Thomas Mitchell

Birth Name:

Thomas John Mitchell

Birth Place:

Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States

Profession

Actor, Writer, Soundtrack

Became the first person to win the coveted "Triple Crown of Acting," an Oscar, Emmy and Tony, in 1953
His brother James served as Dwight D․ Eisenhower's Secretary of Labor from 1953 to 1961
Born to a family of journalists, he started out as a newspaperman at the Newark Journal, where his brother was managing editor
Made his Broadway debut in the 1920s, all while continuing to write, a side-career that would eventually lead him to Hollywood
Made his screen acting debut in the film "Six Cylinder Love" in 1923
Quote: "[Film gave me a] more expansive canvas on which to work․ It enabled me to round out a fuller characterization․"
Quote: "A lot of people say I've deserted my art because I left Broadway and the stage ․․․ I'm no artist․ I'm a working man․ I've got a trade just like any other mechanic, and I follow my trade where the work is․"
Best known for playing Gerald O'Hara in "Gone with the Wind" and Uncle Billy in "It's a Wonderful Life․"
With the advent of television, he switched his focus to the new medium in the early 1950s, appearing in some of the earliest TV series, including "Studio One," "Lux Video Theater," "Zane Gray Theatre" and "The O․ Henry Playhouse․"

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