Nancy Ann Olson (born July , ) is an American actress. She received an
Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal
of Betty Schaefer in Sunset Boulevard (). She co-starred with William
Holden in four films, and also later appeared in Disney's The
Absent-Minded Professor () and its sequel, Son of Flubber (), as well
as the disaster film Airport ().Olson has been retired from acting
since the early s, although she has made a few rare returns, most
recently in .Olson was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the daughter of
Evelyn Bertha (née Bergstrom), who was of Swedish descent, and Henry
John Olson, who was a physician. She has a brother, David.Olson was
signed to a film contract by Paramount Pictures in , and, after a few
supporting roles, producers began to consider her for more prominent
parts. She was up for the role of Delilah in Cecil B. DeMille's film
Samson and Delilah (), for which Olson later said she was not suited.
She was passed over in favor of Hedy Lamarr. Her first big role came
in Canadian Pacific (also ) with Randolph Scott, then Billy Wilder
cast her for his upcoming project. In Sunset Boulevard (), she played
Betty Schaefer, for which she gained an Academy Award nomination for
Best Supporting Actress. Her pairing with William Holden was
considered a success, and she appeared with him in three other films
(Union Station, Force of Arms, and Submarine Command, the second and
third released the following year), but none repeated their success in
Sunset Boulevard. Other film credits include Big Jim McLain (), So Big
(), Battle Cry (), and Dumbbells ().
Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal
of Betty Schaefer in Sunset Boulevard (). She co-starred with William
Holden in four films, and also later appeared in Disney's The
Absent-Minded Professor () and its sequel, Son of Flubber (), as well
as the disaster film Airport ().Olson has been retired from acting
since the early s, although she has made a few rare returns, most
recently in .Olson was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the daughter of
Evelyn Bertha (née Bergstrom), who was of Swedish descent, and Henry
John Olson, who was a physician. She has a brother, David.Olson was
signed to a film contract by Paramount Pictures in , and, after a few
supporting roles, producers began to consider her for more prominent
parts. She was up for the role of Delilah in Cecil B. DeMille's film
Samson and Delilah (), for which Olson later said she was not suited.
She was passed over in favor of Hedy Lamarr. Her first big role came
in Canadian Pacific (also ) with Randolph Scott, then Billy Wilder
cast her for his upcoming project. In Sunset Boulevard (), she played
Betty Schaefer, for which she gained an Academy Award nomination for
Best Supporting Actress. Her pairing with William Holden was
considered a success, and she appeared with him in three other films
(Union Station, Force of Arms, and Submarine Command, the second and
third released the following year), but none repeated their success in
Sunset Boulevard. Other film credits include Big Jim McLain (), So Big
(), Battle Cry (), and Dumbbells ().
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