Born in Joliet, IL. Intense leading lady and character player of the American stage, screen, and broadcasting. She began performing on radio while still a college student and before long became one of the busiest and most respected radio actresses in the country. Orson Welles, who co-starred with her in the "Ford Theater" series, called her "the world's greatest living radio actress." After several successful appearances on Broadway in the late 40s, she was invited to Hollywood and won an Academy Award for her very first screen role, in ALL THE KING'S MEN (1949). She later appeared only intermittently in films, usually in intense, volatile roles and was nominated again for an Oscar for GIANT (1956). Her career was interrupted for several years in the 60s during a lengthy bout with alcoholism, which she finally overcame. In 1973 she provided the foul off-screen voice of the Demon for the sound track of the film THE EXORCIST. Other notable film credits include JOHNNY GUITAR (1954), A FAREWELL TO ARMS (1957), SUDDENLY, LAST SUMMER (1959), CIMARRON and ANGEL BABY (both 1961), RUN HOME SLOW (1965), 99 MUJERES and MARQUIS DE SADE: JUSTINE (both 1969), THE LAST GENERATION (1971), SIXTEEN and THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WIND (both 1972), THIEVES (1977), THE CONCORDE: AIRPORT '79 (1979) and ECHOES (1983). She appeared frequently on television in weekly dramatic series and made-for-TV movies. Her second husband (1950-62) was radio-TV writer and sometime movie director Fletcher Markle. Her trouble-ridden life was dealt a tragic blow in 1987, when their son, investment banker John Markle, shot his wife and two daughters, then killed himself. Autobiographies: The Two of Us (1960); A Quality of Mercy (1981).  Supporting Actress 1949: ALL THE KING'S MEN  Nominated for Supporting Actress 1956: GIANT 2 nominations, 1 Award