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Phyllis Welch MacDonald
actor · painter · stage actor · film actor
- July 16, 1913 · Toledo
- September 26, 2008
- 95 years
About Phyllis Welch MacDonald
Phyllis Welch MacDonald, 95, American theater and film actress.
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Full Biography
|Phyllis Welch MacDonald (July 16, 1913 – September 26, 2008) was an American actress who enjoyed a brief, but successful, theater and film career during the late 1930s. MacDonald appeared in just one film role, Professor Beware, a comedy released in 1938.
Biography
MacDonald was born in Toledo, Ohio.
She made her Broadway debut in the 1935 theatrical comedy, A Slight Case of Murder, by Howard Lindsay and Damon Runyon. She continued to appear in several Broadway shows over the next two years, her other credits including High Tor, and Granite by Clemence Dane
Welch was awarded the New Times Critics' Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the production of End of Summer , which opened in 1937. Her last Broadway appearance was in the 1937 theatrical production of the Maxwell Anderson fantasy, High Tor, which co-starred Burgess Meredith and Peggy Ashcroft.
Her success on Broadway led to a move to Hollywood to pursue a film career. MacDonald appeared in just one film during her brief career. In 1938, MacDonald was cast in the comedic film, Professor Beware in which she co-starred with actor Harold Lloyd. In order to get the part in Professor Beware, Welch had to sign a contract pledging not to become engaged or marry for a period of six months. According to the contract, which was reported by the Los Angeles Times in 1938, a violation of the agreement would have resulted in a $5,000 fine. The prohibition of marriage for six months was included in her contract because filmmakers felt that it would interfere with production of the movie.
Welch married her husband, Graeme K. MacDonald, in 1939 immediately after the completion of Professor Beware and left her professional acting career. The couple raised five sons during their marriage, which lasted more than fifty years. She settled with her family in Hillsborough, California, where she resided for sixty years.
She remained active within regional theater groups in the San Francisco Bay area. MacDonald often collaborated with actress Shirley Temple Black to promote Children's theater within the region. MacDonald co-founded the Peninsula Children's Theatre in the 1950s and served as its president. The Peninsula Children's Theatre offered plays and other productions for young audiences in the San Francisco Bay Area. She also served on the board of the Hillbarn Theatre.
An artist, MacDonald also worked as a portrait painter on commission. She was a 60-year resident of Hillsborough and was 95 years old when she died. She was an accomplished actress, both on Broadway in New York City and in Hollywood..
MacDonald died of natural causes in her sleep at her caretaker's home in San Mateo, California. She was 95 years old. Her husband, Graeme K. MacDonald, a contractor, died in 1993. She was survived by her five sons and their grandchildren. One of her grandchildren, actress Alexis MacDonald, is the founder of the Strings Attached Theater Company, which is based in New York City.
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Articles & News
- "Phyllis Welch MacDonald, From Broadway to one film role"latimes.com
- "Phyllis Welch MacDonald"legacy.com
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyllis_Welch_MacDonald
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
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- September 28, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 15 questions
Questions drawn from Phyllis Welch MacDonald's archived record and the sources above.
1.In what city was Phyllis Welch MacDonald born?
- A.New York City, New York
- B.San Mateo, California
- C.Hillsborough, California
- D.Toledo, Ohiocorrect
The biography states that Phyllis Welch MacDonald was born in Toledo, Ohio.
Source: Biography section
2.In what year did Phyllis Welch MacDonald pass away?
- A.1993
- B.2008correct
- C.1938
- D.1950
Phyllis Welch MacDonald died on September 26, 2008.
Source: Introductory paragraph
3.What was the name of the only film Phyllis Welch MacDonald appeared in?
- A.End of Summer
- B.A Slight Case of Murder
- C.Professor Bewarecorrect
- D.High Tor
Phyllis Welch MacDonald appeared in just one film, Professor Beware, released in 1938.
