Glenn Close began her professional acting career in 1974 at age 27, debuting on Broadway in the production Love for Love. Over five decades, her extensive body of work has spanned theatre, television, and film, earning her widespread recognition across multiple genres and garnering diverse accolades, including Tony, Emmy, and Golden Globe awards.
Education and Early Foundations
Close attended St George's School in Switzerland and graduated from Choate Rosemary Hall in 1965. She later enrolled at the College of William & Mary, where she double-majored in theater and anthropology. Under the instruction of professor Howard Scammon, she trained as a serious actor and participated in the summer drama The Common Glory. During her collegiate years, she was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa Society.
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Following her Broadway debut, Close appeared in the 1975 production of King Lear at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater and the 1976 musical Rex. Her transition to cinema arrived with the 1982 film The World According to Garp, which earned her an Academy Award nomination. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, she built a reputation for diverse character roles, including appearances in television films and high-profile features like 101 Dalmatians and 102 Dalmatians.
Awards and Honors
Close has been recognized by various institutions for her artistic contributions. Her stage work earned her a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play in 1984. She later received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie in 1995 and an Emmy for her work in a drama series in 2009. Further honors include the 2011 Donostia Award, a 2018 Independent Spirit Award, and her induction as a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2022.
Fast facts
- Born: 1947
- Birthplace: Greenwich, United States
- Known works include: 101 Dalmatians, 102 Dalmatians, Tarzan, The Wife
- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play: 1984
- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: 2009
- Education: St George's School, Choate Rosemary Hall, College of William & Mary
- Professional roles: Actor, director, screenwriter, producer, musician
Questions readers ask
What is Glenn Close's primary field of work?
She is an actor, director, and producer working primarily within the United States film and stage industries.
Which notable awards has Close received?
Her accolades include a Tony Award (1984), Primetime Emmy Awards (1995, 2009), Golden Globe Awards (2005), and an Independent Spirit Award (2018).
Achievements
- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play — 1992
- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical — 1995
- Golden Globe Awards — 2005
- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series — 2009
- Notable work: 101 Dalmatians
- Notable work: 102 Dalmatians
- Notable work: Tarzan
- Notable work: Hoodwinked!
- Worked as film actor, voice actor and film director