglom and released by Rainbow Releasing and Live Entertainment and features a large eclectic ensemble cast....
(1995) .... Helena Mora
Major Stage Appearances
- I've Got Sixpence .... Inez Cabral (1952)
- AnastasiaAnastasiaAnastasia is a personal name and the female form of the Greek male name Anastasius/Anastasios meaning "resurrection." The name, and its male counterpart, were often given to Greek children born around December 2 or around Easter during the early days of Christianity. It is the name of several...
.... Anna (1954–55) - Miss JulieMiss JulieMiss Julie is a naturalistic play written in 1888 by August Strindberg dealing with class, love, lust, the battle of the sexes, and the interaction among them...
.... Miss Julie and The StrongerThe StrongerThe Stronger is a famous 1889 play by August Strindberg. The play is quite short, consisting of only one scene that can be performed in approximately 10 minutes. The characters consist of only two women: a "Mrs. X" and a "Miss. Y", only one of whom speak, an example of a dramatic monologue...
.... Miss Y (1956) - King LearKing LearKing Lear is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. The title character descends into madness after foolishly disposing of his estate between two of his three daughters based on their flattery, bringing tragic consequences for all. The play is based on the legend of Leir of Britain, a mythological...
.... Cordelia (1956) - Pal JoeyPal JoeyPal Joey is a 1940 epistolary novel by John O'Hara, which became the basis of the 1940 stage musical comedy and 1957 motion picture of the same name, with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart....
.... Vera Simpson (1963) - Postmark Zero (1965)
- Dance of Death .... Alice (1971)
External links
- Edward WinterEdward Winter (chess historian)Edward Winter is an English journalist, archivist, historian, collector and author about the game of chess. He writes a regular column on that subject, Chess Notes, and is also a regular columnist for ChessBase.-Chess Notes:...
, The FIDE President and the Actress. ChessBase.com. Retrieved on 2009-01-20. - Photographs and literature