Jeannette Clift George

Jeannette Clift George, often credited professionally as Jeannette Clift (June 1, 1925 – December 23, 2017), was an American film and stage actress, playwright, and founder of the A.D. Players theater company in Houston, Texas. Clift was best known for her portrayal of Corrie ten Boom, a Dutch woman who hid Jews from the Nazis during World War II, in the 1975 biographical film, The Hiding Place.[1] The role earned Clift a Golden Globe nomination in 1975[1][2] and a BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles in 1977.

Jeannette Clift George
George, circa 2010
Born
Jeannette Clift

(1925-06-01)June 1, 1925
Houston, Texas, U.S.
DiedDecember 23, 2017(2017-12-23) (aged 92)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
OccupationActress
Playwright
Theater director
Spouse(s)Lorraine George (1971-2004; his death)
Parent(s)Hubert E. and Jeannette C. Clift

Early years

Born in Houston, Texas, George was the daughter of Hubert E. and Jeannette C. Clift.[3] She earned her degree from the Department of Theater and Dance at the University of Texas at Austin.[1]

Acting

George's professional experience included acting with the Alley Theatre in Houston, Philadelphia's Playhouse in the Park, the District of Columbia's Arena Stage, and Houston’s Stages Repertory Theatre. She also toured with the New York Shakespeare Company.[3]

In 1967, George founded the After Dinner (A.D.) Players Theater Company in Houston. She led the company, which produces six main shows annually, for more than 50 years until her death in December 2017.[1][2] Her acting with the group spanned 44 years, beginning with IBID (1968) and ending with Whatever Happened to the Villa Real (2012).[4]

In addition to her acting and theater careers, Clift was also an author and Bible teacher.[1]

In the 1980s, George performed in the one-act, one-woman play Rachel, Woman of Masada, portraying a grandmother who survived a mass suicide at the ancient Masada fortress in Israel.[5]

On screen, George (billed as Jeannette Clift)[6] was best known for her role as Corrie ten Boom in the 1975 film, The Hiding Place. The film recounted the real-life story of Corrie ten Boom, a Dutch Christian woman who hid and rescued Jews from the Nazis during the German occupation of the Netherlands.

Writing

Plays that George wrote include IBID, Whatever Happened to the Villa Real,[4] Rowena,[7] Virgule and Ret.[8]

Personal life

George was married to Lorraine Malcom George,[3] who died in 2004.[4]

Death

George died on December 23, 2017, in Houston, Texas, at the age of 92.[1][2]

Recognition

George was named a "distinguished alumnus" by the University of Texas,[1] and she received honorary degrees from Houston Baptist University and Dallas Baptist University.[4]

She received a 1976 Golden Globe nomination for New Star of the Year—Actress for her role in The Hiding Place.[6] In addition to that nomination, George was honored by the Association for Women in Communications with a Matrix Award for "outstanding contributions" as a playwright. She also received a Texas Baptist Communications Award in 1988, as a well as a Delta Gamma fraternity Shield Award.[1]

Legacy

The Jeannette & L.M. George Theater in Houston is named for George and her husband. Dedicated in 2017, the 450-seat theater is in the city’s Galleria-Uptown area.[4]

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References
  1. Stuckey, Alex (2017-12-24). "Houston theater company founder, Golden Globe nominee Jeannette Clift George dies at 92". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2017-12-26. Retrieved 2018-01-17.
  2. Lu, Catherine (2018-01-09). "Remembering Local Theater Legend, Jeannette Clift George". Houston Public Media. Archived from the original on 2018-01-10. Retrieved 2018-01-17.
  3. "Obituary: Jeannette Clift George". Baptist Standard. January 2, 2018. Archived from the original on 16 June 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  4. Toalston, Art (January 10, 2018). "Jeannette Clift George, actress & theater founder, 1925-2017". The Biblical Recorder. Baptist Press. Archived from the original on 16 June 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  5. Grider, Sylvia Ann; Rodenberger, Lou Halsell (1997). Texas Women Writers: A Tradition of Their Own. Texas A&M University Press. pp. 113–114. ISBN 9780890967652. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  6. "Golden Globe Awards for 'Jeannette Clift'". Golden Globe Awards. Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Archived from the original on 16 June 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  7. Guernsey, Otis L.; Sweet, Jeffrey (1992). The Applause-Best Plays Theater Yearbook, 1990-1991: The Complete Broadway and Off-Broadway Sourcebook. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 434. ISBN 9781557831071. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  8. Guernsey, Otis L.; Sweet, Jeffrey (2000). The Best Plays of 1989-1990: The Complete Broadway and Off-Broadway Sourcebook. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 517. ISBN 9781557830906. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
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