---
name: "Geraldine Fitzgerald"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/geraldine-fitzgerald"
fi1m_id: "geraldine-fitzgerald"
imdb_id: "nm0280242"
tmdb_id: 30226
wikidata_id: "Q236396"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "24 November 1913"
died: "17 July 2005"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 6
average_fi1m_score: 72
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 6
updated: "2026-10-07T10:38:59.834188+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Geraldine Fitzgerald

## Identity

Geraldine Fitzgerald

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/geraldine-fitzgerald
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** geraldine-fitzgerald
- **IMDb ID:** nm0280242
- **TMDB ID:** 30226
- **Wikidata ID:** Q236396
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geraldine_Fitzgerald, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q236396, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0280242/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/30226

Actor. Born 24 November 1913 in Greystones, County Wicklow, Ireland. Died 17 July 2005.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 24 November 1913, Greystones, County Wicklow, Ireland
- **Died:** 17 July 2005
- **Active:** 1939–1981
- **Also known as:** First Lady of the American Theater, Gerry
- **Frequently works with:** [Bette Davis](https://film.one/person/bette-davis.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar nomination
- **Average Fi1m score:** 72, as actor, over 6 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1930s 78 (2), 1940s 67 (2), 1960s 73 (1), 1980s 72 (1)
- **Score spread:** 0 at 80+, 6 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 6 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 6, Romance 4, Comedy 1, Thriller 1
- **Screen time:** 11 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $100m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geraldine_Fitzgerald, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q236396, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0280242/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/30226

## Streaming the US now

- **Tubi:** [*Dark Victory*](https://film.one/film/dark-victory.md) (79)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Wuthering Heights*](https://film.one/film/wuthering-heights.md) (76)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*Arthur*](https://film.one/film/arthur.md) (72)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Geraldine Fitzgerald

> Geraldine Fitzgerald played strong-willed, sympathetic women in supporting parts, and did much of the work with her face. Warner Bros signed her off a Broadway stage, gave her two good roles in 1939 and clashed with her over the rest until the film career ran down.

In *Dark Victory* (1939) Ann King stands in a hospital corridor while the doctors talk about her friend, and Geraldine Fitzgerald plays her as someone rehearsing bad news. Nobody has told her anything. She has worked it out, and she is deciding how much of it Judith needs to hear. Bette Davis is a few rooms away refusing to be pitied, and Fitzgerald's job is to know more than her and say less, which she does almost entirely with her face. It was her first American film, and the part she was handed, in one form or another, for the rest of her working life.

She had come a long way round to it. She started at the Gate Theatre in Dublin in 1932, made British films from 1934 to 1937, and went to New York in 1938 to make her Broadway debut with Orson Welles's Mercury Theatre in *Heartbreak House*. A Warner Bros scout saw that production and signed her, and in 1939 she made *Dark Victory* and, for William Wyler, *Wuthering Heights*. Isabella Linton is the one person on that moor who says what she wants and pays for it, and Fitzgerald plays the wanting with a clarity nobody else in the film manages, Merle Oberon included. We felt for Isabella more than the film asks us to, because Fitzgerald refuses to make her foolish; she is simply a woman who has chosen badly and knows it. What happens to her belongs to the second half.

Then the studio and the actor fell out. She argued with Warner Bros over the parts she was given and over wanting to go back to the stage, the studio suspended her, and by the end of the 1940s the screen career had more or less stopped. *Three Strangers* (1946), with Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre, is the title from that decade we would most like to review. She said later, "I am proud of my rebellious moments. But I wish I'd handled them with more wit," which is about as fair a verdict as anyone has offered.

The stage took her back. She returned to New York in the 1950s and had her largest successes from 1971 onward, *Long Day's Journey Into Night* among them, and she directed as well as acted. On screen she became the older woman in the corner of other people's films: *The Pawnbroker* (1965), *Harry and Tonto* (1974), *Arthur* (1981) as Martha Bach. The voice, low and Irish, had not changed, and neither had the habit of watching the lead and letting us see what she thought.

We have only the two 1939 films to send you to, and they are the right two. Watch *Dark Victory* first, then *Wuthering Heights*, and keep an eye on whoever is standing slightly behind the star.

