I only said “no one seemed to notice” because normally an obit thread seems to pop up here about 10 minutes after a death certificate has been signed and often for people with no connection to the arts or to individual Mudcat members. Ms. Hagen may not have appeared in very many films but her students are among the best actors in their profession. It won't surprise me to see them publicly honor her memory in some way that reeducates us about her influence and importance. Among the films in which she did appear are The Other (1972), The Boys From Brazil (1978) and Reversal Of Fortune (1990). She was awarded the National Medal of the Arts in 2002.

I was aware that she was married to Ferrer at the time of her publicized affair with Robeson but I tend not to moralize about people's personal lives. I didn't moralize about Pres. Clinton's personal life either. I figure that sort of thing is a matter for the people actually living the events.

She died Wednesday, January 14, in Manhattan.

      - Mark