Celeste Holm

Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame
1995 Inductee

Appearing in “Hamlet” as her professional stage debut, Holm went on to appear in William Saroyan’s “The Time of Your Life” in 1939 as her Broadway debut. It was on Broadway that she appeared as Ado Annie in “Oklahoma,” causing critics to decry that she “had so much talent as to be unbelievable.”

This versatile actress has had a career that has encompassed stage, radio, television and film. She had a 1947 Academy Award winning appearance in “Gentlemen’s Agreement” and was nominated for her roles in “Come to the Stable,” and “All About Eve.”

The daughter of a Norwegian immigrant, Holm was born April 29, 1917 in New York, educated in Paris and Holland and was a drama major at the University of Chicago.

She had received numerous honors for her tireless work for beloved projects. She received the Friends of the Arts Award in New York, was appointed by President Reagan to the President’s Council on the Arts, and her work for UNICEF and mental health had been equally recognized.

Holm was presented her award by actor Earle Hyman, best known for his role as Russell Huxtable, the father of Bill Cosby in “The Bill Cosby Show” TV series. He was the recipient of the 1993 Høstfest Humanitarian Award.

Holm’s died July 15, 2013.