Susan Kohner - wikipedia Susan Kohner Susan Kohner from trailer for Imitation of Life ( 1959 ) Susanna Kohner ( 1936 - 11 - 11 ) November 11, 1936 ( age 81 ) Los Angeles, California, United States Other names Susan Weitz Occupation Actress Years active 1955 -- 1964 Spouse ( s ) John Weitz ( 1964 -- 2002 ) ( his death ) Children Susanna `` Susan '' Kohner ( born November 11, 1936 ) is an American actress who worked in film and television. She is best known for her role as Sarah Jane in Imitation of Life ( 1959 ), for which she was nominated for an Oscar and won a Golden Globe award. She played a light - complexioned woman who `` passed '' for white as a young adult. After Kohner married menswear designer and writer John Weitz in 1964, she retired from acting to devote time to her family. Her two sons, Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz, have both become film directors, screenwriters, and occasional actors. Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Theater 5 Filmography 6 Awards and nominations 7 See also 8 References 9 External links Early Life Kohner was born in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of Lupita Tovar, a Mexican - born actress who had a career in Hollywood, and Paul Kohner, a film producer who was born in Bohemia, Austria - Hungary. Her mother was Roman Catholic, and her father was Czech Jewish. Career Most of Kohner 's film roles came during the late 1950s and early 1960s, including co-starring with Sal Mineo in both Dino ( 1957 ) and The Gene Krupa Story ( 1959 ). In her most notable role, Kohner played Sarah Jane in Imitation of Life, portraying an African - American woman who `` passes '' as white. The 1959 film was a remake of a 1934 version of a book of the same name. The expensive, glossy Ross Hunter production, directed by Douglas Sirk and starring Lana Turner, was a box office smash. In addition, Kohner was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her role in the film, and won a Golden Globe as Best Supporting Actress and one as Best New Actress. Following her role in Imitation of Life, Kohner appeared in All the Fine Young Cannibals opposite Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner. She later had guest roles on various television series, including Hong Kong, Going My Way, and Temple Houston. She made her last film appearance in 1962, co-starring with Montgomery Clift in Freud : The Secret Passion. She retired from acting in 1964. Personal Life In 1964, Kohner married John Weitz, a German - born novelist and fashion designer. She retired from acting to devote time to her family. They had two sons together, Chris and Paul Weitz, who both became film directors and producers in Hollywood, producing films such as American Pie ( 1999 ) and About a Boy ( 2002 ). Chris Weitz is also known for directing New Moon ( 2009 ), part of The Twilight Saga. On April 23, 2010, a new print of Imitation of Life ( 1959 ) was screened at the TCM Film Festival in Los Angeles, California, to which Kohner and co-star Juanita Moore were invited. After the screening, the two women appeared on stage for a question - and - answer session hosted by TCM 's Robert Osborne. Kohner and Moore received standing ovations. Theater 1958 : Love Me Little by John G. Fuller at Helen Hayes Theatre. Role : Emily Whittaker. Broadway debut. 1962 : Pullman Car Hiawatha by Thornton Wilder at Circle in the Square Theatre. Role : Harriet Milbury. 1963 : Saint Joan by George Bernard Shaw at Vancouver Theater Festival. With Mike Nichols. Filmography Film Year Film Role Notes 1955 To Hell and Back Maria 1956 The Last Wagon Jolie 1957 Trooper Hook Consuela Dino Shirley Alternative title : Killer Dino 1959 Imitation of Life Sarah Jane, age 18 Also : Performer : `` Empty Arms '' The Big Fisherman Princess Fara The Gene Krupa Story Ethel Maguire Alternative title : Drum Crazy 1960 All the Fine Young Cannibals Catherine McDowall 1961 By Love Possessed Helen Detweiler 1962 Freud : The Secret Passion Martha Freud Alternative title : Freud Television Year Title Role Notes 1956 The Alcoa Hour Joanna 1 episode Four Star Playhouse Anita 1 episode Cavalcade of American 1 episode : `` A Bed of Roses '' Climax ! 