Origins & Early Life

Patricia Neal (born Patsy Louise Neal; January 20, 1926 – August 8, 2010) was an American actress of stage and screen. She is well known for, among other roles, playing World War II widow Helen Benson in The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), radio journalist Marcia Jeffries in A Face in the Crowd (1957), wealthy matron Emily Eustace Failenson in Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), and the worn-out housekeeper Alma Brown in Hud (1963) (for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress). She also featured as the matriarch in the television film The Homecoming: A Christmas Story (1971); her role as Olivia Walton was re-cast for the series it inspired, The Waltons. A major star of the 1950s and 1960s, she was the recipient of an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Tony Award, and two British Academy Film Awards, and was nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Neal was born in Packard, Whitley County, Kentucky, to William Burdette Neal and Eura Mildred (née Petrey) Neal. She had two siblings. Neal grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee, where she attended Knoxville High School, and studied drama at Northwestern, where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority....

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abdus Salam — Contemporary (Born in 1926) (1926): Pioneering Pakistani theoretical physicist and Nobel laureate.
• Alfredo Di Stéfano — Contemporary (Born in 1926) (1926): Argentine and Spanish legend, 'The Blond Arrow,' pivotal to Real Madrid's golden era.
• Allen Ginsberg — Contemporary (Born in 1926) (1926): Pioneering American poet, central figure of the Beat Generation, known for 'Howl'.
• Ali Hassan al-Majid — Contemporary (Died in 2010) (2010): Notorious Iraqi military figure, cousin of Saddam Hussein, known for brutal repression.
• Antony Flew — Contemporary (Died in 2010) (2010): English analytic and evidentialist philosopher known for his critique of religion.
• Benoit Mandelbrot — Contemporary (Died in 2010) (2010): Pioneering mathematician known for fractal geometry and the 'theory of roughness'.
• Adam Oehlenschläger — Shared historical date (01-20 · Died) (1850): Pioneering Danish Romantic poet and playwright who shaped national literature.
• Al-Shafi'i — Shared historical date (01-20 · Died) (820): Founder of the Shāfiʿī school of Sunni Islamic jurisprudence and jurist.
• A'ja Wilson — Shared historical date (08-08 · Born) (1996): Elite American WNBA star known for multiple MVP awards and championship success.
• Barbara Cook — Shared historical date (08-08 · Died) (2017): Iconic American actress and singer, celebrated for Broadway and cabaret artistry.
• 1926 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1926
• January 20 (01-20) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on January 20
• 2010 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2010
• August 8 (08-08) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on August 8