Constance Ford: a memorable unique actress

Constance Ford: A force of nature

Ford had a face and personality that is hard to forget. She was referred to what was called back in the day as a cool blonde. Ford had a stare that was so ice ice cold and in her various roles she was either extremely vulnerable and taken advantage of or a fierce bitch and ruthless. Sometimes fans would see both sides of the actress in one character.

This was evident in the 1963 season 5 episode 5 of THE TWILIGHT ZONE where Ford portrayed Barbara a meek, unfashionable woman who was a coward in front of her uncle Simon. After he died, she used his money to fix her hair, put on makeup and she began wearing better clothing and asserting herself. Her uncle had built a robot with his voice and it was so much like Simon that Barbara became intimidated. By the end of the episode, she looked distressed and began dressing down again.

Ford was born Cornelia M. Ford on July 1, 1923, in The Bronx. to Edwin and Cornelia Ford. She graduated from St. Barnabas Grammar and High School, attended Hunter College, and studied acting at HB Studio in New York City. At age 15 she became a model for the MONTGOMERY WARD catalog and in 1941 her face graced an ad for Elizabeth Arden Victory Red lipstick. Beginning in 1949 she appeared on BROADWAY in productions like NOBODY LOVES AN ALBATROSS and SAY, DARLING.

Constance Ford: A woman of many talents

Ford also portrayed Miss Forsythe in the first production of DEATH OF A SALESMAN. The actress began her television career in 1950, working on live TV dramas on CIRCLE THEATRE, STUDIO ONE, and GOODYEAR TELEVISION PLAYHOUSE. She was a contract player, with WARNER BROTHERS and her most famous role was in 1959 as Sandra Dee's cruel mother in A SUMMER PLACE. In one scene Ford's character traumatized her on-screen daughter by having a doctor check to see if the teen was still a virgin.

Among her many movie roles, Constance portrayed Daisy Bronson in ROME ADVENTURE in 1962. In HOUSE OF WOMEN, the actress played a rough tough female prisoner who gets into a catfight with one of the prison matrons portrayed by Jeanne Cooper who later played the iconic Katherine Chancellor on THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS.



Daytime roles and other appearances

The actress made her soap opera debut in 1954 as Lynn Sherwood on WOMAN WITH A PAST on CBS. Her assertiveness made Ford a favorite of casting directors. She made three appearances on PERRY MASON, and THRILLER and often was featured in episodes of STATE TROOPER, KRAFT TELEVISION THEATER. DICK POWELL'S ZANE GREY THEATER, and APPOINTMENT WITH ADVENTURE,

I’m 1960 Ford was cast in the "Worse than murder" episode of THRILLER that fans continue to talk about today. Her character was money hungry and in one scene she threw a nurse against a wall in an attempt to extract information from her. She held her wrists tight and was in her face in such a brutal manner that fans today continue to say it looked like a rape scene. She also had roles in THE PHIL SILVERS SHOW, BAT MASTERSON, WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE, HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL, THE TWILIGHT ZONE, ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS and many other shows.

FORD portrayed Eve Morris on THE EDGE OF NIGHT but her most famous soap role was on NBC's ANOTHER WORLD where she played Ada Davis from 1967 to 1992 when she left the soap due to health issues. Her character was said to be out of town visiting her daughter Nancy. When Ford passed away, Ada died off-screen and the show honored her with a tribute that featured many vintage flashback scenes. Constance Ford died from cancer on February 26 1993 at age 69 and had no survivors.

1. Constance Ford personal life

There is no record of Constance Ford having children, dating, or marrying although the question has been asked across the Internet. The actress was at times aggressive and almost abusive to other women in some of her roles. This fueled rumors that she was a Lesbian but she kept her private life private and gave her all to her craft. This is really all the viewing audience needed to know about her anyway. She was an entertainer who delivered and her fans appreciated her talent.