Eileen Heckart, 1919-2001:
A Tribute to a Life in the Theatre

Award-winning actress, Columbus native, OSU alumna, devoted wife and mother and grandmother-all these are descriptions of Eileen Heckart, OSU Class of 1942, who
passed away just after Christmas, 2001. In a final act of celebrating its 50th year, the TRI mounted an exhibit of materials from the Eileen Heckart Collection in the Drake lobbies. On May 24, OSU sponsored a memorial event to honor our celebrated alumna. More than 70 people came to celebrate with us, and then to watch the Department of Theatre's production of Brecht's St. Joan of the Stockyards, dedicated to Eileen. Mother Courage was, she often said, her favorite role, which she performed in two different productions over the years. Eileen's son Luke Yankee joined us for the evening and used the opportunity to officially establish the Eileen Heckart Memorial Scholarship Fund in Theatre.

Happiest on stage, Heckart's career spanned six decades, from her first appearance (as an understudy) on Broadway in 1943, to her final stage role in 2000 in The Waverly Gallery, for which she was awarded a panoply of awards, including a Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement. Her stage roles included landmark performances in Picnic, The Bad Seed, The Dark at the Top of the Stairs, Pal Joey, You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running, and Butterflies Are Free, the film version of which gained her an Oscar.

Eileen Heckart's films include The First Wives Club, Bus Stop, Heller in Pink Tights, and No Way to Treat A Lady, in addition to Butterflies Are Free. She had major roles on eight television series, including The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Trauma Center, and Murder One. She also appeared in several made-for-television films, and made dozens of guest appearances. Nominated for several Emmy Awards, she took home the statuette for her performance in the special drama, Save Me a Place at Forest Lawn.

The Department of Theatre was proud to present Eileen Heckart as a guest artist in two productions: The Little Foxes in the Stadium Theatre in the mid 1960s, and as the star of the world premiere production Children at Play in the Thurber Theatre in the mid 1970s. She was to have appeared in Lost in Yonkers several years ago in the Thurber Theatre, directed by her son, Luke Yankee, but illness prevented her. She managed to surprise all of us-and her son-by turning up on opening night. Last spring, the Lawrence and Lee Theatre Research Institute presented her with the Margo Jones Medal, an annual award recognizing theatre artists who have materially supported the work of playwrights, in recognition of her lifelong support of new plays and new writers.

For more information about how to contribute to the Eileen Heckart Memorial Scholarship Fund in Theatre, see the Donor Opportunities page.

Selected Accomplishments

• Eileen won the Emmy in 1994 for:
  Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series Eileen Heckart, Love and War: "You Make Me Feel So Young"
  
  
• Eileen was nominated for oscars in both these Films: 1973 Supporting Actress - Butterflies Are Free (Won)
  1957 Supporting Actress - Bad Seed, The
  Eileen was also nominated for a Golden Globe in 1957 Supporting Actress - The Bad Seed
  
  
• In 2000 she received a Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement
  
  
• Eileen was nominated for the Following Emmy's:
  1976 Outstanding Supporting Actress - Drama or Comedy Series Eileen Heckart - "Mary's Aunt" - The Mary Tyler Moore Show
  1977 Outstanding Supporting Actress - Single Performance - Comedy or Drama Series Eileen Heckart- "Lou Proposes" - The Mary Tyler Moore Show
  1979 Outstanding Supporting Actress - Limited Series or Special Eileen Heckart - Backstairs at the White House
  1980 Outstanding Supporting Actress - Limited Series or Special Eileen Heckart - F.D.R. The Last Years
  1988 Outstanding Guest Performer in a Comedy Series The Cosby Show - Mrs. Hickson in "Autumn Gifts".
  
  
• Eileen has a Star on the Hollywood "Walk of Fame" at 6140 Hollywood Blvd.