Foch, Nina

▪ 2009

Nina Consuelo Maud Fock 

      Dutch-born American actress and teacher

born April 20, 1924, Leiden, Neth.

died Dec. 5, 2008, Los Angeles, Calif.

specialized in portraying coolly manipulative women over a prolific seven-decade career. Foch grew up in New York City and studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She made her screen debut in the short film Wagon Wheels West (1943) and then appeared in a string of B-movies before winning recognition as a conniving socialite in An American in Paris (1951). Though Foch never became a star, she was cast in several high-profile Hollywood productions, including The Ten Commandments (1956) and Spartacus (1960), and earned a supporting actress Oscar nomination for her role in Executive Suite (1954). In addition to acting on stage and in television (she could be seen in more than 90 series between 1949 and 2007), Foch also taught for 40 years at the University of Southern California's film school.

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