## Biography

Geraldine Fitzgerald (1913–2005) was an Irish-American actress. She made her stage debut at Dublin's Gate Theatre and appeared in several British films in the mid-1930s before moving to New York.

She made her Broadway debut in the Mercury Theatre production of *Heartbreak House* (1938). Her Hollywood career began with the role of Isabella Linton in *Wuthering Heights* (1939), for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress; she also appeared that year in *Dark Victory*. Later film roles included *The Pawnbroker* (1965), *Harry and Tonto* (1974) and *Arthur* (1981). She received a Daytime Emmy Award and was inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She also directed for the stage.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, nytimes.com.*

## On Fi1m (6)

- *Arthur* (1981), Fi1m 72, as Martha Bach — [page](https://film.one/film/arthur.md)
- *Rachel, Rachel* (1968), Fi1m 73, as Rev. Wood — [page](https://film.one/film/rachel-rachel.md)
- *Wilson* (1944), Fi1m 61, as Edith Bolling Galt — [page](https://film.one/film/wilson.md)
- *Watch on the Rhine* (1943), Fi1m 73, as Marthe de Brancovis — [page](https://film.one/film/watch-on-the-rhine.md)
- *Dark Victory* (1939), Fi1m 79, as Ann King — [page](https://film.one/film/dark-victory.md)
- *Wuthering Heights* (1939), Fi1m 76, as Isabella Linton — [page](https://film.one/film/wuthering-heights.md)

## Complete filmography (79)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Chalk* (1997), series, as Janet Slatt
- *Bump in the Night* (1991), as Mrs. Beauchamps
- *Dick Francis: Twice Shy* (1989), as Mrs. O'Rourke
- *Arthur 2: On the Rocks* (1988), as Martha Bach
- *A Year in the Life* (1987), series, as Mrs. Wilbourne
- *Night of Courage* (1987), as Abby Abelsen
- *Circle of Violence: A Family Drama* (1986), as Charlotte Kessling
- *Poltergeist II: The Other Side* (1986), as Gramma-Jess
- *The Golden Girls* (1985), series, as Anna, Martha — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-golden-girls.md)
- *Do You Remember Love* (1985), as Lorraine Wyatt
- *Kennedy* (1983), series, as Rose Kennedy
- *Easy Money* (1983), as Mrs. Monahan
- *Dixie: Changing Habits* (1983), as Sister Agnes
- *St. Elsewhere* (1982), series, as Margaret Ryan — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/st-elsewhere.md)
- *Blood Link* (1982), as Mrs. Thomason
- *Cagney & Lacey* (1982), series, Actor — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/cagney-and-lacey.md)
- *Arthur* (1981), as Martha Bach — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/arthur.md)
- *Nurse* (1981), series, as Helen McCall
- *Lovespell* (1981), as Bronwyn
- *The Jilting of Granny Weatherall* (1980), as Granny Weatherall
- *Trapper John, M.D.* (1979), series, as Bag lady
- *Tartuffe* (1978), as Madame Pernelle
- *Bye Bye Monkey* (1978), as Mrs. Toland
- *The Mango Tree* (1977), as Grandma Carr
- *The Quinns* (1977), as Peggy Quinn
- *Yesterday's Child* (1977), as Emma Talbot
- *Ah, Wilderness!* (1976), as Essie Miller
- *Echoes of a Summer* (1976), as Sara
- *Diary of the Dead* (1976), as Maud Kennaway
- *Beyond the Horizon* (1975), as Mrs. Atkins
- *Forget-Me-Not Lane* (1975), as Amy Bisley
- *Harry and Tonto* (1974), as Jessie
- *The Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd* (1974), as Grandmother
- *Me* (1973), as Ma
- *The Last American Hero* (1973), as Frau Jackson
- *Great Performances* (1971), series, as Grandmother, Amy Bisley, Mrs.Atkins, Essie Miller
- *The Best Of Everything* (1970), series, Actor
- *Rachel, Rachel* (1968), as Rev. Wood — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/rachel-rachel.md)
- *The Pawnbroker* (1965), as Marilyn Birchfield
- *The Alfred Hitchcock Hour* (1962), series, as Agatha Tomlin
- *The Defenders* (1961), series, as Lila Windell
- *The Fiercest Heart* (1961), as Tante Marie
- *The Moon and Sixpence* (1959), as Amy Strickland
- *Naked City* (1958), series, as Brigid Delito, Lillian Clinton
- *Ten North Frederick* (1958), as Edith Chapin
- *Alfred Hitchcock Presents* (1955), series, as Elizabeth Burton
- *Climax!* (1954), series, as Miriam Lambert
- *Dark Possession* (1954), as Charlotte Bell Wheeler
- *Pontius Pilate* (1952), as Claudia Procula
- *Schlitz Playhouse of Stars* (1951), series, as Mary Todd Lincoln
- *The Late Edwina Black* (1951), as Elizabeth Grahame
- *Robert Montgomery Presents* (1950), series, as Elizabeth
- *Suspense* (1949), series, as Anna
- *Studio One* (1948), series, as Claudia Procula, Charlotte Bell Wheeler, Marian McNeill, Duchess
- *So Evil My Love* (1948), as Susan Courtney
- *Nobody Lives Forever* (1946), as Gladys Halvorsen
- *O.S.S.* (1946), as Miss Ellen Rogers / Madame Elaine Duprez
- *Three Strangers* (1946), as Crystal Shackleford
- *The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry* (1945), as Lettie Quincey
- *Wilson* (1944), as Edith Bolling Galt — Fi1m 61, [page](https://film.one/film/wilson.md)
- *Ladies Courageous* (1944), as Virgie Alford
- *Watch on the Rhine* (1943), as Marthe de Brancovis — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/watch-on-the-rhine.md)
- *The Gay Sisters* (1942), as Evelyn Gaylord
- *Shining Victory* (1941), as Dr. Mary Murray
- *Flight from Destiny* (1941), as Betty Farroway
- *'Til We Meet Again* (1940), as Bonny Coburn
- *A Child is Born* (1939), as Grace Sutton
- *Dark Victory* (1939), as Ann King — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/dark-victory.md)
- *Wuthering Heights* (1939), as Isabella Linton — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/wuthering-heights.md)
- *The Mill on the Floss* (1937), as Maggie Tulliver
- *Debt of Honour* (1936), as Peggy Mayhew
- *Cafe Mascot* (1936), as Moira O'Flynn
- *Department Store* (1935), as Jane Grey
- *Turn of the Tide* (1935), as Ruth Fosdyck
- *Blind Justice* (1935), as Peggy Summers
- *Three Witnesses* (1935), as Diane Morton
- *The Lad* (1935), as Joan Fandon
- *The Ace of Spades* (1935), as Evelyn Daventry
- *Open All Night* (1934), as Jill

