Anna Lee "Boots" Carroll (October 7, 1930 – April 30, 2017) was an American actress, based in Alabama, whose career included dozens of theaters productions, as well as several movies and television shows.

Anna Lee Carroll
Anna Lee Carroll in an episode of One Step Beyond (1959)
Born(1930-10-07)October 7, 1930
DiedApril 30, 2017(2017-04-30) (aged 86)
Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
Resting placeElmwood Cemetery, Birmingham, Alabama
OccupationActress
Years active1951–1969

Carroll was best known for her portrayal of Nurse Bradford in the 1968 film, The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, alongside Alan Arkin. Arkin plays a deaf mute in the film, while Carroll's Nurse Bradford provides the dialogue for his character in their mutual scenes. Carroll's additional film roles included Not of This Earth in 1957 and Marlowe in 1969.

Early life

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Carroll was born in Birmingham, Alabama, on October 7, 1930, as the sole child of Frederick L. "Peck" and Ella Corrine "E.C." Carroll.[1]

Career

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She began her professional acting career in 1952 as a cast member for theater director James Hatcher's Town and Gown Theater, a Birmingham theater first opened in 1950. She rose to become one of the leading stage actresses in Alabama, starring in dozens of plays and traveling productions from 1952 until her final role in 2015. In addition to the Town and Gown, she appeared in productions by the Virginia Samford Theatre, Birmingham Festival Theatre and the Terrific New Theatre. She also joined the cast of touring theater companies, including Wit's Other End and the Seasoned Performers. Carroll frequently co-starred with actress and writer Fannie Flagg, author of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe; the two had first met in 1960 while both were acting at the Town and Gown.[1]

Carroll also performed in the film Fear No More (1961).[2]

Personal life

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Carroll performed consistently until 2012, when she fell from the stage during a dress rehearsal at the Virginia Samford Theatre in Birmingham. She was taken to the hospital, where doctors discovered a tumor unrelated to her accident. She recovered and returned to acting. She performed her final theater role in 2015. Carroll underwent a second surgery in 2016, while declining health sidelined her performances.[1]

Carroll died on April 30, 2017, at the age of 86. She was buried in Elmwood Cemetery in her native Birmingham.[1]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1954 The Adventures of Hajji Baba Slave Girl Uncredited
1955 Son of Sinbad Harem Girl
1955 The Road to Denver Miss Honeywell
1957 Not of This Earth Davanna Woman
1957 The Garment Jungle Model Uncredited
1957 Man of a Thousand Faces Chorine
1957 Operation Mad Ball Lt. Leeming
1961 Fear No More Denise Colbert
1962 Womanhunt Janet Oberon
1962 House of Women Inmate Uncredited
1968 The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter Nurse Bradford
1969 Marlowe Mona Uncredited

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1951 The Adventures of Kit Carson Vi Bonner Episode: "The Teton Tornado"
1952 The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok Ada Beecher / Betty Chester 2 episodes
1953 The Range Rider Susan Campbell Episode: "Western Edition"
1955 The Star and the Story Miss Parker Episode: "The Unforgivable"
1957, 1959 Highway Patrol Mrs. Redmond / Betty Brandon 2 episodes
1959 Rescue 8 Thelma Dirkus Episode: "Hour of Rage"
1959 Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond Nina Olson Episode: "The Hand"
1960 The Lawless Years Zelda Mason Episode: "The Prantera Story"
1960 Death Valley Days Mrs. Gibbs Episode: "City of Widows"
1961 The Deputy Sally Episode: "The Legend of Dixie"
1961, 1964 Perry Mason Georgiana Douglas / Elaine Paisley 2 episodes
1962 Cain's Hundred Jean Gilbert Episode: "The Debasers: Milton Bonner and Phillip Colerane"
1962 Shannon Helen Tobin Episode: "Man from Yesterday"
1962 Surfside 6 Julie Fox Episode: "Many a Slip"
1963 Sam Benedict Mrs. Olson Episode: "Of Rusted Cannons and Fallen Sparrows"
1963 Empire Helen Episode: "65 Miles Is a Long, Long Way"
1963 Dennis the Menace Hair Dresser Episode: "Never Say Dye"
1964 Ben Casey Ellen Casey Episode: "One Nation Indivisible"
1964 The Rogues Lydia Episode: "The Day They Gave Diamonds Away"
1966 The F.B.I. Secretary Episode: "The Scourge"

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Greg, Garrison (May 3, 2017). "Alabama actress Boots Carroll dies; she had role in 'The Heart is a Lonely Hunter'". The Birmingham News. Archived from the original on May 3, 2017. Retrieved May 29, 2017.
  2. ^ Pitts, Michael R. (2019). Astor Pictures: A Filmography and History of the Reissue King, 1933-1965. McFarland. p. 68. ISBN 978-1-4766-7649-4. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
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