Nedda Harrigan

Nedda Harrigan (August 24, 1899 – April 1, 1989)[1] was an American actress. Her name was sometimes seen as Hedda Harrigan.[2][3][4]

Early years

Harrigan was the youngest of 10 children[5] of entertainer Edward Harrigan[6] and his wife, Annie Braham Harrigan.[7] Her grandfather was conductor David Braham,[8] and one of her brothers was actor William Harrigan[9] As a child, she sometimes appeared on stage with her father.[10] Her first experiences in acting came at the National Park Seminary in Washington, D.C.[11]

Stage

In 1918, Harrigan was the leading lady in a production of Common Cause in San Francisco.[6] She acted in stock theater companies, including the Woodward Players at the Majestic Theater in Detroit.[12] Decades later, Harrigan reflected on the education that she gained from working in stock theater. "There were no [acting] schools then," she said. "But you see, there were a lot of stock companies. You learned an awful lot in stock. I played stock every year and learned by just doing."[8]

In 1984, Harrigan was production consultant for Harrigan and Hart, a stage show about the entertainment team formed by her father and Tony Hart.[8] In 1985, she performed with her husband, Joshua Logan, in An Evening with Joshua Logan,[7] a show that reviewed his career as a director.[13]

Film

In 1934, Harrigan left New York's stages and went to Hollywood to act in the Columbia Pictures film I'll Fix It.[14] She returned to Hollywood to make The Case of the Caretaker's Cat (1936).[12] Her other films included Thank You, Mr. Moto (1937) and Devil's Island (1939).[8]

Public service

During World War II, Harrigan was a leading force in establishing the Stage Door Canteen, which produced plays for servicemen, and she led tours of plays to Europe to entertain troops. Harrigan also served as president of the Actors Fund, and was a founder of the Actors Fund Bloodbank and a trustee of the Museum of the City of New York.[15]

Harrigan's long-term service to the United Service Organizations led to her being awarded the USO's Woman of the Year award in the 1980s.[7]

Personal life

In 1921,[5] Harrigan married actor Walter Connolly,[9] with whom she had a daughter.[16] She later married Joshua Logan, a director and writer.[17] On April 1, 1989, Harrigan died of cancer at her home in Manhattan at age 89.[15]

The Actors Fund of America created the Nedda Harrigan Logan Award to honor Harrigan.[18]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1929The Laughing LadyCynthia Bell
1934I'll Fix ItMiss Burns
1936The Case of the Black CatNurse Louise DeVoe
1936Fugitive in the SkyMrs. Katie Tristo
1936Charlie Chan at the OperaMme. Anita Barelli
1937Thank You, Mr. MotoMadame Tchernov
1938A Trip to ParisCountess Varloff
1938Men Are Such FoolsMrs.Nelson
1939Devil's IslandMadame Lucien
1939On TrialJoan Trask
1939Scandal SheetSeena Haynes
1939The Honeymoon's OverMrs. Molly Burton
1940Castle on the HudsonMrs. Long
1953Main Street to BroadwayHimselfUncredited, (final film role)

References
  1. Wilson, Scott (2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons (3rd ed.). Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. p. 318. ISBN 978-0-7864-5098-5.
  2. "Meet the Wife". The Post-Crescent. Wisconsin, Appleton. Associated Press. July 17, 1935. p. 12. Retrieved January 18, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. Hanifin, Ada (May 19, 1939). "Van Dyke Triumphs In Paramount Comedy". The San Francisco Examiner. California, San Francisco. p. 17. Retrieved January 18, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. Scheuer, Philip K. (January 11, 1930). "'Laughing Lady' at Paramount". The Los Angeles Times. California, Los Angeles. p. 23. Retrieved January 18, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Meet the Wife". The Indianapolis News. Indiana, Indianapolis. July 15, 1935. p. 12. Retrieved September 3, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Wilbur's Play Coming to Columbia". The San Francisco Examiner. California, San Francisco. October 2, 1918. p. 9. Retrieved September 3, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. Raidy, William A. (January 27, 1985). "Musical salutes 19th-century song-and-dance team". The Morning Call. Pennsylvania, Allentown. Newhouse News Service. p. F 2. Retrieved September 5, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. Kuchwara, Michael (August 19, 1984). "Nedda Logan Nurturing show about famed father". The Times. Louisiana, Shreveport. Associated Press. p. 14 F. Retrieved September 5, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Offspring". Chicago Tribune. Illinois, Chicago. February 16, 1925. p. Part 8 - 3. Retrieved September 3, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. Nunan, Thomas (October 13, 1918). "H-a Double r-i-g-a-n, Hero, Is the Brother of Miss Nedda Harrigan, Heroine". The San Francisco Examiner. California, San Francisco. p. 4. Retrieved September 3, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Ned's Daughter". Daily News. New York, New York City. January 2, 1927. p. F 13. Retrieved September 3, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Nedda Harrigan Signed". Detroit Free Press. Michigan, Detroit. July 16, 1936. p. 8. Retrieved September 4, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. Keating, Douglas J. (April 21, 1985). "Joshua Logan has time of his life re-creating the times of his life". Chicago Tribune. Illinois, Chicago. p. Section 13 - page 30. Retrieved September 5, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. "Star's Spouse Given Role in 'I'll Fix It'". The Los Angeles Times. California, Los Angeles. August 6, 1934. p. 7. Retrieved September 3, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. Malnic, Eric (April 4, 1989). "Nedda Harrigan Logan; Actress Co-Founded Stage Door Canteen". The Los Angeles Times. California, Los Angeles. p. 28. Retrieved September 4, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. "Walter Connolly in Princeton". The Central New Jersey Home News. New Jersey, New Brunswick. February 3, 1935. p. 20. Retrieved September 3, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. Conference, International Association for the Study of Anglo-Irish Literature Triennial (1992). The Internationalism of Irish Literature and Drama. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 36. ISBN 9780389209621. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  18. Simonson, Robert. "Equity's Alan Eisenberg to Receive Nedda Harrigan Logan Award May 8". Playbill. Archived from the original on September 5, 2018. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
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