The actress was born in Manhattan to the former Virginia Wright and Albert J. Ford, a business executive. The young Thelma Booth Ford attended public schools in Brooklyn and Hartford, and dropped out at 14 to seek a stage career, despite angry opposition by her father. She gained notice in New York by appearing in skits by Dorothy Parker at the Barbizon-Plaza Hotel in return for a room and breakfast. I play characters, not types. I don't care what the part is as long as it's a person I'm interested in, someone I want to introduce to people.
Affection is warmer and it lasts longer.
I love a good critic. I don't care if he pans me, if he does it elegantly. Her second husband, William H. Baker Jr., an artist and farmer, died of heart disease in 1951. She is survived by a sister, Jean Coe of Los Angeles. Back to the top of this page.