Phyllis Jeanne Somerville (December , â€" July , ) was an American
stage, film, and television actress. She is best known for her roles
in Little Children (), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (),
Surviving Family (), The Big C (â€"), and Outsiders (â€").Somerville
was born in Iowa City, Iowa, to Lefa Mary (née Pash; â€") and the
Rev. Paul Somerville (-), who moved the family around as he preached
at different churches, until settling in Traer, and eventually Cresco,
Iowa. There, her mother worked as a librarian and Phyllis attended
high school, where she was involved with cheerleading, drama, and
music, including playing clarinet in the All-State band. She has three
brothers: Bruce (also an actor), Paul (â€") and Stephen, a
pathologist.She attended Morningside College and then transferred to
the University of Northern Iowa, studying theatre and graduating with
a degree in English in . In college, she starred in productions such
as The Visit, Electra, and Macbeth. She next did graduate work
performing classical roles such as Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream
at the Hilberry Theatre through Wayne State University in Detroit and
later became a resident equity actress with the Arena Stage in
Washington, DC. Her first paid job as an entertainer was at Buckskin
Joe amusement park over summer break in college.She lived in New York
City, where she died in of natural causes.
stage, film, and television actress. She is best known for her roles
in Little Children (), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (),
Surviving Family (), The Big C (â€"), and Outsiders (â€").Somerville
was born in Iowa City, Iowa, to Lefa Mary (née Pash; â€") and the
Rev. Paul Somerville (-), who moved the family around as he preached
at different churches, until settling in Traer, and eventually Cresco,
Iowa. There, her mother worked as a librarian and Phyllis attended
high school, where she was involved with cheerleading, drama, and
music, including playing clarinet in the All-State band. She has three
brothers: Bruce (also an actor), Paul (â€") and Stephen, a
pathologist.She attended Morningside College and then transferred to
the University of Northern Iowa, studying theatre and graduating with
a degree in English in . In college, she starred in productions such
as The Visit, Electra, and Macbeth. She next did graduate work
performing classical roles such as Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream
at the Hilberry Theatre through Wayne State University in Detroit and
later became a resident equity actress with the Arena Stage in
Washington, DC. Her first paid job as an entertainer was at Buckskin
Joe amusement park over summer break in college.She lived in New York
City, where she died in of natural causes.
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