Coral Edith Browne (1913–1991)
Actor Coral Browne, wife of horror film star Vincent Price, died yesterday after a long battle with breast cancer. She was 77.
Australian-born Browne, who won England's equivalent to an Emmy award in 1983, died at home with Price at her side, the actor said in a statement.
Browne, who acted on stage, in film and on television, met Price when the two co-starred in Theatre of Blood, a 1971 black comedy in which an ageing actor murders his critics. They married three years later.
She began her theatrical career in Melbourne, and in 1934 moved to England, where she established herself performing high comedy in London's West End theatres.
She played roles in Auntie Mame, The Roman Spring of Mrs Stone, Dr Crippen and The Killing of Sister George.
In 1983, she won best actress honours from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts for her role in An Englishman Abroad.
Original publication
Additional Resources and Scholarship
- Trove search
- is to make her professional debut in John Galsworthy's play 'Loyalties' in Melbourne, News (Adelaide), 23 April 1931, p 12
- photo, Table Talk (Melbourne), 23 March 1933, p 1
- photo of Coral appearing in the play, Dear Brutus, Australasian (Melbourne), 13 January 1934, p 16
- is travelling in the Ormonde to England, News (Adelaide), 31 May 1934, p 9
- departs for England, Table Talk (Melbourne), 7 June 1934, p 31
- photo, Table Talk (Melbourne), 27 June 1935, p 1
- the photo of Coral, on the cover of last week's edition of Table Talk, was taken by John Scott Simmons, Table Talk (Melbourne), 4 July 1935, p 41
- is steadily working her way into prominence in the theatrical world of London, Argus (Melbourne), 18 July 1935, p 12
- profile, Truth (Sydney), 7 August 1938, p 40
- profile, Table Talk (Melbourne), 25 August 1938, p 18
- is received by the King, Daily News (Perth), 11 October 1944, p 1
- interview, Courier-Mail (Brisbane), 1 April 1948, p 5
- interview, Argus (Melbourne), 3 April 1948, p 5
- photo, Sunday Mail (Brisbane), 11 April 1948, p 5
- photo, Mercury (Hobart), 23 April 1948, p 2
- has been acclaimed as the best dressed woman on the London stage, Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate (NSW), 27 May 1948, p 4
- is left 7500 pds by theatre manager Frederick Shephard, West Australian, 24 May 1949, p 9
- in addition to the money, Coral has control over the production of six plays bought by Shephard, Mail (Adelaide), 28 May 1949, p 22
- marries Phillip Pearman, Argus (Melbourne), 3 July 1950, p 4
- maintains her slim figure by keeping to a strict diet, Sydney Morning Herald, 23 April 1953, p 4s
- discusses the TV drama, An Englishman Abroad, in which she stars as herself, Canberra Times, 5 November 1984, p 31
Related Entries in NCB Sites
- Browne, Coral Edith
- McMahon, Gregan (mentor)
- Hoban, Mary Elizabeth (teacher)
Citation details
'Browne, Coral Edith (1913–1991)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/browne-coral-edith-19293/text30880, accessed 15 March 2025.
Life Summary [details]
Alternative Names
- Price, Coral Edith
- Pearman, Coral Edith
- Brown, Coral Edith
Birth
23 July,
1913
Footscray, Melbourne,
Victoria,
Australia
Death
29 May,
1991
(aged 77)
Los Angeles,
California,
United States of America
Cause of Death
Religious Influence
Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.
Education
- Claremont Ladies’ College (Footscray, Melbourne)
- National Gallery art school (Melbourne)
- London College of Music