Fay Bainter

Biography

Fay Bainter was an American actress whose career began on the stage and later moved to films. She was born in Los Angeles and made her first stage appearance there in 1908 in The County Chairman. By 1910 she was touring as a stage actress, and her Broadway debut came in 1912 as Celine Marinter in The Rose of Panama. She appeared in New York plays including East Is West, The Willow Tree, and Dodsworth. MGM encouraged her to try films, and she debuted in This Side of Heaven in 1934. In 1939 she became the first performer nominated for two Academy Awards in one year, for Best Actress in White Banners and Best Supporting Actress in Jezebel (1938), which she won. She later played Mrs. Gibbs in Our Town and Melissa Frake in State Fair (1945). The Children's Hour (1961) brought her another supporting nomination. She also received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star.

74years old at death

Born December 7, 1893Los Angeles
Died April 16, 1968Los Angeles
Star sign: SagittariusThe sign runs November 22 to December 21
Also credited as Fay Okell Bainter

Movie Career

Films: 14
Career span: 24 years1937 to 1961

Genres

Romance71%, 10 films
Drama64%, 9 films
Comedy43%, 6 films
Crime14%, 2 films
Thriller14%, 2 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

A first
In 1939, Fay Bainter was the first performer to get two Oscar nominations in one year, for Best Actress in White Banners and Best Supporting Actress in Jezebel, and she won for Jezebel.

Fay Bainter movies on Netflix

The Children's Hour1961IMDb rating 7.8as Mrs. Amelia Tilford
Deep Valley1947IMDb rating 6.8as Ellie Saul
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty1947IMDb rating 6.9as Mrs. Mitty
The Virginian1946IMDb rating 6.4as Mrs. Taylor
State Fair1945IMDb rating 7.0as Melissa Frake
Dark Waters1944IMDb rating 6.5as Aunt Emily
The Human Comedy1943IMDb rating 7.0as Mrs. Macauley
Journey for Margaret1942IMDb rating 7.3as Trudy Strauss
Woman of the Year1942IMDb rating 7.1as Ellen Whitcomb
Babes on Broadway1941IMDb rating 6.6as Miss Jones
Jezebel1938IMDb rating 7.4as Aunt Belle Massey
The Shining Hour1938IMDb rating 6.4as Hannah Linden
Make Way for Tomorrow1937IMDb rating 8.1as Anita Cooper
Quality Street1937IMDb rating 6.2as Susan Throssel

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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The Children's Hour1961 Drama, Romanceas Mrs. Amelia Tilford
IMDb rating 7.821K votes
Woman of the Year1942 Comedy, Drama, Romanceas Ellen Whitcomb
IMDb rating 7.112K votes
Make Way for Tomorrow1937as Anita Cooper
IMDb rating 8.111K votes
Jezebel1938as Aunt Belle Massey
IMDb rating 7.417K votes
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty1947as Mrs. Mitty
IMDb rating 6.97.6K votes
State Fair1945as Melissa Frake
IMDb rating 7.04.9K votes
Babes on Broadway1941as Miss Jones
IMDb rating 6.61.8K votes
The Human Comedy1943as Mrs. Macauley
IMDb rating 7.02.8K votes

Most often with

William Wyler directed two of these films, George Stevens two. Henry O'Neill appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Henry O'Neill

Mickey Rooney

Katharine Hepburn

Thomas Mitchell

Doris Lloyd

Donald Meek

William WylerDirector, 2 films

George StevensDirector, 2 films

Films together

Henry O'Neill3 films together, 1938 to 1946
Henry O'Neill's page
- The Virginian1946IMDb rating 6.4Bainter as Mrs. TaylorO'Neill as Mr. Taylor
- The Human Comedy1943IMDb rating 7.0Bainter as Mrs. MacauleyO'Neill as Charles Steed
- Jezebel1938IMDb rating 7.4Bainter as Aunt Belle MasseyO'Neill as General Theopholus Bogardus
Mickey Rooney2 films together, 1941 to 1943
Mickey Rooney's page
- The Human Comedy1943IMDb rating 7.0Bainter as Mrs. MacauleyRooney as Homer Macauley
- Babes on Broadway1941IMDb rating 6.6Bainter as Miss JonesRooney as Tommy Williams
Katharine Hepburn2 films together, 1937 to 1942
Katharine Hepburn's page
- Woman of the Year1942IMDb rating 7.1Bainter as Ellen WhitcombHepburn as Tess Harding
- Quality Street1937IMDb rating 6.2Bainter as Susan ThrosselHepburn as Phoebe Throssel
Thomas Mitchell2 films together, 1937 to 1944
Thomas Mitchell's page
- Dark Waters1944IMDb rating 6.5Bainter as Aunt EmilyMitchell as Mr. Sydney
- Make Way for Tomorrow1937IMDb rating 8.1Bainter as Anita CooperMitchell as George Cooper
Doris Lloyd2 films together, 1942 to 1947
Doris Lloyd's page
- The Secret Life of Walter Mitty1947IMDb rating 6.9Bainter as Mrs. MittyLloyd as Mrs. Follinsbee
- Journey for Margaret1942IMDb rating 7.3Bainter as Trudy StraussLloyd as Mrs. Barrie
Donald Meek2 films together, 1941 to 1945
Donald Meek's page
- State Fair1945IMDb rating 7.0Bainter as Melissa FrakeMeek as Hippenstahl
- Babes on Broadway1941IMDb rating 6.6Bainter as Miss JonesMeek as Mr. Stone
William WylerDirector, 2 films, 1938 to 1961
All films by William Wyler
- The Children's Hour1961IMDb rating 7.8Bainter as Mrs. Amelia Tilford
- Jezebel1938IMDb rating 7.4Bainter as Aunt Belle Massey
George StevensDirector, 2 films, 1937 to 1942
All films by George Stevens
- Woman of the Year1942IMDb rating 7.1Bainter as Ellen Whitcomb
- Quality Street1937IMDb rating 6.2Bainter as Susan Throssel
Also two films together4 more actors
- Elisabeth RisdonJourney for Margaret (1942) and Make Way for Tomorrow (1937)
- Franchot ToneDark Waters (1944) and Quality Street (1937)
- Robert YoungJourney for Margaret (1942) and The Shining Hour (1938)
- Granville BatesThe Shining Hour (1938) and Make Way for Tomorrow (1937)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Awards

Two awards and honors, one of them major.

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Fay Bainter's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Film	Result
Academy Awards
1939	Best Supporting Actress	Jezebel	Won
Other honors
	Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame		Honored

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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