Cornelia Otis Skinner
A witty actress and monologuist who carved a unique niche with her sharply observed solo shows and bestselling humorous essays.
1901–1979 (age 78)·American actress and author·Birthday: May 30·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Cornelia Otis Skinner was a master of sophisticated comedy, turning her keen eye on the absurdities of upper-crust American life. The daughter of famed actor Otis Skinner, she initially pursued a conventional stage career but found her true calling as a writer and performer of one-woman shows. She would research a historical figure, then write and perform a detailed, often humorous monologue in their voice, a format that packed theaters across the country. Simultaneously, her written essays, particularly those collected in books like 'Our Hearts Were Young and Gay' (co-written with Emily Kimbrough), became bestsellers for their charming and self-deprecating wit. Skinner moved seamlessly between the literary and theatrical worlds, becoming a regular contributor to The New Yorker and other major magazines. Her work captured a specific, genteel world with affection and a sharp pinprick of satire, making her a beloved humorist of the mid-century.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Cornelia was born in 1901, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Cornelia Was Born
The biggest hits of 1901
Cornelia's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1901Born
Queen Victoria dies, ending the Victorian era
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1906Started school
San Francisco earthquake devastates the city
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1914Became a teenager
World War I begins
President: Woodrow Wilson
1917Could drive
Russian Revolution overthrows the tsar; US enters WWI
President: Woodrow Wilson
1919Could vote
Treaty of Versailles signed; Prohibition ratified
President: Woodrow Wilson
1922Turned 21
King Tut's tomb discovered in Egypt
President: Warren G. Harding"April Showers" — Al Jolson
1931Turned 30
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1941Turned 40
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1951Turned 50
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1961Turned 60
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1971Turned 70
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1979Died at 78
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
Key Achievements
- Wrote and performed successful solo shows like 'The Wives of Henry VIII' and 'The Loves of Charles II'.
- Co-authored the bestselling memoir 'Our Hearts Were Young and Gay', which was adapted into a feature film.
- Received a special Tony Award in 1960 for her contributions to the theater.
Did You Know?
She studied mime in Paris under the legendary teacher Étienne Decroux.
She turned down an offer from David O. Selznick to play the role of Scarlett O'Hara's mother in 'Gone with the Wind'.
Her godmother was the celebrated actress Sarah Bernhardt.
“Women's virtue is man's greatest invention.”