2 episodes : `` Child of the Wind / Throw Away the Cane, '' segment `` Child of the Wind '' ; `` Ten Minutes to Curfew '' 1956 -- 1957 Schlitz Playhouse of Stars Angela O'Neill ; Lynn Howell 2 episodes : `` Date for Tomorrow '' as Angela O'Neill ; `` Dual Control '' as Lynn Howell 1957 Matinee Theatre Joanna Marshall 2 episodes : `` - `` Letter to a Stranger '' ; `` Laugh a Little Tear '' Wagon Train Mokai 1 episode : `` The Charles Avery Story '' Suspicion Gina 1 episode : `` The Flight '' 1958 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Therese 1 episode : `` The Return of the Hero '' 1960 Playhouse 90 Rachel Heller 1 episode : `` In the Presence of Mine Enemies '' 1961 The DuPont Show with June Allyson Clare Anderson 1 episode : `` The Guilty Heart '' Hong Kong Elena 1 episode : `` The Innocent Exile '' 1961 -- 1963 Route 66 Katy Webster ; Midge Pierrepont 2 episodes : `` The Quick and the Dead '' as Katy Webster ; `` But What Do You Do in March '' as Midge Pierrepont 1962 Checkmate Vicki Angelo 1 episode : `` Down the Gardenia Path '' The Dick Powell Show Miriam Marks 1 episode : `` Tomorrow, the Man '' 1963 The Doctors and the Nurses Terry Collins 1 episode : `` Root of Violence '' Going My Way Elaine Brady 1 episode : `` One Small Unhappy Family '' Temple Houston Ellena Romolo 1 episode : `` Toll the Bell Slowly '' 1964 Rawhide Abbie Bartlett 1 episode : `` Incident at Ten Trees '' Channing Rena 1 episode : `` A Bang and a Whimper '' Awards and nominations Year Award Result Film 1959 Academy Award Nominated Best Supporting Actress Imitation of Life 1959 Golden Globe Award Won Most Promising Newcomer - Female - 1959 Best Supporting Actress Imitation of Life 1962 Nominated Best Supporting Actress Freud : The Secret Passion 1958 Laurel Awards Nominated Top New Female Personality - 1959 2nd Place Top Female New Personality - See also John Weitz Chris Weitz Paul Weitz Lupita Tovar Paul Kohner References Jump up ^ Schumach, Murray ( 23 February 1960 ). `` Academy Names Oscar Finalists ''. The New York Times. Retrieved 25 September 2015. Jump up ^ Horyn, Cathy ( 20 February 2000 ). `` Legacy ; Growing up Weitz ''. The New York Times. Retrieved 21 August 2015. Jump up ^ Kelley, Tina ( 4 October 2002 ). `` John Weitz, 79, Fashion Designer Turned Historian, Dies ''. The New York Times. Retrieved 21 August 2015. Jump up ^ Yarrow, Andrew ( 19 March 1988 ). `` Paul Kohner, Hollywood Agent And Film Producer, Is Dead at 85 ''. The New York Times. Retrieved 23 August 2015. Jump up ^ Pfefferman, Naomi ( 13 March 2003 ). `` About Two Boys : Late fashion designer John Weitz inspires his Academy Award - nominated sons, Paul and Chris ''. Jewish Journal. Retrieved 23 August 2015. Jump up ^ `` Susan Kohner mentioned in the record of John H Weitz and Susan Kohner ''. FamilySearch. Retrieved 26 August 2015. Jump up ^ Atkinson, Brooks ( 15 April 1958 ). `` Theatre : On Wickedness ''. The New York Times. Retrieved 25 September 2015. Jump up ^ Zolotow, Sam ( 10 December 1957 ). `` Sponsor Collars ' Man in Dog Suit ' ''. The New York Times. Retrieved 25 September 2015. Jump up ^ Wilson, Earl ( 6 January 1963 ). `` Earl Wilson Reports : Susan Kohner Favors Elders ''. Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Retrieved 25 September 2015. Jump up ^ `` Vancouver Festival Books Nichols and Susan KohnerVancouve ''. The New York Times. 10 April 1963. Retrieved 25 September 2015. