# Ruth Hussey
**Ruth Hussey** (October 30, 1911 – April 19, 2005) was an American film, stage, and television actress best remembered for her Oscar-nominated role as the wisecracking magazine photographer Liz Imbrie in *The Philadelphia Story* (1940) and for her Broadway success in the [Pulitzer Prize](https://www.edgepedia.org/pulitzer-prize)-winning political comedy *State of the Union* (1945).[1](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/ruth-hussey-2885.html) She appeared in about forty feature films, most of them at MGM, where she typically played composed, witty professional women and steadfast wives.[2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/hussey-ruth-carol)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born / died | October 30, 1911, Providence, Rhode Island; April 19, 2005, Newbury Park, California, from complications after an appendectomy[1](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/ruth-hussey-2885.html) • [2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/hussey-ruth-carol) |
| Signature role | Liz Imbrie, the Spy magazine photographer, in *The Philadelphia Story* (1940); nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the 13th Academy Awards[3](https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1941/R) |
| MGM years | Five-year contract from 1937 to 1942; screen debut in *The Big City* (1937)[4](https://www.theguardian.com/news/2005/apr/22/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries1) |
| Broadway peak | *State of the Union* (1945) opposite Ralph Bellamy; the play won the Pulitzer Prize for drama and ran 765 performances at the Hudson Theatre[1](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/ruth-hussey-2885.html) • [5](https://www.altfg.com/ruth-hussey-actress-movies-bio/) |
| Other honors | Emmy nomination, 1955, for the title role of *Craig's Wife* on *Lux Video Theater*[6](https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/hussey-ruth-1911-2005) |
| Marriage | Married radio producer and talent agent C. Robert Longenecker in 1942; two sons and one daughter; the marriage lasted until his death on December 10, 2002[1](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/ruth-hussey-2885.html) • [2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/hussey-ruth-carol) |
| Last film | *The Facts of Life* (1960), as Bob Hope's wife[2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/hussey-ruth-carol) |
## Early life and training
Hussey was born in [Providence, Rhode Island](https://www.edgepedia.org/providence-rhode-island), in 1911. Her background is reported differently by her two main obituaries: the *Independent* describes her as the daughter of George Hussey, president of the silversmith firm Baird-North Company, who died in the 1918 flu epidemic when Ruth was seven, while the *Guardian* states she was born Ruth Carol O'Rourke and took her mother's maiden name professionally.[1](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/ruth-hussey-2885.html) • [4](https://www.theguardian.com/news/2005/apr/22/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries1)
She attended Pembroke Women's College at [Brown University](https://www.edgepedia.org/brown-university), graduating with a degree in philosophy, then trained at the Michigan School of Drama.[1](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/ruth-hussey-2885.html) Her first show-business job was as a fashion commentator on a local radio station, followed by modeling in New York for the Powers agency.[7](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0404046/) Stage work in touring productions, including *The Old Maid* and *Dead End*, led to an MGM contract in 1937.[1](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/ruth-hussey-2885.html)
## MGM years
Hussey made her screen debut in *The Big City* (1937) and spent nearly two years in minor parts, in films such as *Judge Hardy's Children* (1938), *Marie Antoinette* (1938), *Another Thin Man* (1939), and *The Women* (1939).[1](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/ruth-hussey-2885.html) She became a leading lady in MGM's B unit, usually in sophisticated, worldly roles.[7](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0404046/) In 1940 she received third billing behind [Joan Crawford](https://www.edgepedia.org/joan-crawford) and [Fredric March](https://www.edgepedia.org/fredric-march) in *Susan and God*, directed by [George Cukor](https://www.edgepedia.org/george-cukor).[4](https://www.theguardian.com/news/2005/apr/22/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries1)
A frequently noted superficial resemblance to [Myrna Loy](https://www.edgepedia.org/myrna-loy) limited her opportunities at the studio; it was often maintained that MGM had signed her partly as a threat to keep its top stars, Loy and [Norma Shearer](https://www.edgepedia.org/norma-shearer), in line.[1](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/ruth-hussey-2885.html) "I'll probably never be a star," she said in 1941, "but it's an interesting way to earn a living and I like it."[1](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/ruth-hussey-2885.html) She left MGM to freelance in 1942.[1](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/ruth-hussey-2885.html)
