Carmen Mathews Biography

Actress Carmen Mathews's long career encompassed stage, screen and television. Unlike many performers of her era who began their careers when they were quite young, Mathews did not take her first acting bows on stage until 1943 when she was in her early '30s. Prior to her American stage debut, Mathews had attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and had honed her skills in Shakespearean plays. Her more famous Broadway efforts include A Holiday for Lovers, Dear World and David Copperfield. Mathews made her film debut with an uncredited role in The Butterfield 8 (1960). Her television appearances include M*A*S*H (1972) and in the television movies The Last Best Years of My Life. When not working, Mathews ran a residential summer camp for underprivileged kids. She started the camp on her 100-acre West Redding, CT farm in 1975. A decade later, she set up an education center there. Just prior to her death in 1995, Mathews donated a significant amount of her land to the Redding Land Trust to insure that it will remain undeveloped. She was named one of Connecticut's Outstanding Women of 1987 by the United Nations. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi