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Grayson Hall was an American actress of Jewish heritage, best known for her role as Dr. Julia Hoffman in the Gothic soap opera "Dark Shadows" (1966-1971). She received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Born Shirley Grossman in Philadelphia in 1922, Hall's father, Joseph Grossman, was from Latvia, and her mother, Eleanor, from South Africa. Eleanor was a theatrical actress who performed in Yiddish theatre. Although her parents separated by 1930, they never formally divorced.
Hall developed an interest in acting during childhood and auditioned for plays while in high school. She made her professional stage debut at age 20 in 1942, performing with a summer stock company on Long Island.
In 1946, Hall married fellow actor Bradbart "Ted" Brooks, but they separated in 1949. She remarried in 1952 to screenwriter Sam Hall (1921-2014) and adopted the professional name Grayson Hall.
She established her acting reputation with influential avant-garde productions such as Luigi Pirandello's "Six Characters in Search of an Author" (1955, Phoenix Theatre) and Jean Genet's "The Balcony" (1960). Hall also guest-starred on television and made her film debut in "Run Across the River" (1961).
Her breakthrough film role came as chaperone Judith Fellowes in "The Night of the Iguana" (1964), adapted from Tennessee Williams' 1961 play. Fellowes was portrayed as an antagonist to Reverend T. Lawrence Shannon, played by Richard Burton. Hall earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for this performance, though the award went to Lila Kedrova.
Hall followed with the role of kidnapping victim Margaret Miller in the thriller "That Darn Cat!" (1965). On television, she made guest appearances on "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." (1964-1968) and its spin-off "The Girl from U.N.C.L.E." (1966-1967).
Her most iconic role was psychologist Dr. Julia Hoffman on "Dark Shadows." Originally intended for a limited number of episodes, Hoffman became a central character, with Hall appearing in 474 episodes playing Hoffman and several look-alike characters, including Countess Natalie Dupres, gypsy Magda Rakosi, housekeeper Julia Collins, and Constance Collins. She reprised Julia Hoffman in the spin-off film "House of Dark Shadows" (1970) and portrayed housekeeper Carlotta Drake in the sequel "Night of Dark Shadows" (1971).
After "Dark Shadows" ended, Hall had a supporting role as reporter Marge Grey on "All My Children," guest-starred on "Kojak," and played the scheming mother Euphemia Ralston on "One Life to Live."
Hall's career was cut short when she was diagnosed with lung cancer. She passed away from the illness in 1985 at age 62. "Dark Shadows" remains popular, spawning additional spin-offs, with the character of Dr. Julia Hoffman continuing to appear, portrayed by other actresses.
