Although she was the well-known matriarch on the popular nighttime soap opera, "Dallas" on television for thirteen years, as Miss Ellie Ewing Farlow, little known that the plain Barbara Bel Geddes was also an Academy 
Award nominee. Barbara had earlier scored success on stage and screen long before gaining more lasting fame on television.
Award nominee. Barbara had earlier scored success on stage and screen long before gaining more lasting fame on television.Barbara (31st October 1922 - 8th August 2005) was born in New York, the daughter of noted theatrical and industrial designer Norman Bel Geddes, who staged more than 200 plays. After growing up 
amidst the theatre, Bel Geddes began acting on stage at age 18 and soon moved on to Broadway in 1942 and had her first major hit with "Deep Are The Roots" in 1944, winning a Theatre World Award.
amidst the theatre, Bel Geddes began acting on stage at age 18 and soon moved on to Broadway in 1942 and had her first major hit with "Deep Are The Roots" in 1944, winning a Theatre World Award.She made her silver screen debut as the plain girl trying to convince fugitive Henry Fonda to surrender in "The Long Night" (1947). She was then Oscar nominated for her beautiful portrayal of the aspiring young Norwegian girl, Katrin whose life is chronicled in "I Remember Mama" (1948). She was then cast as the girl in love with Robert Mitchum in the western "Blood On The Moon" (19
48) and the story of a desperate girl marrying into riches in "Caught" (1949).
48) and the story of a desperate girl marrying into riches in "Caught" (1949). "Panic In The Street" (1950) gave her not much of a screen time in a this good movie about a killer (the ever evil Jack Palance) infected with a deadly plague, playing hero Richard Widmark's wife and in "Fourteen Hours" (1951), trying to talk suicidal Richard Basehart out of jumping from a window ledge.
Though she achieved immediate success in films, Bel Geddes also continued to tread the boards on Broadway, since theatre was her first love. In 1952, she received the prestigious Woman of the Year Award by Hasty Pudding Theatricals USA, America's oldest theater company. She was also nominated for Tony Awards
s as best dramatic actress for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof in 1956 and for the lead in Mary, Mary in 1961.
She returned to movies in a supporting role in Hitchcock's "Vertigo" (1958) with James Stewart and Kim Novak, playing the plain-jane Midge. She was Danny Kaye's (as musician Red Nichols) wife in the moving "The Five Pennies" (though her singing voice was dubbed). She was one of the "5 Branded Women" (1960) a war melodrama; as Elfrem Zim
balist Jr.'s patient wife, watching him having an affair with the more sultry Lana Turner in "By Love Possessed" (1961). Barbara was seen in two 1971 films - "Summertree" and "The Todd Killings", in supporting roles.
s as best dramatic actress for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof in 1956 and for the lead in Mary, Mary in 1961.
She returned to movies in a supporting role in Hitchcock's "Vertigo" (1958) with James Stewart and Kim Novak, playing the plain-jane Midge. She was Danny Kaye's (as musician Red Nichols) wife in the moving "The Five Pennies" (though her singing voice was dubbed). She was one of the "5 Branded Women" (1960) a war melodrama; as Elfrem Zim
balist Jr.'s patient wife, watching him having an affair with the more sultry Lana Turner in "By Love Possessed" (1961). Barbara was seen in two 1971 films - "Summertree" and "The Todd Killings", in supporting roles. Her greatest television role came as Miss Ellie Ewing Farlow on "Dallas" (1978), which enjoyed a run of thirteen years (1978-1
991). She won the Emmy Award for best actress in 1980 and was nominated in the same category in 1979 and 1981. Bel Geddes left the show for health reasons during the 1984-85 season, with the more glamourous Donna Reed taking over the role of Miss Ellie. Barbara Bel Geddes retu
rned for the 1985-86 season and continued on "Dallas" (1978) until 1990, when she effectively retired from acting. She did not appear in either of the two Dallas TV reunion movies.
991). She won the Emmy Award for best actress in 1980 and was nominated in the same category in 1979 and 1981. Bel Geddes left the show for health reasons during the 1984-85 season, with the more glamourous Donna Reed taking over the role of Miss Ellie. Barbara Bel Geddes retu
rned for the 1985-86 season and continued on "Dallas" (1978) until 1990, when she effectively retired from acting. She did not appear in either of the two Dallas TV reunion movies. On August 8, 2005, she died following a long battle with lung cancer.
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