Oscar-Winning Actress Patricia Neal Dead at 84

By PopEater / Wire Services Posted Aug 9th 2010 06:00AM

Actress Patricia Neal, who won an Academy Award for 1963's 'Hud' and then survived several strokes, died on Sunday. She was 84. Neal had lung cancer and died surrounded by her family at her home in Edgartown, Mass., on Martha's Vineyard. "She faced her final illness as she had all of the many trials she endured: with indomitable grace, good humor and a great deal of her self-described stubbornness," her family said in a statement.

Neal was already an award-winning Broadway actress when she won her Oscar for her role as a housekeeper to the Texas father (Melvyn Douglas) battling his selfish, amoral son (Paul Newman).

Less than two years later, she suffered a series of strokes in 1965 at age 39. Her struggle to once again walk and talk is regarded as epic in the annals of stroke rehabilitation. She returned to the screen to earn another Oscar nomination and three Emmy nominations.

The Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center that helps people recover from strokes and spinal cord and brain injuries is named for her in Knoxville, where she grew up.

"She never forgot us after she went to Hollywood," said 85-year-old Bud Albers, who graduated with Neal from Knoxville High School in 1943, and still lives in the city. Whenever she was in town, a bunch of her friends would always get together and have dinner, Albers said. She had wanted to be there next week for a golf tournament that benefits the center, he said.

"She was so courageous," he said of her battling back from her illnesses and losing her 7-year-old daughter to measles in 1962. "She always fought back. She was very much an inspiration."

In her 1988 autobiography, 'As I Am,' she wrote, "Frequently my life has been likened to a Greek tragedy, and the actress in me cannot deny that comparison."

She had the female leads in the 1949 film version of Ayn Rand's novel 'The Fountainhead,' the classic 1951 science fiction film 'The Day the Earth Stood Still' and Elia Kazan's 1957 drama 'A Face in the Crowd.'

She made a grand return to the screen after her strokes in 1968, winning an Oscar nomination for her performance in 'The Subject Was Roses.'

In 1971, she played Olivia Walton in 'The Homecoming: A Christmas Story,' a made-for-TV film that served as the pilot for the CBS series "The Waltons." It brought her the first of her three Emmy nominations. "You can't give up," she said in a 1999 Associated Press interview. "You sure want to, sometimes."

In 1953, she married Roald Dahl, the British writer famed for "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," "James and the Giant Peach" and other tales for children. They had five children. They divorced in 1983 after she learned he was having an affair with her best friend and he died in 1990.

Even before her illnesses, her life often was touched by misfortune. Besides her daughter's death, an infant son nearly died in 1960 when his carriage was struck by a taxi.

Neal also suffered a nervous breakdown, and had an ill-fated affair with Gary Cooper, who starred with her in 'The Fountainhead.' "I lived this secret life for several years. I was so ashamed," she told The New York Times in 1964.

The strokes at first paralyzed her and impaired her speech. After recovering, she limped and had bad vision in one eye. A 1991 biopic about her travails starred Glenda Jackson as Neal.Her family said her dedication to the rehab center and advocacy for stroke sufferers was a great source of hope for them and their families and a "constant inspiration to our family."

Among Neal's children is Tessa Dahl, who followed in her father's footsteps as a writer. Tessa Dahl's daughter is the model and writer Sophie Dahl.

The statement from Tessa, Theo, Ophelia and Lucy Dahl and others said that the night before her death, Neal told them, "I've had a lovely time."

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Comments

(107)

Monday 09 August

By RICHARD

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

A genuine profile in courage. God rest your soul.

By Pat

She was truly the best.

By Edward Cox

She was gracious and intelligent. I enjoyed her in her roles were she portrayed each character with herself as lead. I think we will miss her when we see her movies and realize she's gone. Her role with John Wayne speaks so much of the devotion soldiers and sailors got from nurses who served.

Rest now, for peace is yours for eternity..

By judejaded

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Every Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh and Glen Beck fan should see her opposite Andy Griffith, in 'A Face In The Crwod' and learn something about american politics and corporatism..not John Wayne the fake draft dodging american cowboy.

By Anastasia Beaverhausen

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Another Star has blazed across our lives.

As surely as the sun will rise tomorrow they will all too soon burn out...

Put that Blackberry down, go find a pice of paper and a pen and jot down a note, find an old Hollywood movie star that you idolized and find out how to send them a note to tell them just how wonderful life was with them in it....
Go on!!
Make their day!!!

By Albert

Farewell Patricia Neal....
You were 'fantastic' artist. I still enjoy your role in 'THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL' ... it's one of my favorites. You will be missed.

By Janeyre

That was my thoughts Albert. I loved her in that movie. She was a beautiful, talented lady...

By jimmy

GORT....KLATU....NECKTOE....BARADA....(AND HURRY)...!!!

By John O'Neill

I always loved her opposite John Wayne in "In Harm's Way." The scene where she takes off her shoe and gives Wayne a knowing look before he deploys to battle is one of the sexiest of anytime.

By jgoetz9174

I was hoping someone would remember that scene also. I remember it well. Thank you.

By Judy

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That was also my favorite movie with her! She was a wonderful actress and will be missed. I really loved her voice, so unlike all the others out there.

By The Timekeeper

I agree with you, Albert! THE DAY THE EARTH STOD STILL, great movie that sill has a message for today.

Wednesday 18 August

By G. R.

Klaatu Barada Nikto!

By Mark

What an incredible courageous person she was!Truely an inspiration to anyone who knows her story.

By Gort

Klattu berada nicto

By ruzia

english first please any other language is second when you you are in america thank you

By Sam

You dork! that's the line she spoke in "The Day The Earth Stood Still" to stop the robot from destroying earth. It' made-up movie alien talk!

By Julie

ruzia, shut the F up.

By dstack9781

ruzia...tell me you can't be that stupid to not know one of the most famous lines ever uttered in movie history! LMAO or are you busy looking for a English/Rigilean Rigilean/English dictionary?

By wilkins002

She was such a LADY! I loved her courage.

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