Source: Introductory paragraph
4.How many sons did Phyllis Welch MacDonald raise with her husband?
- A.Four
- B.Fivecorrect
- C.Three
- D.Six
Phyllis Welch MacDonald and her husband raised five sons during their marriage.
Source: Biography section
5.Which theatrical production marked the Broadway debut of Phyllis Welch MacDonald in 1935?
- A.High Tor
- B.A Slight Case of Murdercorrect
- C.End of Summer
- D.Granite
Phyllis Welch MacDonald made her Broadway debut in the 1935 theatrical comedy, A Slight Case of Murder.
Source: Biography section
6.What award did Phyllis Welch MacDonald win for her role in End of Summer?
- A.Hollywood Achievement Award
- B.New Times Critics' Award for Best Supporting Actresscorrect
- C.Tony Award for Best Featured Actress
- D.New Times Critics' Award for Best Actress
Welch was awarded the New Times Critics' Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in End of Summer.
Source: Biography section
7.Who did Phyllis Welch MacDonald often collaborate with to promote children's theater in the San Francisco Bay area?
- A.Shirley Temple Blackcorrect
- B.Clemence Dane
- C.Peggy Ashcroft
- D.Alexis MacDonald
Phyllis Welch MacDonald often collaborated with actress Shirley Temple Black to promote children's theater.
Source: Biography section
8.In which city did Phyllis Welch MacDonald live for sixty years?
- A.San Mateo
- B.Toledo
- C.Hillsboroughcorrect
- D.New York City
Phyllis Welch MacDonald settled in Hillsborough, California, where she resided for sixty years.
Source: Biography section
9.What professional organization did Phyllis Welch MacDonald co-found in the 1950s?
- A.Strings Attached Theater Company
- B.Hillbarn Acting Board
- C.San Francisco Repertory Group
- D.Peninsula Children's Theatrecorrect
Phyllis Welch MacDonald co-founded the Peninsula Children's Theatre in the 1950s and served as its president.
Source: Biography section
10.Who co-starred with Phyllis Welch MacDonald in the 1937 production of High Tor?
- A.Burgess Meredith and Peggy Ashcroftcorrect
- B.Graeme K. MacDonald and Alexis MacDonald
- C.Howard Lindsay and Damon Runyon
- D.Harold Lloyd and Shirley Temple Black
The 1937 theatrical production of High Tor co-starred Burgess Meredith and Peggy Ashcroft.
Source: Biography section
11.What profession did Phyllis Welch MacDonald practice in addition to acting?
- A.Playwright
- B.Contractor
- C.Screenwriter
- D.Portrait paintercorrect
Phyllis Welch MacDonald was an artist who worked as a portrait painter on commission.
Source: Biography section
12.What was the name of the production company founded by Phyllis Welch MacDonald's granddaughter?
- A.MacDonald Family Theater
- B.Bay Area Children's Players
- C.Hillsborough Arts Council
- D.Strings Attached Theater Companycorrect
One of her granddaughters, actress Alexis MacDonald, is the founder of the Strings Attached Theater Company.
Source: Biography section
13.Where did Phyllis Welch MacDonald die?
- A.A clinic in Toledo
- B.A theater in New York City
- C.Her caretaker's home in San Mateocorrect
- D.Her own home in Hillsborough
Phyllis Welch MacDonald died of natural causes at her caretaker's home in San Mateo, California.
Source: Biography section
14.Who was the author of the play Granite, one of the shows Phyllis Welch MacDonald appeared in?
- A.Maxwell Anderson
- B.Clemence Danecorrect
- C.Damon Runyon
- D.Howard Lindsay
Phyllis Welch MacDonald appeared in Granite, written by Clemence Dane.
Source: Biography section
15.In what year did the husband of Phyllis Welch MacDonald pass away?
- A.1939
- B.1993correct
- C.1950
- D.2008
Graeme K. MacDonald, the husband of Phyllis Welch MacDonald, died in 1993.
Source: Biography section
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