Trivia

With a background in law, she was hired by Today (1952), becoming the first TV network political news reporter.

Was a childhood friend of Jack Lemmon.

Originally studied to be a lawyer.

Taught acting at Yale and Columbia, among other universities.

Learned Italian in order to translate the plays of Dario Fo and Franca Rame.

Studied Method Acting with Lee Strasberg.

Gave birth to her 1st and 2nd children at age 27, twin daughters Abbie and Martha Gehman on May 15, 1955. Children's father is her [now ex] husband, Richard Gehman. Adopted son (with her second husband, Peter Zimroth) is Abraham Parsons Zimroth (born 1983). Mother-in-law of Laura Kristine Maio. Grandmother of Eben Britton (b. October 14, 1987), who was an American football offensive linesman from 2009 to 2014, and Augustus Britton (b. August 9, 1990), a painter, both via daughter Abbie. Great grandmother of Sandy Britton (b. 2012), via grandson Eben Britton.

Starred as Maude in the Paper Mill Playhouse's (Millburn, NJ) production of "Harold and Maude: The Musical".

She was awarded the 2010 Back Stage Garland Award for Performance in a Play for "August: Osage County" in a Steppenwolf Theatre Company production at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, California.

Was the 64th actress to receive an Academy Award; she won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Bonnie and Clyde (1967) at The 40th Annual Academy Awards (1968) on April 10, 1968.

Served as Artistic Director of the Actors' Studio for five years, ending in 2003.

Parsons is the younger daughter of Eben Parsons (1896-1969; born Massachusetts) and Elinor Ingeborg Mattson (or Mattsson; 1886-1972, born in Sweden) who wed on September 30, 1922 in Rowley, Massachusetts. Her elder sister, Mrs. Elaine Parsons Ruggles, was born on November 16, 1923 and died on December 20, 1996, aged 73.

Earned Tony nominations for best actress in a play for the following performances: "The Seven Descents of Myrtle" (1968); "And Miss Reardon Drinks A Little (1971)"; and "Miss Margarida's Way" (1978). She also recently earned a featured actress Tony nomination for "Mornings at Seven" (2002).

Was offered the role of Mrs. Voorhees in Friday the 13th (1980), but declined, and Betsy Palmer took her place. Coincidentally, her Bonnie and Clyde (1967) co-star, Michael J. Pollard, appeared in another 1980s slasher film, Sleepaway Camp III: Teenage Wasteland (1989).

Studied acting with Michael Howard in New York City.