Trivia

She and Deborah Kerr have the curious distinction of being Oscar-nominated six times each in competitive categories - without ever winning the coveted statuette. Her six nominations were in supporting roles, a record number that still stands in that category, and Kerr's six nominations were for leading roles. As of 2021, Glenn Close has been nominated eight times, four in leading roles and four in supporting roles, and still has not won the Oscar.

Won Broadway's 1958 Tony Award as Best Actress (Musical) for "New Girl in Town" in a tie with her co-star, Gwen Verdon .

Actress Rhea Perlman modeled her character of Thelma Katz on the TV show Kirstie (2013) after Ritter.

Her first Oscar nomination for All About Eve (1950) marks her first of 4 consecutive nominations, a feat she shares with Jennifer Jones (1943-1946), Marlon Brando (1951-1954), Elizabeth Taylor (1957-1960) and Al Pacino (1972-1975). Greer Garson and Bette Davis both have five consecutive nominations (1942-1946) and (1939-1943), respectively.

She has appeared in six films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Miracle on 34th Street (1947), All About Eve (1950), Pickup on South Street (1953), Rear Window (1954), Pillow Talk (1959) and How the West Was Won (1962).

Worked in radio and on stage until a former neighbour, the writer-director George Seaton, gave her a role in Miracle on 34th Street.

She and her husband did everything from jingle contests to vaudeville.

Mother of actress Monica Moran, they appeared together in a 1966 road show production of "Bye Bye Birdie" that also starred Tab Hunter.

Husband Joseph left the acting profession to become an ad man for Young & Rubicam where he eventually became a top executive.

Appeared in three films with James Stewart: Call Northside 777 (1948), Rear Window (1954) and How the West Was Won (1962).

Appeared in three films with Marilyn Monroe: All About Eve (1950), As Young as You Feel (1951) and The Misfits (1961).

Was in four Oscar Best Picture nominees: Miracle on 34th Street (1947), A Letter to Three Wives (1949), All About Eve (1950) and How the West Was Won (1962), with All About Eve winning.

Often in wisecracking or acidulous roles.

Thelma played a character called Aggie in "The Second Time Around" (1961) and a year later played a character called Agatha (referred to as 'Aggie') in "How The West Was Won" (1962). Both of those roles were opposite Debbie Reynolds with almost identical personas, backgrounds and situations.

She was oscar nominated 6 times.

She got her big break when director George Seaton offered her a part in Miracle on 34th Street.

In 1958, Thelma Ritter and Gwen Verdon were the first to tie for the Tony Award. They won for their work and in the same show, "New Girl in Town"(Lead Actress in a Musical). Nine ties have since occurred, in various categories.

In 1937 they bought a home at 65 Greenway Terrace in Forest Hills, New York.

Biography in "Actresses of a Certain Character: Forty Familiar Hollywood Faces from the Thirties to the Fifties" by Axel Nissen.

Father, Charles Vaname Ritter a shoe salesman and mother, Lucy B. Hale, married on 25 April 1900.

Alumna of the AADA (American Academy of Dramatic Arts), Class of 1922.

In Italy, throughout her career, she was dubbed by different actresses: Rina Morelli (e.g. Pickup on South Street (1953)), Tina Lattanzi (e.g. Daddy Long Legs (1955)), Wanda Tettoni (e.g. Pillow Talk (1959)), Lia Orlandini (e.g. How the West Was Won (1962)) and Franca Dominici (e.g. Rear Window (1954)). The talented Maria Saccenti lent her voice to Ritter only once: in All About Eve (1950).