Ruth Morley

Austrian-born American costume designer (1925–1991)

Ruth Morley
Born	Ruth Miriam Birnholz (1925-11-19)November 19, 1925 Vienna, Austria
Died	February 12, 1991(1991-02-12) (aged 65) Bronx, New York, US
Occupation	Costume Designer
Years active	1951–1991
Children	Melissa Hacker and Emily Hacker

Ruth Morley (November 19, 1925 – February 12, 1991) was an Austrian-born American costume designer, active from the late 1950s through 1991.^[1] She was nominated for Best Costumes-Black and White for her work on The Miracle Worker during the 35th Academy Awards.^[2] She is also well known for her work on Annie Hall.^[1]

Ms. Morley's stage work began in 1951, with "Billy Bud." Other Broadway productions included "Death of a Salesman," starring Dustin Hoffman, as well as "A Thousand Clowns," "Toys in the Attic," "Inherit the Wind," and "Take a Giant Step,". In the 1950s she was costume director for the New York City Opera (NYCO).^[3] Her notable costume designs for the NYCO included the world premiere of Robert Kurka's The Good Soldier Schweik at Lincoln Center in 1958.^[4]

Selected filmography

The Prince of Tides (1991)
Ghost (1990)
The Money Pit (1986)
Tootsie (1982)
Little Miss Marker (1980)
The Miracle Worker (1979-TV movie)
Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
Superman (1978)
Annie Hall (1977)
Taxi Driver (1976)
Diary of a Mad Housewife (1970)
A Thousand Clowns (1965)
The Miracle Worker (1962)
The Hustler (1961)

Personal life

Ruth Morley, née Birnholz, was born in Vienna, Austria, and escaped shortly before the outbreak of World War II on a Kindertransport. She had two daughters.

She died at the age of 65 of breast cancer.^[3]

References

^ ^a ^b Ruth Morley papers. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 21 May 2015. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
^ "The 35th Academy Awards (1963) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
^ ^a ^b "Ruth Morley Is Dead; Costume Designer, 65". The New York Times. 13 February 1991. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
^ Howard Taubman (24 April 1958). "Opera: Kurka's 'Schweik'". The New York Times.

External links

Ruth Morley at IMDb
Ruth Morley papers, 1925-2005 (bulk 1940-1990), held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
Ruth Morley papers, 1958-1990, Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences