Madeleine Sherwood

Career highlights

Sherwood won attention for her stage work in mid-20th century American theatre and for screen appearances that translated that theatrical presence to wider audiences. She took part in productions of plays by prominent dramatists and later appeared in films and recurring television roles. Notable screen credits include appearances in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Sweet Bird of Youth, and a regular role as Reverend Mother Placido on the television series The Flying Nun.

Notable roles

• Reverend Mother Placido — recurring role on The Flying Nun.
• Supporting roles in dramatic films such as Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Sweet Bird of Youth.
• Numerous stage performances on and off Broadway in mid-century American theatre.

Blacklisting and later life

Like many artists of her generation, Sherwood was affected by anti-communist investigations and was blacklisted during the 1950s and 1960s despite not being a member of the Communist Party. The period curtailed opportunities for some years, but she continued to act and later returned to steady work in theatre, film and television. She maintained connections to the theatrical community throughout her life.

Legacy and death

Sherwood is remembered as a reliable and expressive character actress whose work bridged stage and screen. Her career illustrates both the opportunities and the political pressures faced by performers in the mid-20th century United States. She died on April 23, 2016 at her childhood home in Lac Cornu, Quebec, at the age of 93.

For more on her life and career, see further resources.