Born at 6:02am-EST
Graduated from Ohio State University with a drama degree.
Her trademark, hoarse voice was caused by an early bout of whooping cough.
Marlene Dietrich said of her, "If she were acting in Europe, she'd be queen of the boards. The barbarism of Hollywood typecasting deprives the world of her true talents."
One week after winning the Oscar, she went in to pick up her unemployment check and the entire office burst into applause.
She studied drama at HB Studio in Greenwich Village in New York City.
She was the only performer (besides Edward Asner, of course) to have reprised a role (Flo Meredith) on "Lou Grant" (1977) that originated on "Mary Tyler Moore" (1970).
Sons: Mark, Philip, and Luke Yankee.
Step-Sisters: Marilyn Pickering (Michigan City, IN) Anne Fraggiotti (Centerville, OH)
The one time in her life she managed to stop smoking, she had dinner with Bette Davis and started again.
Twice played First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt in Backstairs at the White House (1979) and F.D.R.: The Last Year (1980).
Won a Special Tony Award in 2000 for "excellence in theatre." Previously, she has received three Tony nominations as Best Supporting or Featured Actress (Dramatic): in 1958 for William Inge's "The Dark at the Top of the Stairs," in 1961 for "Invitation to a March," and in 1970 for "Butterflies Are Free," the last recreated in her Oscar-winning performance in the film version with the same title, Butterflies Are Free (1972).