HEART TO HEART
The Shampoo Oscar winner on battling the blacklist and finding lasting love
Lee Grant opens up about motherhood, McCarthyism and more to Closer.
At age 91, actress/producer/director Lee Grant is one of the longest survivors in entertainment history, dating back to a childhood dancing with the American Ballet Theatre. But between earning a 1952 Oscar nom for her film debut, Detective Story, and winning a 1966 Emmy for Peyton Place, she had to survive a trial by fire during the Hollywood blacklist. “I was told, ‘You better name your husband [as a communist] or you’ll never work again,’ ” Lee tells Closer of her first spouse, writer Arnold Manoff. “I was 24 and stayed blacklisted until I was 36. That is the span of an actor’s life in Hollywood!” Yet with the help of friends, stage roles and sheer talent, Lee persevered. On the heels of a TCM series marking the blacklist’s 70th anniversary, Lee talks to Closer about her career, family and the ways she “learned how to fight.” — Gregg Goldstein
Your TCM interviews about the blacklist are fascinating.
It’s a passion, something I carry the banner for. I’m grateful they allowed me to connect the McCarthy period’s [anticommunist] rage with the Trump period, which is this plain rage-rage.
What was it like when it happened?
I’d just started my film career: Detective Story was this big [1951] hit with Kirk Douglas, I was nominated for an Academy Award. One day I was sitting at our union, Actors’ Equity, and someone said, “Oh, I see you’ve made it in [the blacklist book] Red Channels. I felt the blood drain from my head and almost fainted. I saw why: I’d spoken at the memorial of a man who’d spoken in front of the [House Un-American Activities] Committee and I said them wanting him to go again contributed to his heart attack.
Did you get angry?
I was in shock. They wanted to offer me immunity if I would name my husband. I couldn’t live with myself [if I did]. Those assaults formed my character.
How did you cope with everything?
You eat more ice cream! People could work in New York, so I did a lot of Broadway [shows] and opera.
Did you finally get off the list?
I didn’t! The last time I was in Washington, I said, “You might as well put me in an insane asylum, because if you think I’m going to base my work on turning in this man I’ve had a child with and respect, you’ve got another thing coming.” Another year went by and I got a letter saying I was an accepted citizen of this country, this silly thing. Everybody was back to work by that time.
How did you reestablish yourself?
I had [LA] Mayor Yorty take five years off my driver’s license. I became compulsive about staying 20 as long as I could.
Tell me about some of your leading men.
Kirk Douglas is a raging fire — and still is to this day — and a very decent man, too. He was one of the first to give blacklisted writers credit. He’s a hero. Walter Matthau was a great friend — this great lumbering, funny, smart guy who was a gambler.
You were nominated for four Oscars for Detective Story, The Landlord (1970), Shampoo (which you won) and Voyage of the Damned (1976). Were there any disappointments?
I ran out of money when we were building a house in Malibu and did The Swarm, which was just about the worst movie ever made. I had the worst lines, running into the square saying, “The bees are coming!” The director didn’t like my readings so I had to say it 100 times, but I got the house finished!
Were you worried about your daughter, Dinah Manoff, pursuing acting?
No. When I started on Peyton Place, she was 8, we were in Malibu and I was on the biggest TV show in years. We went from cold New York to the best place on Earth, and when she went back to Broadway she won a Tony! I got my first Emmy, and it was going from black to bright.
And after splitting with Arnold in 1960, you married Joseph Feury in 1962 and have been together ever since!
I’m just crazy about Joey. He’s my little Italian boy and he’s always interested in me, always makes me laugh. We had a company — he was producing, I was directing.
You adopted your daughter Belinda from Thailand with Joey in 1974 and now you have four grandkids!
I feel I’m always auditioning as a mom — there are issues, like, “Don’t tell me what to do.” We’re still working it out, but my daughters are the best mothers in the world.
What are the benefits to being 91?
I’m astonished — how could it be possible that I’m past 90 and on my way to 100?
Fair to say you’re the ultimate survivor?
I don’t know what genes I have, but they are lucky genes! I’ve been lucky in every way. My father’s family is from Poland, and it’s like his strong side has come out in recent years. I have no plans to slow down anytime soon!
— Reporting by Ilyssa Panitz
“Dinah astonishes me in every way. I feel privileged to be her mother.”
— Lee (with her daughter, Grease and Empty Nest star Dinah Manoff )