## Gallery

- ![Boyd Theater - 11 Sep MC (1946)](https://film.one/media/person/7130/gallery-eb3356c5ce38.jpg) Boyd Theater - 11 Sep MC (1946) — Self-Scanned, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/1946_-_Boyd_Theater_-_11_Sep_MC_-_Allentown_PA.jpg/1280px-1946_-_Boyd_Theater_-_11_Sep_MC_-_Allentown_PA.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Subjects of the photograph are Geraldine Fitzgerald as Ellie Dunn and Orson Welles as Captain Shotover. (1938)](https://film.one/media/person/7130/gallery-538cd658236e.jpg) Subjects of the photograph are Geraldine Fitzgerald as Ellie Dunn and Orson Welles as Captain Shotover. (1938) — Photograph by Lucas Pritchard Studio, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/Heartbreak-House-1938.jpg/1280px-Heartbreak-House-1938.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Merle Oberon as Cathy (foreground). Laurence Olivier as Heathcliff, with Geraldine Fitzgerald as Isabella.](https://film.one/media/person/7130/gallery-ed60ecea116a.jpg) Merle Oberon as Cathy (foreground). Laurence Olivier as Heathcliff, with Geraldine Fitzgerald as Isabella. — Unknown artistUnknown artist, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Merle_Oberon_and_Laurence_Olivier_in_%27Wuthering_Heights%27%2C_1939.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Geraldine Fitzgerald](https://film.one/media/person/7130/gallery-a19f0467f2b7.jpg) Geraldine Fitzgerald — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 1940: Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *Wuthering Heights*

### Other awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play 1982: Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play (nominated)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/geraldine-fitzgerald