Virginia Gilmore

Born Sherman Virginia Poole on July 26, 1919, in El Monte, California, Virginia Gilmore was an American actress whose career spanned film, stage, and television. She died on March 28, 1986, in Santa Barbara, California, from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at the age of 66. Following her death, she was cremated by the Neptune Society and her ashes scattered at sea.

Gilmore's performing career began in San Francisco, where she took to the stage at the age of 15. Her Broadway debut came in 1934 with A Successful Calamity. She subsequently relocated to Los Angeles in 1939 to pursue film work. Seeking to advance her screen prospects, she approached producer Samuel Goldwyn directly at his home, a meeting that resulted in a promised screen test and subsequent small film roles. Her most recognized film appearances came in 1941, when she appeared in Western Union, directed by Fritz Lang, and Swamp Water, directed by Jean Renoir.

As film opportunities diminished, Gilmore moved to New York City and returned to Broadway. In 1943, she appeared in both Those Endearing Young Charms and The World's Full of Girls. The following year, she took on the title role in Dear Ruth, a production directed by Moss Hart. Her subsequent Broadway credits included Truckline Cafe in 1946, The Grey-Eyed People in 1952, and Critic's Choice in 1960, the last of which featured Henry Fonda.

Beginning in the late 1940s, Gilmore established a presence in television. In 1949, she and her husband, Yul Brynner, appeared together on We're On, an NBC television series. The two had married in 1944 and had one son, Yul "Rock" Brynner, before divorcing in 1960. Between 1966 and 1968, Gilmore taught drama at Yale University. In her later years, she became a leader within Alcoholics Anonymous.