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Susan Kohner. Susan Kohner on IMDb Susan Kohner at the Internet Broadway Database Susan Kohner at Internet Off - Broadway Database Susan Kohner at AllMovie Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress -- Motion Picture Katina Paxinou ( 1943 ) Agnes Moorehead ( 1944 ) Angela Lansbury ( 1945 ) Anne Baxter ( 1946 ) Celeste Holm ( 1947 ) Ellen Corby ( 1948 ) Mercedes McCambridge ( 1949 ) Josephine Hull ( 1950 ) Kim Hunter ( 1951 ) Katy Jurado ( 1952 ) Grace Kelly ( 1953 ) Jan Sterling ( 1954 ) Marisa Pavan ( 1955 ) Eileen Heckart ( 1956 ) Elsa Lanchester ( 1957 ) Hermione Gingold ( 1958 ) Susan Kohner ( 1959 ) Janet Leigh ( 1960 ) Rita Moreno ( 1961 ) Angela Lansbury ( 1962 ) Margaret Rutherford ( 1963 ) Agnes Moorehead ( 1964 ) Ruth Gordon ( 1965 ) Jocelyne LaGarde ( 1966 ) Carol Channing ( 1967 ) Ruth Gordon ( 1968 ) Goldie Hawn ( 1969 ) Karen Black / Maureen Stapleton ( 1970 ) Ann - Margret ( 1971 ) Shelley Winters ( 1972 ) Linda Blair ( 1973 ) Karen Black ( 1974 ) Brenda Vaccaro ( 1975 ) Katharine Ross ( 1976 ) Vanessa Redgrave ( 1977 ) Dyan Cannon ( 1978 ) Meryl Streep ( 1979 ) Mary Steenburgen ( 1980 ) Joan Hackett ( 1981 ) Jessica Lange ( 1982 ) Cher ( 1983 ) Peggy Ashcroft ( 1984 ) Meg Tilly ( 1985 ) Maggie Smith ( 1986 ) Olympia Dukakis ( 1987 ) Sigourney Weaver ( 1988 ) Julia Roberts ( 1989 ) Whoopi Goldberg ( 1990 ) Mercedes Ruehl ( 1991 ) Joan Plowright ( 1992 ) Winona Ryder ( 1993 ) Dianne Wiest ( 1994 ) Mira Sorvino ( 1995 ) Lauren Bacall ( 1996 ) Kim Basinger ( 1997 ) Lynn Redgrave ( 1998 ) Angelina Jolie ( 1999 ) Kate Hudson ( 2000 ) Jennifer Connelly ( 2001 ) Meryl Streep ( 2002 ) Renée Zellweger ( 2003 ) Natalie Portman ( 2004 ) Rachel Weisz ( 2005 ) Jennifer Hudson ( 2006 ) Cate Blanchett ( 2007 ) Kate Winslet ( 2008 ) Mo'Nique ( 2009 ) Melissa Leo ( 2010 ) Octavia Spencer ( 2011 ) Anne Hathaway ( 2012 ) Jennifer Lawrence ( 2013 ) Patricia Arquette ( 2014 ) Kate Winslet ( 2015 ) Viola Davis ( 2016 ) Allison Janney ( 2017 ) Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year -- Actress Lois Maxwell ( 1948 ) Mercedes McCambridge ( 1950 ) Pier Angeli ( 1952 ) Colette Marchand ( 1953 ) Pat Crowley, Bella Darvi, Barbara Rush ( 1954 ) Karen Sharpe, Kim Novak, Shirley MacLaine ( 1955 ) Anita Ekberg, Victoria Shaw, Dana Wynter ( 1956 ) Carroll Baker, Jayne Mansfield, Natalie Wood ( 1957 ) Carolyn Jones, Diane Varsi, Sandra Dee ( 1958 ) Linda Cristal, Susan Kohner, Tina Louise ( 1959 ) Janet Munro, Tuesday Weld, Angie Dickinson, Stella Stevens ( 1960 ) Ina Balin, Hayley Mills, Nancy Kwan ( 1961 ) Ann - Margret, Jane Fonda, Christine Kaufmann ( 1962 ) Sue Lyon, Patty Duke, Rita Tushingham ( 1963 ) Tippi Hedren, Elke Sommer, Ursula Andress ( 1964 ) Mia Farrow, Mary Ann Mobley, Celia Kaye ( 1965 ) Elizabeth Hartman ( 1966 ) Jessica Walter ( 1967 ) Katharine Ross ( 1968 ) Olivia Hussey, Marianne McAndrew ( 1969 ) Ali MacGraw ( 1970 ) Carrie Snodgress ( 1971 ) Twiggy ( 1972 ) Diana Ross ( 1973 ) Tatum O'Neal ( 1974 ) Susan Flannery ( 1975 ) Marilyn Hassett ( 1976 ) Jessica Lange ( 1977 ) Irene Miracle ( 1979 ) Bette Midler ( 1980 ) Nastassja Kinski ( 1981 ) Pia Zadora ( 1982 ) Sandahl Bergman ( 1983 ) VIAF : 54357694 LCCN : no90008780 ISNI : 0000 0001 1472 8543 GND : 143541420 SUDOC : 146676769 BNF : cb14194232w ( data ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Susan_Kohner&oldid=826356708 '' Categories : 1936 births Living people 20th - century American actresses Actresses from Los Angeles American actresses of Mexican descent American film actresses American people of Czech - Jewish descent American television actresses Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe ( film ) winners Jewish American actresses New Star of the Year ( Actress ) Golden Globe winners Hidden categories : Articles with hCards Internet Broadway Database person ID same as Wikidata Articles with IBDb links Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with ISNI identifiers Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Wikipedia articles with BNF identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Asturianu تۆرکجه Català Dansk Deutsch Español فارسی Français 한국어 Italiano עברית Nederlands 日本 語 Polski Português Русский Tagalog 8 more Edit links This page was last edited on 18 February 2018, at 17 : 49. 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Question: who played the black girl in imitation of life
Answer: Susanna "Susan" Kohner