## The Philadelphia Story and The Uninvited
In Cukor's *The Philadelphia Story* (1940), Hussey was fourth-billed as Liz Imbrie, the photographer sent with reporter Mike Connor ([James Stewart](https://www.edgepedia.org/james-stewart)) to cover the society wedding of Tracy Lord ([Katharine Hepburn](https://www.edgepedia.org/katharine-hepburn)).[4](https://www.theguardian.com/news/2005/apr/22/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries1) Her wry sarcasm, including the line "What is this room? I've forgotten my compass," earned her a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the 13th Academy Awards, where [Jane Darwell](https://www.edgepedia.org/jane-darwell) won for *The Grapes of Wrath*.[1](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/ruth-hussey-2885.html) • [3](https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1941/R) The film received six nominations and two wins, for Stewart as Best Actor and Donald Ogden Stewart's screenplay.[3](https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1941/R)
In 1944 she starred with [Ray Milland](https://www.edgepedia.org/ray-milland) and [Gail Russell](https://www.edgepedia.org/gail-russell) in Lewis Allen's *The Uninvited* for Paramount, based on Dorothy Macardle's 1941 novel *Uneasy Freehold*, playing the down-to-earth sister who buys a haunted house on the Cornish coast with her brother.[1](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/ruth-hussey-2885.html)
## Stage success and later career
Hussey made her Broadway debut in December 1945 opposite [Ralph Bellamy](https://www.edgepedia.org/ralph-bellamy) in Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse's satire *State of the Union*, playing the cynical, forthright wife of an aircraft manufacturer and presidential candidate.[1](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/ruth-hussey-2885.html) • [5](https://www.altfg.com/ruth-hussey-actress-movies-bio/) Critics praised the warm, witty portrayal; the play ran for two years, won the Pulitzer Prize for drama, and ran 765 performances at the Hudson Theatre.[1](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/ruth-hussey-2885.html) • [5](https://www.altfg.com/ruth-hussey-actress-movies-bio/) When MGM filmed it, Katharine Hepburn took the Hussey role, while Hussey toured in *The Philadelphia Story*, playing Tracy Lord.[1](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/ruth-hussey-2885.html)
Her later screen work included Jordan Baker in *The Great Gatsby* (1949) opposite [Alan Ladd](https://www.edgepedia.org/alan-ladd), a former Olympic swimming champion in *That's My Boy* (1951), Jennie Sousa in *Stars and Stripes Forever* (1952), and her last major film role in *The Lady Wants Mink* (1953).[1](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/ruth-hussey-2885.html) • [4](https://www.theguardian.com/news/2005/apr/22/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries1) • [8](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/PersonDetails/136847) In 1955 she was nominated for an Emmy for the title role of *Craig's Wife* on *Lux Video Theater*, and in 1960 she played Bob Hope's wife in *The Facts of Life*, her last feature film.[6](https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/hussey-ruth-1911-2005) • [2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/hussey-ruth-carol) From the mid-1950s onward she performed only rarely, appearing on television with former MGM colleagues James Stewart on *The Jimmy Stewart Show* and Robert Young in *Marcus Welby, M.D.*, and giving her last screen performance in the 1973 television movie *My Darling Daughter's Anniversary*.[1](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/ruth-hussey-2885.html) • [2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/hussey-ruth-carol) "I just faded out of sight, I guess," she said. "I probably didn't seek work, but producers didn't seek me."[1](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/ruth-hussey-2885.html)
## Personal life
In 1942 Hussey married C. Robert Longenecker, a radio producer and Hollywood talent agent; they had two sons and a daughter, and the marriage ended with his death on December 10, 2002.[1](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/ruth-hussey-2885.html) • [2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/hussey-ruth-carol) She painted watercolors and designed a round, three-storey weekend house at Lake Arrowhead, which her son John described as based on "clock-face mathematics."[1](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/ruth-hussey-2885.html) In later years she devoted herself to Catholic church work and community projects.[4](https://www.theguardian.com/news/2005/apr/22/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries1)
She died on April 19, 2005, at Mary Health of the Sick Convalescent and Nursing Hospital in Newbury Park, California, from complications after an appendectomy.[2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/hussey-ruth-carol)
## References
1. [Ruth Hussey, obituary by Tom Vallance, The Independent (22 April 2005)](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/ruth-hussey-2885.html)
2. [Hussey, Ruth Carol, Encyclopedia.com (The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives)](https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/hussey-ruth-carol)
3. [The 13th Academy Awards (1941), Oscars.org](https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1941/R)
4. [Ruth Hussey, obituary by Ronald Bergan, The Guardian (22 April 2005)](https://www.theguardian.com/news/2005/apr/22/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries1)
5. [Ruth Hussey (Actress) Movies & Bio, Alt Film Guide](https://www.altfg.com/ruth-hussey-actress-movies-bio/)
6. [Hussey, Ruth (1911–2005), Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/hussey-ruth-1911-2005)
7. [Ruth Hussey, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0404046/)
8. [Ruth Hussey filmography, AFI Catalog](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/PersonDetails/136847)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 1940s to 1960s › Surnames H*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license