RIP Nina Foch, EXECUTIVE SUITE's only Oscar nominee

Actress Nina Foch died Dec. 4, 2008, age 84 (born April 20, 1924). An extremely capable, intelligent performer whose acting career -- on stage, in films and on TV -- stretched from the early 1940s until this past year.

Miss Foch was the only cast member of Executive Suite to receive an Academy Award nomination for her work in this terrific film. Anyone who's seen the interview snippet with her on TCM, about her role in this film, can laugh with her when she recalls how furious she was after reading her part, which, she exaggerated only slightly, was "about 10 lines long." But as she admitted (and said also at the AFI tribute to Robert Wise many years ago), both Wise and producer John Houseman "knew what was good for me," and she took that small part and made something great out of it.

Though ES was her only Oscar-nominated performance, she was always excellent and took great care with her roles, never phoning it in or giving it less than her all. She always came up with interesting characterizations and was amazingly versatile -- from sweet and kind to bitchy and vicious, and everything in between. A great artist, whose talent and devotion to her profession are legendary -- and self-evident in her work, still left for us to enjoy.

She was also the last surviving adult cast member (out of the ten major stars) from Executive Suite. All the great ones are gone, or not long for this world.

Rest in Peace, Miss Foch, and thanks for your talent, and the memories.