Sada Thompson was a versatile and acclaimed actress who won many awards for her roles on stage, film, and television. She was best known for playing the compassionate mother Kate Lawrence in the popular TV series Family, which aired from 1976 to 1980. She also won a Tony Award for portraying four different characters in the Broadway play Twigs in 1971. She had a long and distinguished career that spanned more than six decades, but sadly, she passed away in 2011 at the age of 83. What was the cause of her death and how did she cope with her illness? Here is a brief overview of her life and legacy.
Contents
Early Life and Career
Sada Thompson was born on September 27, 1927, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Hugh Woodruff Thompson and Corlyss Gibson. She moved to Fanwood, New Jersey, when she was a child and graduated from Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School in 1945. She then attended Carnegie Mellon University (then known as Carnegie Institute of Technology), where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre in 1949. She made her stage debut in 1945 in William Saroyan’s The Time of Your Life and worked steadily in regional theatre in plays such as The Seagull, Pygmalion, Our Town, Arms and the Man, and Blithe Spirit. She made her Off-Broadway debut in 1955 in Under Milk Wood and her Broadway debut in 1959 in the musical Juno. She also appeared on television in shows such as Goodyear Television Playhouse, Kraft Television Theatre, The United States Steel Hour, and The Defenders.
Breakthrough and Success
Sada Thompson achieved her breakthrough in 1965 when she played the bitter and slovenly mother Beatrice in Paul Zindel’s The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds Off-Broadway. She won an Obie Award for her performance and later reprised the role in the film adaptation in 1972. She also won another Obie Award for playing Dorine in Molière’s Tartuffe Off-Broadway in 1965. Her biggest Broadway success came in 1971 when she starred in George Furth’s Twigs, a comedy about three sisters and their mother. She played all four roles and won a Tony Award, a Drama Desk Award, and a New York Drama Critics Award for her versatility and skill. She also received rave reviews from critics such as Walter Kerr, who wrote that she had “a peculiar luminosity that moves with Miss Thompson wherever she goes.”
Sada Thompson’s most famous role was Kate Lawrence, the matriarch of a middle-class family living in Pasadena, California, in the TV series Family. The show ran for four seasons from 1976 to 1980 and dealt with realistic and sensitive issues such as divorce, abortion, drug addiction, homosexuality, and death. Thompson won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 1978 and was nominated three more times for her role. She also won two Golden Globe Awards and a Humanitas Prize for her portrayal of Kate Lawrence. She was praised for her warmth, wisdom, and authenticity as a mother figure.
Later Years and Death
Sada Thompson continued to work on stage and screen after Family ended. She appeared in films such as Poltergeist III (1988), Indictment: The McMartin Trial (1995), and The Myth of Fingerprints (1997). She also starred in TV movies such as The Love Boat (1980), A Woman Called Golda (1982), Lincoln (1988), The Incident (1990), and A Will of Their Own (1998). She also returned to Broadway in 1983 to play Linda Loman opposite Dustin Hoffman’s Willy Loman in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman. She received another Tony nomination for her performance.
Sada Thompson was married to Donald Stewart from 1949 until her death. They had one daughter, costume designer Liza Stewart. Thompson died on May 4, 2011, at Danbury Hospital in Connecticut from lung disease. She had been suffering from the illness for several years and had been hospitalized several times. She was survived by her husband, daughter, son-in-law, and two grandchildren. Her death was mourned by many fans and colleagues who remembered her as a talented and gracious actress who brought depth and humanity to every role she played.
Legacy and Influence
Sada Thompson left behind a rich legacy of work that showcased her range and versatility as an actress. She was able to play diverse characters with nuance and conviction, whether they were comedic or dramatic, contemporary or classical, sympathetic or antagonistic. She was also a trailblazer for women in the entertainment industry, as she often played strong and complex female roles that challenged stereotypes and norms. She was an inspiration and a role model for many aspiring and established actresses who admired her craft and professionalism.
Sada Thompson was also a beloved and respected figure in the theatre community, where she was known for her generosity and kindness. She was active in various organizations and causes, such as the Actors Fund of America, the American Theatre Wing, the Screen Actors Guild, and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. She also mentored and supported many young actors and actresses who worked with her or sought her advice. She was honored with several awards and recognitions, such as the Sarah Siddons Award (twice), the Drama League Award, the Outer Critics Circle Award, the Theatre World Award, and the Carnegie Mellon Alumni Award. She was also inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2005.
Sada Thompson cause of death was a tragic loss for the world of art and culture, but her legacy lives on through her memorable performances and her lasting impact on generations of audiences and artists. She was a true star who shone brightly on stage and screen, and a genuine human being who touched many hearts and lives.
