Ruth Springford

{{Short description|Canadian radio, stage and television actress (1921–2010)}} {{Use Canadian English |date=August 2025}} {{Infobox person | birth_place= | birth_date= September 1921 | death_place = Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada | death_date = November 20, 2010 | occupation = actor }}

'''Margaret Ruth Springford''' (September 1921 {{spaced ndash}} November 20, 2010)<ref name="obituary">[http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thestar/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=146909627 Obituary notice]</ref> was a Canadian radio, stage, television and film actress.<ref name=northernstars>[http://www.northernstars.ca/springford_ruth/ Ruth Springford biodata], NorthernStars.ca; accessed February 15, 2016.</ref>

==Biography== Springford was the daughter of Walter and Elspeth Springford. Little is known of her personal life, but it appears she never married. Her parents enrolled her in drama school at age seven.<ref name="wise"/>

Springford began her acting career modestly, her first paying role in a church play at age nine.<ref name="blackadar"/> Springford was a member of the Straw Hat Players summer stock troupe,{{sfn|Benson|Conolly|1989|page=511}} and later acted at the Crest Theatre in Toronto in ''Summer of the Seventeenth Doll'' and ''Cat on a Hot Tin Roof''.{{sfn|Illidge|2005|pp=130,140}} ''Summer of the Seventeenth Doll'' would move from the Crest to the Royal Alexandra Theatre (Royal Alex) to continue its run. For Ruth, it fulfilled a then-lifelong dream to act at the Royal Alex.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=Toronto Star |title=Dream Comes True, Ruth Acts at Royal |date=March 14, 1959 |page=54}}</ref>

On radio, she appeared in the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) Radio dramatic anthology series "Stage", produced by Andrew Allan at CBC Vancouver.{{sfn|Benson|Conolly|1989|page=15}}

On television, her credits include ''Hangin' In'', ''A Gift to Last'', ''The Frankie Howerd Show'' and ''Maggie Muggins'', as well as the Jim Henson teleplay ''The Cube'' and the TV movie ''Nellie McClung''.

On film, Springford has appeared in the feature film ''The Changeling''.

Ruth Springford died at Etobicoke General Hospital, Etobicoke, Ontario, on November 20, 2010, aged 89.<ref name="obituary"/>

==Filmography== *''One Plus One'' (1961) - (segment "Baby") *''5 Card Stud'' (1968) - Mama Malone *''Sunday in the Country'' (1974) - Churchgoer *''The Changeling'' (1980) - Minnie Huxley *''Improper Channels'' (1981) - Mrs. Wharton

==Awards== A longtime member of ACTRA, she received the following: * Andrew Allan Award * Canadian Film Award (1969) - Best Supporting Actress (for an appearance in the "Does Anybody Here Know Denny" episode of "Corwin")<ref name="wise">{{cite news |newspaper=Toronto Star |title=Wise Counsellor |date=November 5, 1983 |page=I17}}</ref> * John Drainie Award (1979) - Lifetime Achievement<ref name="wise"/> * ACTRA Award - Best Radio Performance<ref name="wise"/> * Dora Mavor Moore Award

==References== <references>

<ref name="blackadar">{{cite news |newspaper=Toronto Star |title=Five actors hold a family reunion |date=April 25, 1982 |page=D1 |first=Bruce |last=Blackadar }}</ref>

</references> ===Sources=== * {{cite book |title=The Oxford Companion to Canadian Theatre |editor1-first=Eugene |editor1-last=Benson |editor2-first=L. W. |editor2-last=Conolly |year=1989 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=0195406729}}

* {{cite book |last=Illidge |first=Paul |year=2005 |title=Glass Cage: The Crest Theatre Story |publisher=Creber Monde (Canada) |location=Toronto |isbn=0968634796}}

==External links== *{{IMDb name|0819786}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Springford, Ruth}} Category:Canadian stage actresses Category:Canadian television actresses Category:Canadian radio actresses Category:Canadian film actresses Category:Actresses from Toronto Category:1921 births Category:2010 deaths Category:Canadian Screen Award winning actors