Encyclopedia Of Detroit
Harris, Julie
Stage and film actress Julie Harris was born in Grosse Pointe, Michigan on December 2, 1925. Her love of theater was instilled as a child when her parents took her to Detroit to see the many plays that came through on national tours. Harris graduated from Grosse Pointe Country Day School with a budding interest in the performing arts. She went on to study at the Yale School of Drama, as well as the New York School of Drama.
Harris was very active on the American stage and screen beginning with her Broadway debut at age 19 with the 1945 comedy, It’s a Gift. Writers, directors, and fans consistently praised her for her remarkable talent and ability to portray many different types of characters. Her 1952 performance in the play I Am a Camera launched her career into full stardom. She was also critically acclaimed for her role as 12-year-old Frankie in The Member of the Wedding in 1950.
Harris’s talents did not go unnoticed. She won five Tony Awards for her roles in I Am a Camera (1952), Forty Carats (1969), The Last of Mrs. Lincoln (1973), The Lark (1956) and The Belle of Amherst (1977). Harris was nominated for an additional five Tony awards as well.
Harris also excelled beyond the stage. In 1952 she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in The Member of the Wedding. She is also well known for her role opposite James Dean in East of Eden and her part in the horror film, The Haunting. She also portrayed Lillimae Clements for seven years on the soap opera Knots Landing.
Harris passed away on August 24, 2013, due to congestive heart failure at the age of 87. Her iconic acting legacy, however, continues to inspire.
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